The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1911-05-12
POTATO PROFITS IN
IDAHO


taken into account as a producer OF
profit for the man who tills the soil.
We hear about the romance of
Wheat, the kingly rule of Corn, the
commercial dignity of Oats and Alfal-
ia, of Barley and Rye, and we count
them as sources of great wealth for
those who make the earth their serv-
ant.
But, granting to the grains and for
ages the credit that is due, there are
wide stretches of land in Idaho pro-
ducing cash yields from potatoes hat
make the average grain production of
states farther east appear exceedingly
small.
And there are so many more acres,
OF the same kind, that have not yet
been given q chance TO show what
they can do, that the money-making
possibilities of Idaho, SO far as pota-
toes alone are concerned, cannot be
estimated.
Idaho won national publicity In 1910
as the result of the awarding of prizes
OF $500 and $3.50. given by Mr.. D. E.
Burley of Salt Lake City, Utah, for
the best and second best yields of
potatoes produced on a single acre Of
land in territory tributary to the Ore
gon Short Line, Pacific G. Idaho North
ern, Idaho Northern, Idaho Southern
and Payette Valley railroads.
The Oregon Short Line, together
with the AFFILIATED lines mentioned
above. traverses the states of Idaho,
Utah, Oregon. Washington, Montana
and Wyoming, so 1t will be readily
seen that the winning of prizes for
which there were competitors from so
wide a territory was an accomplish
ment of great importance to the vic
torious state and of lasting credit to
b successful growers.
The results of this contest, partici.
pated In by so many Of the most pro-
gressive farmers in the prescribed dis
trict, were amazing, and the follow
ing account Of those results, with fig
ures showing what the returns signify
in the matter of profits from the land
should prove interesting to everyone
concerned in agricultural affairs.
Through Mr.. L. A. Snyder. the nrst
prize of $500 was won by Twin Falls
county. Idaho, with the "Dalmeny
Challenge" variety of potatoes. Tht
second prize OF $3.50 went to Canyon
county, Idaho, through Mr.. w. B. Gil
more, with the "~Peachblow" variety.
On his winning acre of Idaho lant
Mr.. Snyder raised 645 bushels of pota
toes, Weighing 1855 pounds. Thu
culls weighed ALSO pounds, leaving
8 4,535 pounds of the finest marketabl,
potatoes, or about 575 bushels.
At 70 cents per 100 pounds, or 4.
cents per bushel, the price Mr.. Snyde,
received, the one prize acre produced
In money, therefore, the sum o
$241.74, besides the 4,150 pounds. o
almost 70 bushels, in culls, whicl
were available for home use.
/, Mr.. Snyder has given to the Con
mercial Club of Twin Falls some ful
ther facts showing the possibilities @
potato raising in his section of tn
country. He reports that from tire
acres of land he harvested S95 sack
Of potatoes, averaging 10 pounds t
the sack. He sold 1900 bushels at 4
cents per bushel, receiving $500, an
, he had rs sacks left for seed.
). An average gross profit Of s210 pc
acre, when we consider how mucl
smaller is the average gross prof
from an acre of grain, gives the read
err u fair idea of what the intensive pc
tato farming opportunities of Idah
really are.
Going a little more extensively int
figures, we may safely presume tina
the average family OF, say, five pei
sons about five pounds Q
} potatoes per day. That ought to be
liberal estimate-a pound of potatoe
, per day for each member of the fan
lily, large or small,
The 3S,6S5 pounds of potatoes raise
by Mr.. Snyder on his prize acre 4
Idaho land would, therefore, suppl
the potato needs Of more than 90 sue
families for a year, allowing each fan
, lily LIPS pounds, or 2SA bushels.
1t is fair to say that a $50 gros
y yield from an acre of wheat is a goo
r return. So we see that Mr.. Snyder
prize acre of potato land brough
. lOTln db luuCH HuoHey as NOulu elSu
acres of wheat land.
If Mr.. Snyder were to realize fror
r ten acres of his potato land as well a
( he did from the three acres which CAV
him $3.50, he would have 81, 100 at tn
, end of the season, besides more tina
, enough spuds for his own use and 10
the next seasons planting.
: There's real money" in Idaho pots
= toes.
+ The combination that won the Bul
ley prize" say Mr.. Snyder, was tn
( most productive soil in the West, cl
: mate unexcelled, plenty of water fo
8 irrigation at all times. one of the bes
varieties of spuds, and a man wit
some experience and not afraid {
work"
2 His words make clear the adval
tages and possibilities of the Orego
S Short Line country. All of the farn
: ers who entered the contest in whic