The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-05-19
POTATO PROFITS
IDAHO

commercial dignity of Oats and Alfal
IA, of Barley and Rye, and we count
them as sources of great wealth fol
those who make the earth their serv
ant
But, granting to the grains and for.
ages the credit that is due, there are
wide stretches of land in Idaho pro-
duoing 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
been given chance to show what
they Can do, that the money-malsing
possibilities of Idaho, so far as pota-
toes alone are concerned, cannot be
estimated.
Idaho won nctional 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-
gTessive farmers in the prescribed dis !
trtct, 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 986S5 pounds. The
culls weighed 4,15O pounds, leaving
B4,535 pounds of the finest marketable
potatoes, or about SIS bushels.
A 4 .
cents per bushel the pric- Mr. Snyder
received, the one prize aero produced
In money, therefore, the sum Of
b241.74, besides the ALSO pounds, or
almost 70 bushels in culls, which c
we're available for home use. t
Mr.. Snyder has given to the Com O
mercial Club Of Twin Falls some fur C
ther facts showing the possibilities Of a
potato raising in his section OF the
country. He reports that from three r
acres Of land he harvested 895 sacks h
of potatoes, averaging 40 pounds to b
The sack. He sold 1900 bushels at AZ O
cents per bushel, receiving $780, and S
be had rs sacks left for seed. C
An average gross profit of s210 per Il
acre, when we consider how much ii
smaller T. the average gross profit
rom an acre of grain gives the read tC
er a fair idea Of what the intensive po-
.ato farming opportunities of Idaho Il
'eally are
Going little more extensively into
igures, We may safely presume that Sc
he average family Of, say, five per- pi
IONS consumes about five pounds Of 1t
potatoes per day That ought to be n
LIBERAL estimate pound of potatoes
)er day for each member of the fam
ly, large or small. m
The 38,685 pounds Of potatoes raised Id
~ Mr.. Snyder on his prize acre Of
daho land would, therefore, supply
he potato needs of more than % such -.
antilles for year, allowing each fam ~
ly 1,725 pounds, or 2Sal bushels. te
1t is fair to say that a $50 gross he
Held from an acre Of wheat is a good en-
eturn. So We e that Mr. Snyders pc
,rize acre Of potato land brought
orth as much money as would eight ell
.cres Of wheat land. gu
If Mr.. Snyder were to realize from yo
en- acres Of his potato land as well as
e did from the three acres which gave gr
i'm $500, he would have S21OO at the th
nd Of the season, besides more than bT
nough spuds for his own use and for UT
he next seasons planting. II
There's real money" in Idaho pota-
pes. ~
"The combination that won the Bur III
~ prize" says Mr.. Snyder, was the ne
lost productive soil in the West, cll- III
late unexcelled, plenty Of water for i"i
'Tigation at all times, one of the best
arieties Of spUds, and a man with
ONE experience and not afraid of H.
rork." II" no
His words make clear the advan- ,,,. r'
ages and possibilities of the Oregon aa 90
hort Line country. All of the farm -.
RS who entered the contest in which ,,o w.,
Lr. Snyder carried off first honor
ame out wonderfully we'll. Mr. Gill
lore harvested 37,476 pounds of me
potatoes from the acre on
nat won for him the second prize, and
Iany others were close competitors. WI
Added encouragement for those who II
ave never tried potato growing as a ma
roflt-making business Is found In the d
lct that Mr.. Snyder's potato expert " "
nee began only five years ago. De
Up to 1905, when he moved to Idaho,
Q had lived upon cattle and hay
inches, had engaged in dairy, livery mi
nd mining work, but had not had ex- in
erience as a farmer. He took up po- sh,
Ito growing in Idaho because he by