Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-22

PART T.
The potato. solanum tuoerosum, Is
An cultivated extensively all over the civ
fliIed world. on the continent OF Europe
Che crop OF 1904 was estimated at g.
s.4.ssI. 900 bushels. The empire OF Ger
many alone produced 1,3SS,32s,OOO bush
els; Russia, Sss. 90S,000 bushels; Austro-
Aungary, 5a0.46O.OOO bushels, AMI
France. 451.oss. 40 bushels These sta
tisfics all apply to the year 1904. The
total crop OF potatoes raised in North
America according TO the statistics OF
1894, was ssO.C9O.OO0 bushels, of which
gE43s,00O bushels were raised in Cara
ca u will thus be seen that the o:op
OF the limited States for 1904 was about
esa,sSe,0O0 bushels. That the potato
crop Is extensively cultivated and rap
Idly coming into favcr is shown % ir''
fact that the crop OF 1900 in the United
States approximated only 210.s27.O00
bushels. Our production of this in.por-
tnas tuber Is Insignificant compared with
the extensive cultivation accorded II in
Europe. II is quite certain as our popu-
lation increases and the cost OF living
becomes more excessive that the potato
will be cultivated more and more extern
yc.y. AS II IS n crCT. ce5 Z fl- OF prop
sgating in almost e-sry section II The
country, one VIII. a will give large yie:ds
spends sepero-Iely To the Use Of artlfi-
eiai plant food or commercial fertilizers,
a. f. important in view OF the rapid in
crease OF population in the United States
and the Increasing demand for potatoes
a. staple article OF food. that all avail
able information by which the culture
ana yield may be exteacei should be
gladly welcomed AMI utilized TO the best
sdvantage by the American farmer.
-.
PORTANT CROP.
The area devoted TO the tillagc Of po-
tatoes In 1905 was about 2.9g6.7j7 acres,
the average yield per acre being 81
bushels, with a farm value OF about e1.7
cents per bushel anc an aggregate value
of sI60,s21.0s0. The potato crop is
very important one IN the states OF
Maine. New York. Pennsylvania, Ohio.
Michigan. Illinois. wisconsin, Minnesota
md Iowa. the larger part o. the crop
being raised in this section. However.
:. Is rapidly coming into favor in the
south, and is now quite extensively cul-
tvated IN Virginia. North Carolina,
Texas. Arkansas, Tennessee and Ken
lucky. and the area devoted to ii Is rap
idly expanding from year tn year. AS
ra- atoes can Ice mltI.r' an1 csaced on
thu market so early IN the season when
the prices are very renuneretive. * is
surprising that their CULTIVATION is net
moro extensive In many OF the southern
states, and particularly 50 as two crops
can be matured on the same ground IN
single year IL high fertilization at the
rate OF 5000 pO.nds per acrs is follow
ed Statistics show that while the yield
per acre is not high. die returns are
Eoce as compared with many OF the
leading farm crops. and especially so in
vtsw Of the methods Of tiilage pursued.
N 1893 the average return per acre from
potatoes in the United Statez was placed
at s536T, with a maximum OF s106.75
for Maine. and sI11.25 for Rhois Island.
These figures should encourage the most
extensive growth OF this important crop,
particularly as II can be used ad-
vanta geously in the manufacture of de
nsturcd alcohol. and furnishes an excel
lent food for all classes % our popula-
ton at a comparatively low cost. and a:
the same time brings the farmer larger
money returns per acre than he obtains
from most crops.
RELATIVE COMPOSITION OF POTA-
TOES
The composition OF several varieties
or potatoes Is given below and also the
average composition Of 136 samples
These analyses were made by the bureau
Of chemistry. United States department
o. agriculture.