Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1911-05-18
POTATO PROFITS IN
IDAHO

we near ABOUT iHt lOlIdhSc ~
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 that
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 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. 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 & 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 it will be readily
seen that the winning of prizes for
which there were competitors from so
wide territory was an accomplish
ment of great Importance to the vic
| torious state and of lasting credit 10
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
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 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 land
Mr.. Snyder raised 645 bushels of pota'
toes, weighing 1855 pounds. The
culls weighed ALSO pounds, leaving
34535 pounds of the finest marketable
potatoes, or about 575 bushels.
At 10 cents per 100 pounds, or AZ
| cents per bushel, the price Mr.. Snyder
received, the one prize acre produced
in money, therefore, the sum OF
$241.74, besides the ALSO pounds, OF
| almost 70 bushels, In culls, which
were available for home use.
Mr. Snyder has given to the Com
mercial Club of Twin Falls some fur
Their facts showing the possibilities OF
potato raising in his section of the
country. He reports that from three
acres of land he harvested S95 sacks
of potatoes, averaging 10 pounds tc
the sack He sold 1900 bushels at Al
cents per bushel, receiving $3.50, anc
he had rs sacks left for seed.
An average gross profit of 1910 pei
acre, when we consider how much
smaller is the average gross profit
from an acre Of grain, gives the read
er fair idea of what the intensive pc
tato farming opportunities of Idaho
really are.
Going a little more extensively into
figures. we may safely presume thai
the average family of, say, five per
sons consumes about five pounds o.
potatoes per day. That ought to be {
liberal estimate-a pound of potatoes
per day for each member of the fam
lily, large or small.
The 1855 pounds of potatoes raised
by Mr.. Snyder on his prize acre o
Idaho land would, therefore, supply
families for year, allowing each fam
lily LIPS pounds, or 28% bushels.
1t is fair to say that a $40 gross
yield from an acre of wheat Is gooc
return, So we see that Mr.. Snyder
prize acre of potato land brough
forth as much money as would eigh
acres of wheat land.
If Mr.. Snyder were to realize from
ten acres Of his potato land as well a:
he did from the three acres which gave
him $500, he would have $1,000 at thu
end of the season, besides more thai
enough spuds for his own use and fo
the next seasons planting.
There's real money in Idaho pota
toes.
THE combination that won the Bur
ley prize" says Mr.. Snyder, was tn
most productive soil in the West, eli
mate unexcelled, plenty of water TO
irrigation at all times, one of the bes
varieties of spuds, and man will
some experience and not afraid o
work"
His words make clear the advar
tages and possibilities of the Oregon
Short Line country. All OF the farm
ers who entered the contest In whicl
Mr.. Snyder carried off first homo
came out wonderfully well, Mr. Gil
more harvested 37,476 pounds o
"Peachblow" potatoes from the acr