156 THE POTATO 



Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota the potato acre- 

 age has increased faster than the population in the past 

 ten years. New York comes in the same belt. The 

 per capita production of potatoes in the United States 

 is given as about 3.5 bushels. 1 About one- third of the 

 total crop of the Southern States is shipped North as 

 early potatoes, and some late potatoes are shipped back 

 from the North. The consumption north of Mason and 

 Dixon's line is about 4^ bushels per head, exclusive 

 of potatoes used for seed or starch-making. The 

 South consumes a relatively small amount, being less 

 than i y 2 bushels per capita. 



Knowing the approximate consumption and the 

 area and condition of the crop (obtained from the 

 United States Department of Agriculture reports, 

 which are posted monthly), the farmer can form an 

 idea of the outlook of the business. Thus, in 1903 

 there were 2,916,855 acres grown, and the yield as 

 now known was 247, 1 27, 880 bushels. The table below 

 will show the uses to which this crop was put. In 

 1904 as large an area would need to be planted (a 

 larger one ought to be, because the population is in- 

 creasing); hence, 10 bushels of seed are allowed per 

 acre on: 



Bushels 



2,925 ooo acres 29,250,000 



Plus 10 per cent, loss in storage . . . 2,925,000 

 Used for starch-making, etc. (largely 



small potatoes, etc.) 5,000,000 



Available for human consumption . . . 209,952,880 



247,127,880 



Consult Twelfth Census Report, 1902. 



