The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-05-03

Inc report Oh our StdIe bureau v
statistics, for instance, shows that II
1910 the farm value per acre OF va
rious crops was as follows:
Wheat ........ ...'..''''''' fEo'' ~
Gate ........ 81. "a
porIev ,... "a. 0C
Corn ,, ,......... - 0S
uov ....... rs. 70
sugar peete ...... SO .0j
Alfalfa Seed ...... IS. "a
potatoes .,. So 6S
That set OF figures carries its own
moral. Yet the states total acreage
in wheat is 100000 while there are
but $4,000 acres in potatoes. Tor
course part OF the wheat land - non
irrigated and Is thcieiorc INSURED W
potatoes or othe. similar crops)
Comparing wheat with potatoes In
another way, we notice that the
total acreage planted to potatoes in
this state was only ca per cent of
that planted to wheat, but the value
Of the potato yield was SO per cent
of the value Of the state yield OF
wheat. Our average production for
ten years is 146 bushels per acre
which Is much higher than that or
most states but not so high as Ne
yada's 1856 or Names 1889. We still
have other states to surpass. In our
acreage yield we stood second among
all the states in 1909, third in 1910,
and sixth in 1911. AS to quality, only
six states stood higher than Utah in
the ten year average.
In 1910 we stood thirty-fourth
among the states in total yield OF
potatoes and in 1911 we stood twenty
seventh. (Thls was not entirely due
however, to an increase in our own
yield but partly to decrease In the
crops OF other states). We can evil
IDENTIFY raise more potatoes 10 the
acre than most OF the other safes
but we need larger acreage. Only
two acres out OF every hundred OF
our cultivated land are now planted
in potatoes.
We are able to take high rank in
the matter of potato raising. The
high altitude of Utah is a point in its
favor for the potato is at home In
such climate. In fact II was frst
discovered by early explorers grow
ing wild in the high ranges OF Cen
trail America. A very high proportion
of the days are clear. Few potato
diseases bother Utah farmers. Titan
is excellently located for shipments
to the big markets both east and
west. utah's production and value
OF crop is greater than that OF most
of the states with which she direct
ly completes.
Not enough attention is paid to
market requirements, The man who
can ship straight car loads OF a first
class variety, true to name, gets the
best price for his product, except that
which goes to the man who sorts his
potatoes, boxes them, and markets
them as a fancy product. In utah at
present we are willing to ship mixed
car loa,ls and are not careful enough
to keep our varieties true 10 nainC.
When farmer selects single va
riety for growing, sticking strictly to
that, his crops can be made ID yie.d
higher returns.
We will in the future plant more
land to potatoes and will secure great
increases in production due to better
methods. Improved strains and va
rieties will count a great deal, and
a better understanding OF seed pota'
toes and OF the laws OF production
will be big factor.
Our present annual crop is about
100000 bushels. Suppoa NAT ~
the use OF greater care and science,
without increasing the acreage ~
all, we were able to Increase the farm
value OF the crop by even ten per
cent That is close to minimum
yet It would be an item worth striv'
ing for.
To help develop this Industry The
National Copper Bank instituted last
year Potato Growing Competition,
giving II prize to the boy under eign-
teen who raised the best potatoes,
This will be continued each year
The competition is under the direc-
ion Of Louis F. Boyle, b. S. A.
There Is a cash prize OF 800 and the
silver trophy cup-a beautiful and
costly piece Of workmanship on which
will be engraved each year the name
OF the winner and his address. II q
boy wins the cup three years In sue
cession he is entitled to keep Il per
manently, and new one will he OF
fered in its place. The winners o
second and third place will also b.
recognized, as will the leading DO,
from each county. The cup, bearin
the winners name, is shown in III