6S0 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



POTATO CULTURK. 



15Y Al.VA AGioii:, GheslUrc, Ohio. 



During the eleven years from 1890 to 1000, inclusive, the potato 

 growers of the United States produced over one thousand millions of 

 dollars' worth of potatoes, valuing the crops at prices obtained upon 

 the farm. The average ;sield per acre during these eleven years was 

 Ifss than seventy-seven bushels. The average receipts per acre at 

 the farm were |34.57. If one-third of the present annual potato acre- 

 age were released to the production of clover or other profitable 

 crop, and if the remaining two-thirds were given proper fertilization, 

 seed and tillage, it would produce with ease 115 bushels per acre, 

 worth 151.85. There would be no increase in total crop to depress 

 prices, but there would be great increase in net profit per acre to the 

 grower, and it is for this that we, as individuals, till our fields. The. e 

 would be, in addition, the saving of nearlj^ nine hundred thousand 

 acres of good land from the annual potato acreage. Profit in agri- 

 culture must be sought in increased yields from a restricted acreage, 

 permitting a greater percentage of arable land to lie in clover and 

 pasture a sufiflcient portion of the time to guard its fertility. 



This estimate of possible average yield per acre is made guardedly, 

 and is well within bounds. Tens of thousands of growers would re- 

 gard an average of 115 bushels per acre extremely low. It is an at- 

 tainable average for our countrA', and would add many millions of 

 dollars annually to our net profit from the crop. 



PREPARING THE SOIL. 



Potatoes are grown with a fair degree of success in many kinds of 

 soil. The individual grower usually finds himself limited in choice, 

 and may have nothing approaching a typical potato soil, which is 

 deep, friable and retentive of moisture. 



It is the desire of the writer to indicate ways by which fairly 

 profitable yields may be secured from land that is not perfect in its 

 adaptability to this crop, as it is so universally desired on our farms, 

 either for home use or for market. 



Physical Condition. — The first consideration in the selection of the 

 potato field is the physical condition of the soil. That soil of the 

 farm should be chosen which is naturally well drained, retentive of 



