408 THE POTATO 



NEVADA 



In a very fine book on Nevada, published by the 

 Homeseekers' Bureau of the Sunset Magazine, San 

 Francisco, Cal., in an article by C. A. Norcross, 

 Commissioner of Agriculture of Nevada, it is 

 stated that the potato is the principal export of the 

 state. The Nevada potato has taken the first 

 award at several fairs, international expositions, 

 and produce shows. It grows evenly, when prop- 

 erly cultivated, of uniform size, clear and healthy 

 skin, firm texture, free from disease, is not watery, 

 and when cooked is dry, mealy, and white as a 

 snowdrift. It is no mean agricultural art to get 

 the best results in potato growing. It requires 

 experience and intelligence to know when and how 

 to plant the crop, how deep the irrigation furrows 

 should be and the precise quantity of water re- 

 quired. But where the art is mastered, the profits 

 from potato growing one year with another are 

 very great. The average yield is about six tons 

 to the acre, or 200 bushels, under any reasonably 

 skilful handling, but the leading potato growers of 

 the state grow from eight to fifteen tons per acre. 

 The average selling price is about $20 per ton, or 

 60 cents per bushel. A net profit of $200 per acre 

 on the crop is not unusual in seasons of good prices. 



