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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 1928)
4 THE OREGON STATESMAN FARMING .4.VP INDUSTRIAL MAGAZINE SECTION. The Slogan Pages' are Yours; Aid in Makingthem Helpful to vYour Wonderful City and Section SALEM DISTRICT INDUSTRI THE STATESMAN dedicates several pages each week in the interest of the fifty-two to a hundred basic industries of the Salem District. Letters and articles from people with vision are solicited. This is your section. Help make Salem grow. SLOGAN ARTICLE PRIZES OFFERED TO STUDENTS OF THE VALLEY COUNTIES The Statesman will pay $5 a week, till further notice, to the student of any school of a Willamette valley county, public or private, college or university, who will submit the best suitable article on the current Slogan subjects. The articles are to be in the office by noon Wednesday preceding the date of the Slogan subjects. The articles submitted to be long to The Statesman. The editor is to judge as to the best, in deciding who shall receive the $5, or whether any are worthy of a prize. There will often be special prizes for articles of merit not receiving first prize. The idea is to furnish an opportunity to make members of the rising gen eration acquainted with the many and great advantages of the district in which they are likely to take active part in the future. They are to be the leaders of our industries as they grow into manhood and womanhood. First prize article this week by Ray H. Lafky. POTATO INDUSTRY HERE IMPORTANT Editor Statesman: At the present time the raising of potatoes ie one of the leading crops in the agricultural industry. Approximately three-quarters of a century ago, potatoes began to be recognized as an edible food of high standing. Previous to this time they had been used as hog and cattle feed. The demand is still growing and their use is steadily becoming more universal. In 1916, twelve years ago, enough potatoes were raised to supply each inhabitant of the earth with four bushels of potatoes. Since that time the ratio has approxi mately doubled. Salem is so situated as to be the center of a rather large potato in dustry. The growing of potatoes extends as far east as Silverton, as far west as Corvallis, as far north ae Oregon City, and as far south as Albany. These are the limits of our immediate vicinity, but there are a couple of other such centers, although minor, namely: (1) the Deschutes valley and (2) the Klamath Lake region. The acreage in the vicinity of Sa lem is capable of producing a very sizeable crop. Three states, which all border on Oregon, grow fine potatoes, but the quality and the nature of the potatoes in the Willamette valley are such ae are required for seed in these other states. As theae other states are not capable of pro ducing their own Beed potatoes, they turn to and receive a good part of their seed from the Wil lamette valley. Hyde and com pany, a local branch establishment for a California concern, purchase seed potatoes which are then shipped to California. Not only does the seed potato industry from around Salem supply largely the seeds for California, Washington, and Idaho, but likewise some of the irrigated sections of eastern Oregon, It would be a rery plausible taiag to estshttsa a starch factory in or near Salem, this being the center of the Willamette valley potato Industry. This would con sume those cull potatoes which are otherwise wasted. The fact that people stick to raising potatoes here in this sec tion, while there are many other things to take up raising, goes to show that it is not an unprofitable enterprise. Among the numerous growers who go in for large scale planting is the example of Mr. Cunningham. For about the last decade he has planted about SO to 200 acres per year and has made it a paying business. As Salem is the center of the seed potato industry it is not so materially affected by bad market prices and as there is no close com petitor in thi line of the potato industry she should retain her Im portance. Ray IL Lafky, 201 Mission St. Salem, Or.. Feb. 16, 19 2 S. E Editor Statesman: The most popular and widely used vegetable in the world, as every knows, is the potato. The potato was not known in America until after the middle of the 16 th eentury, when they were first 1 SHOULD MORE GOOD SPUDS THIS WEEK'S SLOGAN DID YOU KNOW that Salem is the marketing and ship ping raster of a considerable potato industry; that wr ' can grow here at a big profit the seed stock for neigh bormg states, especially for the California growers, who want seed not grown on irrigated lands; Kj with proper seed selection, planting, cultivation, rotation, storage acih ties, grading, and packing, we can compete with any market in the United States; that part of the Mcrpla may ha some years be taken for dehydration here and we will sorely soon get starch and potato flour and, dextrine factories; that no farmer can make a mistake in jgrvwing in this territory the right kind of potato? ' brought to Virginia from Peru. They are not call "Irish" because they originated there but because their introduction to Ireland saved the people from a terrible famine. A great many potatoes are grown around Salem, but it is possible and would be very profit able to grow more. Producing more potatoes would increase our manufacturing, because starch can be obtained from potatoes, also alcohol, which is used as a substitute for petrol in running motors. The Germans make flour out of potatoes, too. By having more manufacturing the community would grow not only in population but in fame. Potatoes do best in well drained, sandy loam soil, and river bottom soil is especially good. Many high grade potatoes are raised along the Santiam near Jefferson. Un der favorable conditions 20 bushels cut in half to an acre wiU yield about 320 bushels. New plants may be either grown from seeds or from old potatoes or pieces of the potato containing an eye, but the result is very dif ferent. An old potato used as a seed will yield the same variety, while those grown from seeds show considerable variation from the parent stock. They should be planted from a foot to 16 inches apart in the row and four Inches deep. The potatoes should be har rowed frequently until the plants are above the ground and then they should be cultivated at inter vals. The harvesting may be done by band or mechanical digger. A digger drawn by horses will cover from four to six acres a day. The ordinary type of machine has a shovel point which works into the ground, lifts out the rows of po tatoes, and deposits them on an elevator. The later shakes ' out the earth and leaves the potatoes on the ground behind. Very of ten new potatoes are dug by hand, as their tender skins are easily injured by the use of machinery. Potatoes are subject to several forms of potatoes rot or blight. The most effective measures for checking these are spraying the young plants with Bordeaux mix ture. The chief insect enemy is the potato bug. Rotation of crops, care in selecting seed prices, avoidance of Infected soil and soaking seed tubes in a solution of corrosive sublimate are recom mended as preventive measures. Potatoes as a food are very high in energy substances, as they are made up mostly of carbohy drates, the chief one being starch. If we people of Salem and vicinity do not grow more potatoes we are not living up to the possibilities that may be attained. Olive Josephine Andersen. 865. Marion St., Salem, Ore. Feb. 15, 1928. MIGHT DAVE GREAT SPUD CENTER HERE Editor Statesman: The potato is the most popular and widely used vegetable in the world, belonging to the tobacco plant and the tomato plant. The potato production ranks next to that of cereal crops, in every civi lized country of the temperate xone; although it was not until Columbus discovered America this curious plant was taken to the old world, where it has been used ever since. The American Indian was probably the first to use the po tato. Why is the potato called tne "Irish potato?" It Is called the -Irish potato" because its introduction saved the Irish people many times from famines, and not because It. is a native of the island. Potatoes do best on well drained sandy loam, or even a very sandy soil where it will be permitted to spread its full size. It is best to use half potatoes for seed, as they show better result with marked difference In the strength of the vine. The tubers should be planted from a foot to sixteen inches apart in the row, and the rows, far enough apart so they will not be disturbed by the cul tivator. They should be covered over with a fine bed of loose soil about four inches deep. Frequent harrowing of the soil until the plants are above the ground and thorough cultivation afterwards Is necessary. A potato crop should not be planted in a fresh manured field, as It will cause the potatoes to hare a rust. Potatoes should be planted at such a date as to bring the crow ing stage of the tuber at a time when there la a sufficient amount of moisture to supply them. So each potato grower must time his crop as to the least effect of the drought. Potatoes are subject to several forms of potato rot or blight which anaca the leaves, stems and fibers. Spraying- the potatoes will check this. The people want a smooth, long ana round potato with only about 7 per cent water. Whr toe rsait. fornia buy Oregon potatoes? They buy them because their potatoes are irrigated and contain too mack water. The Salem district has the soil and the climate and th best po tatoes can be grown here. Why not have Salem a great potato growing center? Raymond Claggett. Rt. S, Box 267, Salem, Ore. February llm. THE POTATO GOOD ROTATION CHOP Editor Statesman: It is almost impossible to thlnk of potatoes without thin kin? the famous Burbank potato. Tins . i i i . variety nae gamea iucu a repmu tion because of its smoothness of skin, its regularsie ,and shapt-. that it is by far the outstanding market potato of the northwest. The Netted Gem is another po tato which, although it ha not much of a market at present. is?. gaining rapidly in popularity be cause of its quality and its very ' good yield. The two favorite varieties of early potatoes are the Early .Rose and the Earliest of All. These are being grown more each year, be cause there is such a demand for these potatoes for use as u vegeta ble that there is a very good price. We all know that the Willam ette valley Is one of the most fer tile valleys in the world; and that it is, without doubt, the fruit cen ter of the world. In spite of tin fact, we also find its soil suitable for the growth of vegetables. The most popular of these vegetables i the Irish potato. There should be (and is being) a staple market for this potato, because there is a great demand for it in Portland, various cities in California, and also in many other states. Nearly all the farmers agree that it would be better to get from a cent and a quarter to two cents a pound than to get from one-half of a cent to four cents a pound. If the farmers could just get such a price as one to two cents a pound every year I'm sure it would be better for the consum er, because nobody likes to pay such high prices for things and would rather pay a certain regular price. Another good thing about the potato crop is that it can be used in the process of rotating the crop from year to year, so as to keep the soil in good condition. It is needless for me to try to tell you the many uses of potatoes, but I will eay that since most peo ple eat potatoes about two or three times a day, and since more uses are found each year, a good plan would be to use our fertile Wil lamette valley soil more and mors for the growth of the most popular vegetable in the world, the famous Irish potato. Lloyd Girod. Fruitland, Feb. IS, 19 It. Danish Farming Hit COPENHAGEN. Feb. 18 (AP) Declining prices for pork and ba con have caused anxiety In Danish farming circles. Theso products are one of the main supports of Danish agriculture. It Is Impos sible, the farmers say, to fatten a pig now without loss. Their lead ers describe the situation as criti cal. To clean stains of delicate col ors (or white) rub with dry bread crumbs or dip la a weak solution V v 1
