6 BULLETIN 695, U. S, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Pacific States the increase during the same period has been from 2 

 to 10.1 per cent. 



In 1916 the South produced 16.9 per cent of the national crop of 

 potatoes, the Mountain and Pacific States 19 per cent, New England 

 and the Middle Atlantic States 30.2 per cent, and the North Cen- 

 tral States 33.9 per cent. 



As has been otherwise stated, the South produced about one-sixth 

 of the national crop of potatoes in 1916, and this crop was very largely 

 of early potatoes. Two characteristic crops of potatoes are pro- 

 duced in this country, the early and late crops, and the southern 

 crop, largely of early potatoes, is mostly for consumption in the 

 North at a time when the late crop of the preceding year has been 

 nearly all consumed and the oncoming new crop of early potatoes 

 sells for comparatively high prices. 



PER ACRE. 



The Bureau of Crop Estimates first determined, by estimate, the 

 average yield per acre of the potato crop of this country beginning 

 with 1866. From that year to the latest year the high averages 

 are 113.4 bushels per acre in 1912, 111.1 bushels in 1904, 110.5 bushels 

 in 1875 and 1914, 109.5 bushels in 1869, 107.5 bushels in 1909, 102.2 

 bushels in 1906, and 100.8 bushels in 1917. On the other hand, the 

 years of low average production per acre are 1881 with 53.5 bushels, 

 1890 with 56.7 bushels, 1887 with 56.9 bushels, 1892 with 62. 1 bushels, 

 1894 with 63.6 bushels, 1901 with 66.3 bushels, 1897 with 67.9 bush- 

 els, and 1878 with 69.9 bushels. Tlie yield per acre in 1916 was 

 80.5 bushels, a low average for recent years which combiued with 

 an acreage below the usual to produce a deficient crop, 



Durmg the 9-year period 1866-1874 the average yearly yield of 

 potatoes per acre was 91 bushels, and the average markedly decHned 

 to 71.3 bushels in the 10-year period 1885-1894. Perceptible recov- 

 ery was made m. the following 10-year period, and much larger re- 

 covery, rising to a new high-water mark, was reached in the 10-year 

 period 1905-1914 with its average yield of 97 bushels per acre. In 

 20 years the productivity of the average potato acre has increased 36 

 per cent. This increase is due to various causes and among these are 

 greater specialization of production, more intensive treatment, and 

 higher fertility of the soil. 



Notwithstanding great improvement in recent years, the average 

 yield of potatoes per acre in the United States is low in comparison 

 with the averages of prominent potato-producing countries in 

 Europe. For the 10 years 1900-1909 the average production of Ger- 

 many is 200 bushels per acre; of the United Kingdom, 193.8 bushels; 

 of Austria, 151.1 bushels; of France, 133.8 bushels; of Hungary, 

 118.7 bushels; and of European Russia, 99.9 bushels; while during 

 the same period the United States averaged 91.4 bushels. 



