The Penn's Grove record., 1911-05-12
POTATO PROFITS IN
os IDAHO

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. '''' "'-2-
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. 80 0.m
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.. 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 & 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 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-
gressiye 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. e
Through Mr.. Il A. Snyder, the first
prize of $500 was won by Twin Falls
county, Idaho, with the 5"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 4,150 pounds, leaving
1885 pounds of the finest marketable
potatoes, or about 575 bushels. ii
At 70 cents per 100 pounds, or a
cents per bushel, the price Mr.. Snyder
received, the one prize acre produced
In money, therefore. the sum OF
$24f.74, besides the 1850 pounds, OF
almost 70 bushels, in eulls, which
were available for home use. O'r"
I Mr.. Snyder has given to the Com.
mercial Club of Twin Falls some fur
lther facts showing the possibilities OF
potato raising In his section OF the
country. He reports that from three
acres Of land he harvested 895 sacks
of potatoes, averaging ITO pounds tc
the sack. He sold 1900 bushels at Al
cents per bushel, receiving $3.50, an6
he had rs sacks left for seed. 5a
IAN average gross profit of 1910 pei
acre; when we consider how much
smaller Is the average. gross prof
from an acre of grain. gives the read
er a fair idea Of what the intensive pc
tato farming opportunities OF Idaho
really are.
Going a little more extensively int
figures, we may safely presume tina
the average family OF, say. five per
sons consumes about five pounds o
potatoes per day. That ought to be
liberal estimate pound OF potatoes
per day for each member of the IAN
fly, large or small. .ssloa5 std In "a
The $685. pounds Of potatoes raise'
by Mr.. Snyder on his prize acre o
Idaho land would, therefore, suppl
the potato needs OF more than % sue
families for a year. allowing each IAN
lily 1, 725 pounds, or 28A bushels.
'9.i It is fair to say that a $50 gros
yield from an acre of wheat Is a goo
return. So we see that MI. Snyder
prize acre of potato land brough
forth as much money as would eign
acres of wheat land. 3 s.4s,a.
If Mr.. Snyder were to realize fror
ten acres of his potato land as well a
he did from the three acres which CAV
him $500, he would have $2,1oo at tn
end of the season, besides more tina
enough spuds for his own use and TO
the next seasons planting. 5aaI l6o
u There's real money" in Idaho pots
toes. i.8 EEsy a u.8Aa sl5UfIsaa !5ul
""The combination that won the Bul
ley prize" says Mr.. Snyder. was tn
most productive soil in the West, cl
mate unexcelied, plenty of water 70
irrigation at all times, n OF the bes
varieties of spuds, and a man wit
some experience and not afraid G
work. aG&d lJszbat18 XiisHiI eat
lie His words make clear the adyaI
tages and possibilities Of the Orego
Short Line country. All of the farm
ers who entered the contest IN whic
Mr.. Snyder carried of first homo
came out wonderfully well. Mr.. I'll
more harvested 37,476 pounds
"Peachblow" potatoes from the acr
that won for him the second prize, an
many others were close competitors.
Added encouragement for those VIII
have never tried potato growing as
proftmaking business is found in tn
fact that Mr.. Snyder's potato exper
ence began only five years ago.
Up to 1905, when he moved to Idaho
he had lived upon cattle n ma
ranches, had engaged in dairy, liver
and mining work. but had not had e
perfence as farmer. He took up Pr
+ tatos growing in Idaho because d
thought It offered an agreeable an
profitable occupation, and ne has mad
the results Of each year better tina
those of the year before.
CnooLinr n ohort Tina ago Mr.. Snl