The Caldwell tribune., 1916-09-01
AN EXPERT ON POTATOES
VISITS THE DEER
FLAT BELT

The Deer Flat potato belt is at
tracing the attention of the people of
the whole country. The quality and
quantity OF potatoes raised is bring
ing inquiries by letter and by person
from dealers in potatoes, investors
and home seekers. Every day local
people are receiving letters of inquiry
from friends and acquaintance in
other states
The local people are also investing
in Deer Flat lands. During the past
seven days seven tracts of land, the
smallest being 40 acres, were sold to
local people. A considerable advance
in lands in the Deer Flat country is
sure to take place within the next few
months. The yields command much
larger price than the lands are bring
ing.
Potato Experts Here.
Prof E. p. Taylor, Field Horticul-
turist of the Extension Department of
the University of Idaho, was in Cald-
we'll Monday. Prof. Taylor severed
his connections with the University
September lst. He goes from Idaho
to the Agricultural College of Utah.
Monday Prof. Taylor, E R. Bennett
the new Field Horticulturist and
Plant Pathalogist, Miss NJ. A. Willis,
all of the State University visited the
potato belt of Deer Flat. They were
highly pleased with the conditions as
they found them.
Prof. Taylor has given out the fol-
lowing signed statement of conditions
as he found them and the impressions
he gained. Coming from such a man
they cannot be questioned. The state
ment follows:
Comparing Potato Notes.
| have just returned from trip OF
inspection of the potato sections out
of Caldwell including Deer Flat,
Wilder and Greenleaf and am enthus-
dustry for this section.
Of course | saw some record crops
of alfalfa, clover, corn and grain, but
those potato fields certainly looked
good to me.
Mr.. Nichols and County Agricultur-
al Agent Mccall took party of state
potato specialists and enthusiasts in
cluding Field Horticulturist i. R.
Bennett and Plant Patho1ogist Miss
NJ. A. Willis of the University OF Ida
no, out to the heart of the Deer Flat
potato district where 80 farmers and
potato buyers met at the special seed
plot, where fancy potato seed is being
grown, to compare potato notes and
look over the fine crop. Almost an
equal number met at the Frosig field
at Wilder.
1t was a sight to see the splendid
setting of perfect tubers upon the
Idaho Rurals, nothing unusual to find
from Is to 20 Idaho Rurals of market
For most part the fields are yield
ing we'll and the prices are good.
Some of the old potato mem OF the
section are buying more land to ex-
tend their potato acreage and numer-
Gus new settlers are making land pur-
chases.
The best thing about it is that the
land is changing hands at so low a
figure that when one considers the
soil, climate, abundance and cheapness
of water and the shipping facilities,
that it looks to me as though they
could not help making good.
Early Season Great Advantage.
They have season which permits
the shipping of matured Idaho Rurals
at least two weeks ahead of the most
of the state which gives the growers
a chance at the high early prices
believe that the growers south of
Caldwell over along the Snake river
in the sandy soil should go into an
early potato variety like the Irish
Cobbier or Early Ohio, but the bulk
of planting in Deer Flat and Wilder
should be the good old Idaho Rural
with only light acreage-perhaps
one-third of the crop to Melted Gem
for late potatoes.
On account of getting onto the mar
ket early the bulk of the crop will be
sold at digging time if prices are
good, but growers should have more
suitable cellars to hold them IN when
it is desirable.
l fully believe that the natural ad-
vantages surrounding the district
would justify the extension OF the
potato acreage fully ten times what i,
is at the present.
E. P. TAYLOR,
Field Horticulturist. Extension De,
partment, u. of Idaho.
Aug. %, 1916.