The Kevin review., 1926-11-25
TREASURE STATE FARM AND LIVESTOCK
States Potato Industry Has
Had Phenomenal Growth

potatoes being grown were not productiv,
enough, seed quickly iran OUT; returns
were small and no amount of logic would
convince cotton growers to put some OF
their lands into spuds-particularly moi
when cotton was bringing from 20 to q
cents a pound.
Then it was that Professor Tiebout con.
ceiVed the idea of searching the nation oV.
er for strains of seed which would raise
the productive capacity of the south to the
attractive. He secured samples of potatoes
from every important northern potato
growing state, for it was recognized that
the hardier more vigorous seed is grown
in the north; and he planted these in ad-
joining plots at the Louisiana Experiment
Station to determine comparative values.
About this same time, through the ac-
tiyities Of +. M. Harrington, horticultur-
ist for the Montana Experiment Station,
started potato certification work in the
state. This work simply called for a sys-
would insure the use of proper cultural
methods and would result in the produc-
tion of seed potatoes that could be de-
pended upon. Shortly after the Montana
ganized to work with Professor Harring-
ton in raising Montana's seed potatoes to a
higher standard of quality.
The Louisiana tests came to the atten-
tion of the leaders in potato improvement
work and in the winter of 1922 the first
samples of Montana seed were sent south
to be compared with the best strains from
other states. The result of that first COM
parative test is history. Certain strains
from Montana proved outstandingly super
iOr to anything produced in other states.
The next year the tests were tried again
and again Montana stock came out far
ahead.
Then started the movement for building
up the acreage of Bliss Triumph seed po-
tatoes in the state. All attention ives CEN
tered on q few strains which had proved
superior to all Others The strain develop
ed by J. f. Sharples of Zurich, predOmin-
ated. Southern buyers were eager to OBJ
tain contracts with growers in the state
but at this time, Montana was not inter-
ested in contracts; it wanted to build up
the supply. Every effort was made to keep
Montana grown seed at home to be used
as foundation stock by new growers in
the state. Certification rules were made
more stringent, and inspections more rigid
that the high quality of seed which had
already attracted nation wide attention
might be maintained.
In the meantime, the Montana Expert
ment Station organized its system of ex
perimental tests. Every grower who ap-
piled for certification was required to send
a sample of his seed to the station. Each
sample 70 seed was divided into three lots
and these distributed between the testing
fields of Bozeman, Fort Ellis and Corvallis. |
In this way, every sample received triple |
check. Poorer strains were eliminated and |
those with promise, retained for further
testing.
1t was recognized that Montanas pOta-
TO industry was not limited exclusively |
TO the production of Bliss Triumph seed;
Montana's Melted Gems were in great de- /
nand by growers of Washington and Ida
no, and the production OF potatoes Tor the
able also constituted an important part
If the business. Therefore, exhibits at the
annual "Pixy" show at Spokane were en-
to provide a closer contact with
Interested in Montana Melted Gems; and
In annual potato show was organized at
Butte to demonstrate the superior table
potatoes produced in the state, to the con-
These shows have proved Of great
7alue to the growers and are repeated each
vear
AS another means of advertising Mon
anas superior Bliss Triumph seed in the
Outh, particularly Louisiana, where most
f the devlopment work was centered, in
924, Montana growers sent an entire car
Dad of seed to be used by members of All
lubS This seed was distributed to boys
nd girls throughout Louisiana with the
esult that the high quality product from
he Treasure state became by-word ann :
ng Louisiaan farmers.
Each wear for the past three years repre-
entatives of southern growers institu-
ions and organizations interested in the ,
evelopment of the south have organized a
pecial tour to Montana, to view the seed
otato fields of this state; thus to obtain
Ontact with growers and derive first-hand
lformation on the manner in which the
eed is being grown. Likewise, representa-
ives OF MOnCanaS S Seeu growers ana OIL the
tate Experiment Station, visit the south
rn plots each spring and obtain valuable
Ontacts with commercial growers of the
Outh.
Through it all there is a well organized,
efinite plan of development, with the two
ections of the country working hand in
and. While Louisiana has been most ac-
i've in the south, other states also are
Dining in the work. Last year comparative
ests were conducted in Oklahoma, Mississ-
Dpi, Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas,
nd, in each case, Montana stock has Civ
n the usual excellent account of itself
While the entire work represents one of
he finest examples of interstate co-opera-
ion in the history of this country, it also q
Illustrates an outstanding example of To- '
al cooperation. Without the active sup I
ort and assistance of the Montana Potato a
Improvement association, the Montana De- Q
elopment association, the Billings CONNER Q
al club, the Butte Chamber of Commerce,
ne railroads of the state and other organ t
iations, the progress that has been made '
'ould have been impossible. t