The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-10-17
.SPUDS
ARE IN
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TUBER INDUSTRY BIDS
FAIR TO BECOME
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EXPERTS 60 ABROAD
FOR STATISTICS
Eugene GTubb Tells Of Potato
Culture Across The
Great Pond

Potato growing IL destined to be
ccme one OF the most important ag
rleutural industries in the United
states, according to Eugene II. Grubb.
who was sent abroad by Secretary
Wilson rs special commissioner OF
the department of agriculture for the
purpose of comparing conditions IN
foreign fields with those prevailing IN
the United tates
As result Of his observations Mr.
Grubh saws he believes this nation
leads as regards implements for pota.
40 culture, but that In view Of the
large increase Of population that Is e
Be expected, We have much TO learn
with reference 70 the maintenance
and building up OF the soil
During his surveys of foreign fields.
Mr. Grubb visited England, Scotland.
Ireland, the Chanel Islands. France,
Belgium. and Germany. His obsef
Nations have unusually interest for
the agriculturaist. as he is probably
the Only specialist who has undertake
on this class of work. His first ysit5
were paid TO the big dealers in the
open markets Of London, Liverpool
nerlin. Hamberg, and Other cities,
and from them be learned the names
Ct the most successful growers. In
addition, he searched out the potato
breeders and the growers Of seed 20
ltatocs and studied methods OF their
farms.
u spent several weeks IN the early
potato districts of the Channel Isl
land. England and the Ayr district OF
Scotland, said Mr. Grubb, and later
went to the main crop producing
lfafms Of Lincolnshire. Some Of the
men whom I visited grow from l,aoO
10 1000 acres annually ! gave espcr-
lia attention 10 Dameny farm, whlrl
is owned by Earl Rosebery.
"From Edinburgh north the grow
ing OF seed potatoes IL especially de-
veoped There one producer in this
district who has sent single ship
ments of from thirty to forty carloads
t. the Southern part OF England TO
Southern Africa. and elsewhere. The
soil IN this district Is especially adapt
cd for the purpose and II is possible
that the science Of growing seed stock
is deyeloned there in more practi-
cal maner than anywhere else
The potato business on the other
side of thu Atlantic Is so stupendOus
that 1t Is difficult for farmer I'm Iris
vicinity to comprehend the magnitude
OF the work. For instance. Great Bri.
tain. with about 5J000,000 acres OF
farming land, which is less than the
area of Colorado, produces about as
many potatoes as the entire United
States The Channel Islands. with
only 10000 arabic acres. supply the
needs OF $1,000 people. This means
about three persons TO the acre, and
the density OF population Is far great
or than In either New York OF Penn.
sylyania Such conditions give an
idea of what must be prepared for IN
this country. When the greater pon-
uiation l. an established fact there Is
mo question but that the American
farmer can meet the emergency, but
the agriculture of the future must dif.
fer from present practices.
Potatoes have been staple art.
icle of food IN Great Britain for many
Years: consequently the best methods
ol growing them have received q
great dea of attention. Most of tns
lands used b. the potato growers are
leased at an annual rent of from SO
TO s20 an acre. Notwithstanding the
IcGeapness Of labor. the cost of barn.
yard and artificial fertilizer, and 9th
.er charges made II necessary for m,
careful grower TO spend from s75 to
$40 an acre IN order to grow pota
toes successfully. Primitive imple-
ments and methods of culture prevail,
most Of the work being done by hand.
As far as culture is concerned Onr
improved implements and methods
appear 10 offset their cheap farm In.
bor But our soil Is never taken
care of and built up as is theirs.
While their Yields are becoming
greater every year and ours are de
elinsng II is In this maner that
their applied science gives results.
with them high rents force better
methods and II is only by the most
scientific farming that they can find
their dense population. As land val
ues advance with Us X VIII become
necessary for our farmers to adopt
improved methods
The Channel Islands. where the
Jersey and Guernsey cattle come
fion. show the highest profits Of any
potato growing district. Under sci.
entifIc methods their soil has been
for centuries. The rent OF the potato
iands runs from $50 10 $50 an acre.
The crops are grown every year. The
ftrmers grow potatoes and beans drl
some other combination The moth
ods are The same as I'M the early POI
tato districts OF Scotland. except that
fertilizer Is used more latiahly
The farmers IN the Channel ISL
ards feed their land Just aa our most
live stock growers feed their animals