The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-09-24
N the year 1919 the potato market
of the United States was over

crowded, with the result that un-
der former methods Of marketing
prices in Idaho ruled low. This led to
the formation of an association as a
branch of the North Pacific Distribu-
tors Association. John u. MePher-
son and his assistants are actively en-
gagged in the formation of local
branches tributary to the chief asso-
citation and in the development of bet
ter methods of marketing.
Before the next potato crop is ready
to market, there will be forty-eight
large storage cellars along the line
of the Oregon Short Line, enabling
the growers to store considerable
portion of the crop in these conven-
ient places ready for loading out and
shipping, as markets can be found
and cars secured.
Grading machinery, run by electric
power, will be installed in these eel
lars. The potatoes will be accurately
sized, classified and graded. The bulk
OF the crop will be marketed in three
grades. A composite variety now call
ed the Idaho Rural, leads in pro-
ductiveness, followed by Melted Gem
and Others. One grade is called the
Blue Tag Grade. This comprises po-
tatoes sound, clean, with not more
than 5 per cent of irregularity in size
and shape, no second growth, and
only one variety in sack. These will
be marketed in sacks weighing 15O
pounds. The market now calls for uni
formity in size of sack.
Hotel Trade.
An extra fancy grade of large po-
tatoes with shallow eyes and good
surface, will be selected for highclass
hotel trade. An effort is being made
to market an especially choice grade
Of white potatoes, very even in size
and form, in boxes. A certain class
of trade will even pay the cost of
wrapping these potatoes in paper.
These boxed and wrapped potatoes at
This time are selling at from 80 cents
to IS cents per box. The Panama
trade uses boxed and wrapped pota-
toes.
In the opinion of Eugene Grubb a |
noted potato authority, Southern Idaho
is one of the most favored potato
raising sections in the world. The
possibility of growing very large crops
in this district is indicated by the
fact that more than $4,000 pounds of
potatoes have been grown on one
Acre.
W. D. Gilmore of Payette, Idaho, in
the year 1918 grew 753 bushels and
39a pounds on carefully measured
acre. -Four responsible people helped
TO dig, measure, weigh and certify to
the correctness of this yield.
Large Crops.
Crops of 200 to 300 sacks of pota-
toes are quite frequently secured
where rotation of crop, selection of
seed and methods of culture have
been such as skilled experience ad-
yises.
In Southeastern Idaho some farmers
cultivate large acreage. Beasley
Brothers Of Idaho Falls annually grow
800 acres. Other parties grow pota-
toes by the hundreds of acres, but
perhaps majority Of the growers
cultivate ten to thirty acres. Beasley
Brothers have, by carefully kept ac-
counts, demonstrated that, where meth
DDS of rotation are such as to sup
port the largest yield per acre, using
selected seed and with up-to-date ma
chinery, it is possible to grow pota-
toes and haul them two miles to the
station at total cost Of IS cents
per 100 pounds
To guard against disease, rotation
Of crop is essential. Grain, one year,
alfalfa, two or three years, then DO.
tatoes one year. In the sugar beet
growing district this may be fol-
lowed by beets one season. By not
growing potatoes on the same land in
rotation of four or five years the
crop is kept free from disease. The
fertility of the soil also must be main
tanned A large amount of vegetable
matter secured by turning under al