41^ THE POTATO 



largest potato growers, and he considers fifty acres 

 a good size planting. Many growers have five 

 to twenty acres. 



The total annual acreage of potatoes is from 

 4,000 to 6,000. The average yield is 75 to 100 

 sacks (150 to 200 bushels) per acre, making the 

 production about 50,000 sacks (100,000 bushels), 

 or about 165 cars. The other principal crops of 

 the valley, those with which the potatoes are ro- 

 tated, are: 



Mustard seed about 300,000 sacks of 100 pounds each 



Barley about 60,000 sacks of 100 pounds each 



Beans about 125,000 sacks of 90 pounds each 



Onions about 25,000 packs 



There are places in the valley where orchards 

 have been taken out for the growing of potatoes 

 and other field crops, even though with proper care 

 orchards pay Well. In other places the Sugar 

 Beet Company has bought land devoted to beans, 

 potatoes and onions, for growing beets. These 

 things show nothing but some of the inconsisten- 

 cies of American agriculture. It is certainly not 

 economically right that an apple orchard be torn 

 out just because the owner does not like to "fuss" 

 with fruit, or because he has changed his mind 

 about growing apples. 



Lompoc is unique in that potatoes of the 

 very highest quality are grown here at a low 

 altitude and a southern latitude. The moist, 

 cool atmosphere and the sea breezes make this 

 possible. 



Potatoes have been grown at Lompoc ever since 

 the first settlement, but it is only during the past 

 five or six years that modem methods have been 

 introduced. Now the cultural methods are strictly 



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