Cost of Growing Potatoes 297 



third in value of crops, but the acreage per farm is very 

 small, averaging 1.7 acres. Of 982 farms in four town- 

 ships, only 33 grew more than 5 acres of potatoes and only 

 2 grew over 10 acres. Nearly all of the crop is grown in 

 this small way, but the crop is usually a profitable one. 



"Apparently the larger acreages are profitable. The 

 average labor income of farmers growing more than 5 

 acres of potatoes is $853. 



"Of 605 farms operated by owners, 11 sold over $500 

 worth of potatoes. These men made good profits. The 

 lowest labor income was $724, and the highest $2146 ; 

 the average was $1511. The farms averaged 141 acres. 

 An average of 6.3 acres of potatoes were grown per farm, 

 with an average yield of 219 bushels per acre. The 

 average receipts from the sale of potatoes were $732, 

 which constituted 24 per cent of the total sales. 



"Of nine of these farms the most important sale was 

 milk, with potatoes second. Each of the farms received 

 some income from hay, grain, eggs, or lambs, etc. 

 The average labor income on these farms was $1575. 



"One farm of 134 acres was a potato, hay and grain 

 farm, with some sales of eggs, milk, etc. This farm gave 

 a labor income of $1649. 



"One farm of 71 acres sold potatoes, lambs, hay, grain, 

 eggs, etc., and made a labor income of $794. On many 

 farms that have soils adapted to potatoes, it would seem 

 desirable to increase the area of this crop. When the 

 crop can be increased to ten acres per farm, it will justify 

 the purchase of a planter, sprayer and digger. Only 

 by growing a much larger acreage per farm can one afford 

 this labor-saving machinery that will go far toward 

 making the crop pay. It will also pay to try much 

 heavier applications of fertilizer." 



