Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-05-11
POTATO PROFITS IN
IDAHO

The modest potato Is not sufficiently
taken into account as producer of
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. ~ - - ,f..t. sssss.ss.,... ~,
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
sman
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.
Burnley of Salt Lake City, Utah, for
the best and second best yields of
potatoes produced on single acre of
land in territory tributary to the Ore
gon Short Line, Pacific & Idaho North
ern, Idaho Northern, Idaho Southern
end 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 1t 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 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
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.
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 3S.6S5 pounds. The
culls weighed 4,150 pounds. leaving
34,535 pounds of the finest marketable
potatoes, or about $50 bushels.
At 70 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 4,150 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 S95 sacks
of potatoes. averaging 10 pounds to
the sack He sold $500 bushels at AZ
cents per bushel, receiving $500, and
he had rs sacks left for seed.
An average gross profit of 1910 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-
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 a
liberal estimate-a pound Of potatoes
per day for each member Of the fam
fly. 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 % such
families for year. allowing each fam
lily LIPS pounds, or 2SA bushels.
1t is fair to say that a $50 gross
yield from an acre of wheat Is a good
return. So we see that Mr.. Snyder's
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 well as
he did from the three acres which gave
him $500, he would have $2,100 at the
end of the season. besides more than
enough spuds for his own use and for
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 for
irrigation at all times, one of the best
varieties of spuds, and man with
some experience and not afraid Of
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 off first honor
came out wonderfully well. Mr.. Gill
more harvested 37,476 pounds Of
"Peachblow" potatoes from the acre
that won for him the second prize, and
many others were close competitors.
Added encouragement for those who
have never tried potato growing as a
profit-making 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 hay
ranches, had engaged in dairy. livery
and mining work. but had not had ex-
perience as farmer. He took up po-
tato growing in Idaho because he