426 FIELD CROP 8 



Ten states produce nearly two-thirds of the potato crop 

 of the United States, as shown in the accompanying diagram 

 (Fig. 131). The remainder of the crop is distributed over 

 practically the entire area of the country, potatoes being 

 produced to some extent in every state in the Union. 

 The states of largest production, however, are mostly along 

 the northern border. As shown in Fig. 132, this crop is of 

 greater importance in Maine than in any other state, occupy- 

 ing more than 5 per cent of the improved farm land. 



557. Acre Yield. The yield per acre obtained in the 

 different states varies greatly. With the exception of Maine, 



5.23% 



Fig. 132. Percentage of the improved farm land which was annually planted 

 to potatoes in the ten leading states and the United States, 1902-1911. 



the states which produce high yields grow only compara- 

 tively small acreages of potatoes. The average yield per 

 acre is higher in Maine than in any other state. In the 

 Rocky Mountain and Pacific states the yield is usually high, 

 as the crop is grown under irrigation. With the exception 

 of California, Colorado, and Washington, none of these states 

 produce potatoes in quantity. In most of the important 

 potato states, the yield is below 95 bushels to the acre. 



558. Soils. Potatoes, like many of the other farm crops, 

 are grown on almost all classes of soil. Medium light loams 

 are best adapted to potato growing, and are likely to give 

 the best quality of tubers, though some excellent potatoes 



