The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-05-19

N0S8Ip ko0 Al0Bly xQ40 VI SOA knS
ctmmercial dignity Of Oats and Alfai-
Of Barley and Rye. and we count
item Is sources of great wealth for
those who make the earth their serv-
aht
But. granting to the grains and for
akes the credit that IL due, there are
vide stretches Of land In Idaho pro-
ducing cash yields from potatoes that
make the average grain production OF
states farther east appear exceedingly
small
And there are % many more acres.
Of the same kind. that have not yet
been given . 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
a 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 . single acre of
lend in territory tributary to the Ore
spn Short Line. Pacific 4 Idaho North
EN-. Idaho Northern, Idaho Southern
and Payette Valley railroads.
The Oregon Short Line. together
Yith the amliated lines mentioned
Above, traverses the states of Idaho.
Utah. Oregon. Washington, Montana
and Wyoming, SO ii will be readily
Reen that the winning ofnprizes for
Which there were competi0Dfs from SO
wide q territory was an accomplish
ment of great importance TO the vic
tofious state and of lasting credit 10
the successful growers.
The results of this contest, partici-
pafed in by so many of the most pro-
gressive farmers in the prescribed dis
>sTict, 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. Gill
more, with the ''Peachblow" variety.
On his winning acre of Idaho land
Mr.. Snyder raised GAS bushels OF pota-
toes, weighing 3S.6s5 pounds. The
culls weighed ALSO pounds. leaving
"a. 535 pounds of the finest marketable
potatoes, or about SIS bushels.
At 20 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 20 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 sos sacks
OF potatoes. averaging 10 pounds 70
the sack He sold 1900 bushels at AZ
cents per bushel. receiving $500, and
Fe had rs sacks left for seed.
Pan average gross profit of $210 per
IRE, when we consider how much
1aller is the average gross profit
bm an acre of grain, gives the read
fair idea of what the intensive po-
10 farming opportunities of Idaho
lily are.
aing a little more extensively into
k6res. we may safely presume that
lie average family of, say, 1--WE per-
fns consumes about FIVE pounds of
I ktatces per day. That ought to be a
Hberal estimate pound of potatoes
4r day for each member of the fam
y. 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 a year. allowing each fam
lily LIPS pounds. or 2ss4 bushels.
It is fair to say that $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 a 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 of first honor
came out wonderfully well. Mr.. Gil
more harvested 37.476 pounds of
sPeachblow" potatoes from the acre
that won tor him the second prize, and
many others were close competitors.
g. Added announcement for those who
have never tried potato growing as
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 a farmer. He took up po-
tato growing In Idaho because he
thought il offered an agreeable and
profitable occupation. and he has made
he results Of each year better than
those OF the year before.
Speaking a short time ago. Mr.. Sny-
der said: Il have always said that We
have the best irrigated country in the
United States Mr.. Burley gave us
chance to prove it. and II was as much