THE POTATO 353 



them. The principal supply of this crop, which 

 goes to the markets of the country, is grown in 

 eastern Texas, though it grows well in much of our 

 soil from the Gulf coast to the northwestern boun- 

 dary of our state. 



"The sweet potato is especially adapted to 

 Texas soils and climate. Usually the yield is much 

 greater per acre than that of the Irish potato. 

 In 'Farmers' Bulletin No. 324' of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, on sweet potatoes, this 

 crop is placed among the five greatest commercial 

 truck crops, and ranked as third on the list. No 

 truck crop in Texas has increased in volume so 

 much as this. It is one of the great commercial 

 crops and can be grown over as wide a range of 

 territory as any of the other vegetable crops. 



"As long ago as 1899 Texas ranked tenth in the 

 value of all vegetable crops grown that year. This 

 is according to the twelfth census report of the 

 United States, 1900. The average value per acre 

 for Irish potatoes for 1899 was $33.25, and 

 for sweet potatoes $38.77. The average yield per 

 acre for Irish potatoes was 61.5 bushels and for 

 sweet potatoes 75.7. The average value per bushel 

 was 54 cents for Irish potatoes and 51 cents for 

 sweet potatoes. Hence it will be noted that the 

 sweet potato gives the greatest average value per 

 acre, and explains why there has been such a 

 marked increase in the development of the sweet- 

 potato industry in our state during the last ten- 

 year period." 



