The Southern herald., 1911-06-02
POTATO PROFITS II
IDAHO

proht for the man Who ulls the sol
We hear about the romance Of
Wheat. the kingiy rule Of Corn. the
commercial dignity Of Oats and Alfzl-
IA. OF Barley and Rye. and we count
them as sources Of great wealth for
those who make the earth their serE'
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 80 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.. D. B.
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 afiliated lines mentioned
above, traverses the states Of Idaho.
Utah. Oregon. Washington. Montana
and Wyoming. so 1t win Be readily
seen that the winning Of prizes for
which there we're competitors from 50
wide = territory was an accomplish
ment Of great Importance to the vic
torious state and Of lasting credit tc
the successful growers.
The results OF this contest. partlci
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 Nc
ures showing what tho returns signify
In the matter OF profits from the land
, should prove interesting to everyon'
concerned In agricultural AFFAIRS.
Through Mr.. l. A. Snyder, the nrsi
prize Of $500 was won by Twin Fall
county. Idaho, with the "Dalmenl
i Challenge" variety Of potatoes. TIT
second prize of $3.50 went to Canyoi
county, Idaho, through Mr. w. B. Gil
| more, with the "Peachblow" variety.
, On his winning acre Of Idaho LAM
t Mr. Snyder raised GAS bushels Of potS
g toes, Weighing sS,6S5 pounds. tn
n culls weighed 4.150 pounds, leavin
t N,5S6 pounds Of the finest marketabl
r potatoes, or about b75 bushels.
At 70 cents per 100 pounds, or 4
I cents per bushel, the price Mr.. Snyde
= received, the one prize acre produce
9 In money. therefore. the sum
o S241.74, besides the ALSO pounds, q
d almost 10 bushels, in culls. whic
,. were available for home use.
% Mr.. Snyder has given to the Con
y merclal Club Of Twin Falls some fu
v ther facts showing the possibilities
potato raising in his section OF II
10 country. He reports that from thrt
acres Of land he harvested S95 sacl
ID of potatoes, averaging 110 pounds
d. the sack. He sold 1900 bushels at
z. cents per bushel. receiving $3.50. ar
he had rs sacks left for seed.
An average gross proRt OF $21O p'
! acre, when we consider how muC
y smaller Is the average gross proi
n. from an acre of grain, gives the rea
a or a fair idea Of what the intensive p
l tato farming opportunities of Idal
t. really are.
,s Going a little more extensively In
figures, we may safely presume tn
Ne the average family Of, say, five pc
n. sons consumes about FIVE pounds
te potatoes per day. That ought to be
,s liberal estimate-a pound Of potato
IN per day for each member Of the fai
n. lily, large or small
ke The 1885 pounds Of potatoes raist
by Mr.. Snyder on his prize acre
v Idaho land would, therefore, supp
m the potato needs Of more than 20 SUI
families for a year, allowing each fal
lily 1,725 pounds, or 2S% bushels.
It is fair to say that $50 gro
yield from an acre Of wheat Is a go
return. So we see that Mr.. Snyder
% prize acre of potato land broug
forth as much money as would eig
:" acres of wheat land
!. If Mr.. Snyder were to realize frc
:. ten acres OF his potato land as well
10 he did from the three acres which ga
70 him $500, he would have $2,10O at t
end of the season, besides more tn
~ ~ enough spuds for his own use and
pc pc the next seasons planting.
% There's real money" in Idaho po
toes.
m THE combination that won the B
mi ley prize" says Mr.. Snyder, was
or most productive soil in the West,
in. mate unexcelled, plenty Of water
,o4 irrigation at all times, one of the b
RI. varieties of spuds, and a man W
ID some experience and not afraid
ee work"
lie. His words make clear the adv
or, tages and possibilities Of the Ores
he Short Line country. All of the fal
On. ers who entered the contest in VIII