144 



THE POTATO 



I 



"The more expensive method of growing potatoes 

 usually gives a yield of 275 bushels or more to the 

 acre. Unless an application of barnyard manure 

 is made in addition to the expense estimated, at 

 an added cost of from $5 to $10 per acre, the less 

 expensive method rarely produces more than 125 

 bushels per acre and in a great many instances 

 decidely less than 100 bushels per acre. The in- 

 crease in yield as a result of the more costly method 

 is sufficient to more than pay the difference in 

 cost, supposing potatoes to sell as low as 33| cents 

 a bushel. One hundred and twenty-five bushels 

 per acre grown at a cost of $15 per acre and sold 

 at 33| cents a bushel yield a net profit of $26,66 

 per acre. Two hundred and seventy-five bushels 

 per acre grown at a cost of $60 per acre and sold 

 at 33| cents per bushel yield a net profit of $31.66 

 per acre. The second profit is $5 more per acre 

 than the first. 



"A farmer in Van Buren County, Mich., states 

 that his potato crop, mostly marketed in the fall, 

 sold at an average price of 44 cents a bushel for a 

 period of ten years. At the latter price the more 

 expensive method of culture would yield a profit 

 of $61 per acre, against $40 from the cheaper 

 method. Furthermore, some of the leading potato 

 dealers of the North have stated emphatically 

 that a better quality of potatoes is normally ob- 

 tained with large yields than with small." 



The dean of the College of Agriculture of the 

 University of Maine, Dr. WiUiam D. Hurd, says: 



"Many questions are asked as to the cost of 

 growing an acre of potatoes. So many things, 

 different circumstances, facilities for carrying on 



