The Princeton union., 1907-03-14
1 Potato CULTURE j. i


l'OTATO CULTURE.
Louis Rust Figures That the Tuber. Cost
#15 Over Forty Cents q Bushel to Raise.
What does it cost to raise q bushel
Of potatoes?
In answering this question there
are many things to be taken into con.
sideration, therefore we must base our
calculation on the average condition
prevailing throughout the country.
Supposing, for instance, the aver
age improved farm consists of l2o
acres. Placing the value of land at
$50 per acre this would make the farm
worth $4,000. The necessary build
ings would cost 81, 400, and allowing
$500 for live stock and machinery.
this would make a total investment of
S., 800. Now we can safely figure an
average of 20 acres on each farm to
be worthless, therefore we have 100
acres left for cultivation.
Let US place the yield of potatoes at
100 bushels per acre, but in order to
produce this quantity of marketable
stock we must take especial care of
the potato land, and consequently it
will be worth more than the other land
on the farm. For hay, pasture and
small grain land no man would or can
pay more than So and So per acre rent.
Now then let us figure the annual
cost to keep and maintain a farm of
the size mentioned: Interest on
SIS, 800 at per cent would amount to
S348. Adding to this estimated taxes
of $50 and $lOO for the maintenance of
buildings, etc., would give total an
nual output of $498.
Supposing we divide the farm into
35 acres for meadow and pasture at
81 per acre and SO acres for wheat,
oats and corn at So per acre. This
will give us 1920 in rent for IS acres.
and we think you will agree that it is
we'll paid for at that price. We shall
then have to get the $278 out of the
other Is acres in order to give US 6
per cent interest for money invested.
This brings the Is acres of potato land
up to $3.50 per acre rental. The fol-
lowing figures show the cost of plant
ing this Is acres to potatoes:
Is acres at $3.50 per acre.. ....... S27s, 90
FLOWING, Sl.5O per acre. q. so
Team and man, days, preparing for
planting at S3 per day........... 1900
70 bushels seed at 40 cents per bushel. $500
Cutting seed and planting at 81 per acre Is. co
2 applications spraying at 75c per acre $3.50
10 days dragging and cultivating at So
per day. ay...................... ..... 80. 90
Digging and pitting at ST. per acre..... los GO
Hauling to market at cents per bushel IS 90
Total cost of l5OO bushels . s6O1 90
This gives fraction of over 40
cents per bushel.
You will see that in estimating ex-
penses I have taken the lowest pos
sible figures. There are not many
who will work for S1.50 per day of 10
hours, while the farmer. usually puts
in from IA to 16 hours for a days
work. You will also observe that the
money invested is figured at mini
mum rate of interest while the farmer
is paying from 8 to 10 per cent for
borrowed capital. I have at the same
time allowed nothing for wear and
tear of machinery, possible loss of
horses, etc.
The question might be asked: Why
not raise potatoes on the whole farm
and thereby reduce the cost of rent
per acre. That would not do, for in
order to keep the soil in fair condi-
tion we are obliged to keep live stock
on it. If not the value of the farm
would gradually deteriorate.
In my next article I will endeavor
to show how the price for potatoes
mentioned by me may be obtained.