CHAPTER I 



IMPORTANCE OF THE POTATO 



DURING the season of 1911-1912 the United 

 States has imported large quantities of 

 potatoes from Europe. The crop of 1911 

 was a good many million bushels short of the 

 needs of the nation. 



This situation causes the thoughtful student of 

 the food problem to ask why we do not grow more 

 potatoes. Have we not a sufficient area suited 

 to the crop? or is the average production per acre 

 too low, and if so, can it be increased? 



A potato shortage is apt to result in this 

 country any year that weather or soil condi- 

 tions are unfavorable in 'our principal producing 

 districts. 



We can and must grow more and better po- 

 tatoes. There are good undeveloped districts 

 that can produce a large tonnage, and by better 

 methods of propagation and cultivation the yield 

 on areas now in the crop can be very greatly in- 

 creased. 



The potato comprises about 25 per cent. of\ 

 the food of European and English-speaking 

 people. Only the Oriental races exist without 

 it. If the potato crop of Europe should fail, 

 famine would result, as it did in Ireland between 

 1840 and 1850. More pounds of the potato are 

 produced than of any other food crop in the 

 world. 



