Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1911-05-11
POTATO PROFITS IN
{ IDAHO 4

We hear about the romance oi |
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 Tor
those who make the earth their serv-
ant.
But, granting to the grains and Tor
ages the credit that is due, there are
wide stretches of land in Idaho pro-
ducing cash yields from potatoes that
make the average grain production or
states farther east appear exceedingly
small.
And there are so many more acres,
OF the same kind, that have not yet
been given a 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.. ID. T.
Burnley OF Salt Lake City. Utah, for
the best and second best yields OF
potatoes produced on single acre OF
land In territory tributary TO the Ore
gon Short Line, Pacific & Idaho North
ern, Idaho Northern. Idaho Southern
and Payette Valley railroads.
The Oregon Short Line, together
with the affliated lines mentioned
above, traverses the states of Idaho,
Utah, Oregon, Washington. Montana
and Wyoming. so ii will be readily
seen that the winning OF prizes Tor
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
the 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 hg-
ures showing what the returns signify
in the matter Of profits from the land,
should prove interesting to everyone
concerned in agricultural affairs.
Through MIR. l.. A. Snyder. the first
prize OF $500 was won by Twin Falls
, county. Idaho, with the "Dalmeny
, Challenge" variety OF potatoes. The
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 lane
4 Mr.. Snyder raised 645 bushels OF pota
4 toes, weighing 3S,6S5 pounds. The
: culls weighed 4,150 pounds, leavin,
$ S4.535 pounds of the finest marketable
oo.otoo. nr a hnut huchale
: At 20 cents per 100 pounds, or q
: cents per bushel, the price Mr.. Snyde
Q received, the one prize acre produces
!. in money, therefore. the sum o
n s241.74, sbesides the 4,150 pounds. o
It almost 20 bushels. In culls, which
e were available for home use.
L Mr.. Snyder has given to the Con
e mercial Club of Twin Falls some ful
u Their facts showing the possibilities @
d potato raising in his section of tn
- country He reports that from thre
: acres of land he harvested S95 sack
% of potatoes. averaging 40 pounds
the sack He sold 1900 bushels at 4
cents per bushel. receiving $500, an
he had 70 sacks left for seed.
An average gross profit of 1910 pc
acre. when we consider how niue
o. smaller is the average gross prof
r. from an acre OF grain, gives the rea'
er a fair idea OF what the intensive p
- tato farming opportunities OF ldah
nj really are.
d, Going little more extensively int
figures, we may safely presume tn;
as the average family Of say, five pc
IN sons consumes about five pounds
a potatoes per day. That ought to be
liberal estimate pound of potato'
HI per day for each member of the far
10 lily, large or small.
la The 3S.6S5 pounds OF potatoes raise
&c by Mr. Snyder on his prize acre
on Idaho land would. therefore. supp
ID the potato needs OF more than 90 SUE
rs families for a year, allowing each fan
- lily LIPS pounds, or 2Ss4 bushels.
- II is fair 10 say that a $50 gro
yield from an acre OF wheat Is a got
al return. So we see that Mr.. Snyder
lts prize acre of potato land broug
ne forth as much money as would Gig
~ acres Of wheat land.
ms II Mr. Snyder were to realize fro
IN ten acres Of his potato land as well
ne he did from the three acres which ga
nd him $3.50, he would have $500 at q
fu- end OF the season, besides more thu
re- enough spuds for his own use and
the next seasons planting
ate There's real money in Idaho pot
ne toes
~ The combination that won the Bl
10 ley prize" says Mr.. Snyder, was
mn. most productive soil in the West,
an. mate unexcelled. plenty OF water I
the irrigation at all times, one of the be
ion varieties OF spuds. and man WI
TO some experience and not afraid
en- work"
10 His words make clear the advs
nie tages and possibilities OF the Greg
90 Short Line country. All OF the lar
aat ers who entered the contest In whl
dc. Mr.. Snyder carried of first hon
he came out wonderfully well Mr.. {
}. more harvested 37,4I6 pounds
IN n