Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-05-17

trlct, 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.
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 GAS bushels of pota-
toes, weighing 1855 pounds. The
culls weighed also pounds, leaving
34,535 pounds OF the finest marketable
potatoes, or about SIS bushels.
At 10 cents per 100 pounds, or 40
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, or
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 895 sacks
Of potatoes. averaging 10 pounds to
the sack. He sold 1900 bushels at AZ
cents per bushel, receiving $500, and
he had rs sacks left for seed.
An average gross profit Of $40 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 pc
tato farming opportunities of Idaho
really are.
Going little more extensively into
figures. we may safely presume that
the average family Of. say. five per.
sons consumes about five pounds OF
potatoes per day. That ought to be q
liberal estimate pound Of potatoes
per day for each member of the fam.
lily, large or small.
The 3S,6S5 pounds OF potatoes raised
by Mr. Snyder on his prize acre OF
Idaho land would, therefore, supply
the potato needs Of more than 22 such
families for year. allowing each fam
lily 1,725 pounds, or 28A bushels.
It is fair to say that $50 gross
yield from an acre Of wheat Is q good
return. So we see that Mr.. Snyder'l
prize acre Of potato land brought
forth as much money as would eight
acres of wheat land.
II Mr.. Snyder were to realize from
ten acres of his potato land as we'll az
he did from the three acres which gave
him $500, he would have $2.100 at the
end OF the season. besides more thar
enough spuds for his own use and fol
the next seasons planting.
There's real money" in Idaho pota
toes.
The combination that won the Bur
ley prize" says Mr.. Snyder, was the
most productive soil in the West, eli
mate unexcelled, plenty of water fol
irrigation at all times, one of the best
varieties of spuds, and a man with
some experience and not afraid o.
work"
His words make clear the advan
tages and possibilities of the Oregon
Short Line country. All of the farm
ers who entered the contest in which
Mr.. Snyder carried of first honol
came out wonderfully we'll. Mr. GIL
more harvested 37.476 pounds o.
"Peachblow" potatoes from the acrt
that won for him the second prize, ant
many others were close competitors.
Added encouragement for those who
have never tried potato growing as 9
profit-mSking business is found In the
fact that Mr.. Snyder's potato expert
ence began only five years ago.
Up to 1905, when he moved to Idaho
he had lived upon cattle and ha,
ranches. had engaged in dairy, livery
and mining work, but had not had ex
perience ASA farmer. He took up po
tato growing in Idaho because he
thought 1t offered an agreeable ane
profitable occupation. and he has made
the results Of each year better thar
those of the year before.
Speaking short time ago. Mr.. Sny
der said: Il have always said that W.
have the best irrigated country in the
United States. Mr.. Burley gave US {
chance to prove 1t, and it was as much
the opportunity of showing that w
could make good, as the money, which
induced me to go into this competi
ton"
Notwithstanding his achievement
Mr.. Snyder does not believe that hi!
record will stand. He has too grea
a faith in the potato industry and ii
Idaho to permit such an opinion. ''
do not think we have reached the limit
by long way" he remarks. conf
IDENTIFY, and there are thousands VIII,
are familiar with that country VIII,
are ready to echo the assertion.
l The fact Is that large profits from
potato raising in Idaho are the rule
not the exception. H. P. Frodsham. ,
farmer In the American Falls district
commonly takes 500 bushels from al
acre. his yield per acre thus being, a
"a cents per bushel, $40.
Someone who knows the condition.
In and the possibilities Of Idaho hal
said that 1T is a maxim in southern
Idaho that the new settler. with littll