142 



THE POTATO 



per acre. The cost of producing a 150-bushel 

 crop is estimated as follows: 



Plowing $ 3.00 



Harrowing .75 



Floating 1.00 



Seed, average planting 700 lbs. at 2c 14 . 00 



Planting 2.50 



Irrigating first year 5 . 00 



Cultivating three times at 50c 1.50 



Digging 1.50 



Picking — 150 bu. at 4c 6.00 



Sacks — 75 at 7c 5 . 25 



Hauling to pit 2.00 



Total $44.00 



If potatoes are worth 50 cents a bushel, this crop 

 would sell for $75, leaving a profit of $30.50 per 

 acre, not deducting rent or interest or taxes. 



If, however, the grower produces a 600-bushel 

 crop, the cost of producing (figuring twice as much 

 seed and increased cost of the operations) would 

 be about $95.75. The crop would sell (at 50 

 cents a bushel) for $300, leaving a profit of $204.25. 



In their work on "Potato Culture" (published 

 by A. I. Root Co. Medina, Ohio), T. B. Terry of 

 Hudson, Ohio, and A. I. Root of Medina, Ohio, 

 estimate the cost as follows: 



Plowing $ 2.00 



Harrowing with Thomas and three horses ... 33 



Rolling 25 



Eight bushels seed at 50 cents average . . . . 4 . 00 



Cutting to one eye 1.50 



Planting with planter 1 . 00 



Harrowing three times 45 



Harrowing four times with weeder 80 



Cultivating eight times, once in a row . . . . 3 . 36 



Bugs 2.00 



Hand pulling or cutting weeds ...... 75 



