The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1911-05-19
POTATO PROFITS IN
IDAHO

taken into account as plouuSeT OF
nro0t 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-
4, Of Barley and Rye, and we count
Them as sources OF great wealth for
those who make the earth their sery-
ant
But. granting 10 the grains and for
AGES the credit that is due. there are
vide stretches OF land In Idaho pro
duclng 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
beeu given a chance 10 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 tho result OF the awarding of prizes
Of $500 and $3.50. given by Mr.. ID. <.
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 trayerses 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
vide 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
uict we're amazing. and the follow
Ing account of those results. with fig
ues showing what the returns signify
IN the natter OF profits from the land.
should prove interesting 10 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 lis winning acre OF Idaho land
Mr Snyder raised CAS- bushels OF pota-
toes weighing SS.6s5 pounds. The
cu.s weighed ALSO pounds, leaving
1885 pounds Of the finest marketable
potatoes. or about 575 bushels.
AZ 20 cents per 100 pounds. or ~
cents PER bushel. the price Mr. Snyder
received. the one prize acre produced
IN money. therefore. the sum Of
s2i74 besides the 1850 pounds. or
almost 70 bushels. in culls. which
were available for home use.
Mr. SNYDER has given 70 the Com
uercial Club OF Twin Falls some fur
iher facts showing the possibilities Of
potato raiy.ng in his section OF the
country He reports that from three
Of potatoes. averaging 10 pounds TO
the sack He sold / 500 bushels at AZ
cents per bushel receiving $500 and
b had IS sacks left for seed
Al average gross profit of s2l0 per
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 po-
'ato farming opportunities of Idaho
really are.
Going a little more extensively into
figures, We may safely presume that
NE average family of. say. FIVE per
sons consumes about Eve pounds OF
Potatoes per day. That ought to be a
hperal estimate-a pound OF potatoes
per day for each member OF the fam
ny large or small
The 3s.es5 pounds Of potatoes raised
oy Nr Snyder on his prize acre OF
Idaho land would. therefore. supply
me potato needs OF more than % such
families for year. allowing each fam
ny 1926 pounds. or 2sA bushels
Is fair TO say that a $50 gross
Nea from an acre OF wheat Is a good
return So We see that Mr. Snyder's
ll1e acre Of potato land brought
form as much money as would eight
acres q wheat land.
8 Mr Snyder we're to realize from
Yen acres Of his potato land as well as
n ail from the three acres which gave
MN $3.50. he would have $1,000 at the
e-iu q the season, besides more than
enough spuds for his own use and for
ue next seasons planting.
there's real money" In Idaho pota-
toes.
me combination that won the Bur
- prize says Mr.. Snyder. was the
.nosl productive soil in the West, eli
na'e unexcelled. plenty Of water for
n"sation at all times. one of the best
'a'leues Of spuds. and man with
some experience and not afraid Of
work"
ms words make clear the advan-
ages and possibilities OF the Oregon
snort Line country. All Of the farm.
~ VINO entered the contest in which