This section is from the book "The Potato: A Compilation of Information from Every Available Source", by Eugene H. Grubb, W. S. Guilford. Also available from Amazon: The Potato: A Compilation Of Information From Every Available Source.
The world's production of various food crops for 1908 is as follows:
Potatoes...........4,927,576,000
Cora............3,478,328,000
Wheat...........3,176,479,000
Barley...........1,267,561,000
Rye............ 1,587,733,000
A comparison between potatoes and rice given in pounds:
Potatoes..........334,431,840,000
Rice...........135,186,068,000
The Year Book of the Department of Agriculture gives the potato crop of the principal potato-growing countries as follows:
(No statistics for Switzerland, Portugal, Argentina, Transvaal, Egypt and some other less important potato-growing countries.)
North America | Year 1904 Bushels | Year 1908 Bushels |
United States ............... | 332,830,000 | 278,985,000 |
Mexico ........................ | 527,000 | 469,000 |
Newfoundland ................. | 1,350,000 | 1,350,000 |
Canada ....................... | 55,436,000 | 74,746,000 |
Total........... | 390,143,000 | 355,550,000 |
South America Chile................ | 6,131,000 | 8,063,000 |
Europe | ||
Austria-Hungary..... | 520,461,000 | 639,407,000 |
Belgium .................... | 91,632,000 | 82,846,000 |
Denmark ................... | 24,214,000 | 29,752,000 |
Finland ................ | 15,465,000 | 20,432,000 |
France.............. | 451,039,000 | 375,000,000 |
Germany............ | 1,333,326,000 | 1,702,803,000 |
Italy................ | 29,000,000 | 29,000,000 |
Malta............... | 733,000 | 692,000 |
Netherlands. | 94,421,000 | 96,695,000 |
Norway... | 17,253,000 | 28,030,000 |
Roumania........... | 3,001,000 | 4,310,000 |
Russia (European).. .. | 893,908,000 | 1,060,135,000 |
Servia ................. | 718,000 | 645,000 |
Spain. . .. | 84,000,000 | 84,000,000 |
Sweden ....................... | 51,314,000 | 78,020,000 |
potato statistics - continued.
Europe | Year 1904 Bushels | Year 1908 Bushels |
Great Britain .................. | 133,961,000 | 146,258,000 |
Ireland ................... | 98,635,000 | 119,455,000 |
(Total Great Britain and Ireland)....... | (232,596,000) | (265,713,000) |
Total........... | 3,843,081,000 | 4,497,480,000 |
Asia | ||
Japan ............... | 11,274,000 | 21,023,000 |
Russia (Asiatic) .................. | 18,800,000 | 22,588,000 |
Total............. | 30,074,000 | 43,611,000 |
Africa | ||
Algeria .................... | 1,655,000 | 1,803,000 |
Cape of Good Hope... | 1,942,000 | 1,304,000 |
Natal............... | 451,000 | 405,000 |
Total............. | 4,048,000 | 3,512,000 |
Australasia | ||
Australia ............. | 16,777,000 | 14,021,000 |
New Zealand ............... | 7,795,000 | 5,339,000 |
Total............. | 24,572,000 | 19,360,000 |
Grand Total....... | 4,298,049,000 | 4,927,576,000 |
A comparison of the total value with that of other 1909 crops in the United States is interesting:
Acreage | Production | Value | |
Potatoes .............. | 3,525,000 | 376,537,000 | 206,545,000 |
Corn ............... | 108,771,000 | 2,772,376,000 | 1,652,822,000 |
Wheat............... | 46,723,000 | 737,189,000 | 730,046,000 |
Oats................. | 33,204,000 | 1,007,353,000 | 408,174,000 |
Barley ................ | 7,001,000 | 170,284,000 | 93,971,000 |
Rye.................. | 2,006,000 | 32,239,000 | 23,809,000 |
Buckwheat........... | 834,000 | 17,438,000 | 12,188,000 |
Rice................. | 720,225 | 24,368,000 | 19,341,000 |
While of increasing importance in the United States, there are other crops that outclass it here. This is due to the fact that this is one of the great grain-producing countries of the world, and that the potato industry is capable of almost unlimited expansion here. In Europe its relative importance is very much greater than in the United States. A resume of the potato industry in the United States from 1866 to 1909 shows the increase in its importance and volume:
Acreage, Production, Value, Prices, etc.
Year | Acreage planted and harvested | Average yield per acre | Production | Aver. farm price per bu. Dec. I | Farm value Dec. Ist | Imports during fiscal year beginning July I |
1866 | 1,069,000 | 100.2 | 107,201 000 | 47.3 | 50,723,000 | 198,265 |
1867 | 1,192,000 | 82.0 | 97,783,000 | 65.9 | 64,462,000 | 209,555 |
1868 | 1,132,000 | 93.8 | 106,090,000 | 59.3 | 62,919,000 | 138,470 |
1869 | 1,222,000 | 109.5 | 133,886,000 | 42.9 | 57,481,000 | 75,336 |
1870 | 1,325,000 | 86.6 | 114,775,000 | 65.0 | 74,621.000 | 458,758 |
1871 | 1,221,000 | 98.7 | 120,462,000 | 53.9 | 64,905,000 | 96,259 |
1872 | 1,331,000 | 85.3 | 113,516,000 | 53.5 | 60,692,000 | 346,840 |
1873 | 1,295,000 | 81.9 | 106,089,000 | 65.2 | 69,154,000 | 549,073 |
1874 | 1,310,000 | 80.9 | 105,881,000 | 61.5 | 65,223,000 | 188,757 |
1875 | 1,510,000 | 110.5 | 166,877,000 | 34.4 | 57,358,000 | 92,148 |
1876 | 1,742,000 | 71.7 | 124,827,000 | 61.9 | 77,320,000 | 3,205,555 |
1877 | 1,792,000 | 94.9 | 170,002,000 | 43.7 | 74,272,000 | 528,584 |
1878 | 1,777,000 | 69.9 | 124,127,000 | 58.7 | 72,924,000 | 2,624,149 |
1879 | 1,837,000 | 98.9 | 181,626,000 | 43.6 | 79,154,000 | 721,868 |
1880 | 1,843,000 | 91.0 | 167,660,000 | 48.3 | 81,062,000 | 2,170,372 |
1881 | 2,042,000 | 53.5 | 100,145,000 | 91.0 | 99,291,000 | 8,789,860 |
1882 | 2,172,000 | 78.7 | 170,973,000 | 55.7 | 95,305,000 | 2,362,362 |
. 1883 | 2,289,000 | 90.9 | 208,164,000 | 42.2 | 87,849,000 | 425,408 |
1884 | 2,221,000 | 85.8 | 190,642,000 | 39.6 | 75,524,000 | 658,633 |
1885 | 2,266,000 | 77.2 | 175,029,000 | 44.7 | 78,153,000 | 1,937,416 |
1886 | 2,287,000 | 73.5 | 168,051,000 | 46.7 | 78,442,000 | 1,432,490 |
1887 | 2,357,000 | 56.9 | 134,103,000 | 68.2 | 91,507,000 | 8,259,538 |
1888 | 2,533,000 | 79.9 | 202,365,000 | 40.2 | 81,414,000 | 883,380 |
1889 | 2,648,000 | 77.4 | 204,881,000 | 35.4 | 72,611,000 | 3,415,578 |
1890 | 2,652,000 | 55.9 | 148,290,000 | 75.8 | 112,342,000 | 5,401,912 |
1891 | 2,715,000 | 93.7 | 254,424,000 | 35.8 | 91,013,000 | 186,871 |
1892 | 2,548,000 | 61.5 | 156,655,000 | 66.1 | 103,568,000 | 4,317,021 |
1893 | 2,605,000 | 70.3 | 183,034,000 | 59.4 | 108,662,000 | 3,002,578 |
1894 | 2,738,000 | 62.4 | 170,787,000 | 53.6 | 91,527,000 | 1,341,533 |
1895 | 2,955,000 | 100.6 | 297,237,000 | 26.6 | 78,985,000 | 175,240 |
1896 | 2 767 000 | 91.1 | 252.235 000 | 28.6 | 72,182,000 | 246,178 |
1897 | 2,535,000 | 64.7 | 164,016,000 | 54.7 | 89,643,000 | 1,171,378 |
1898 | 2,558,000 | 75.2 | 192,306,000 | 41.4 | 79,575,000 | 530,420 |
1899 | 2,581,000 | 88.6 | 228,783,000 | 39.0 | 89,329,000 | 155,861 |
1900 | 2,611,000 | 80.8 | 210,927,000 | 43.1 | 90,811,000 | 371,911 |
1901 | 2,864,000 | 65.5 | 187,598,000 | 76.7 | 143,979,000 | 7,656,162 |
1902 | 2,966,000 | 96.0 | 284,633,000 | 47.1 | 134,111,000 | 358,505 |
1903 | 2,917,000 | 84.7 | 247,128,000 | 61.4 | 151,638,000 | 3,166,581 |
1904 | 3,016,000 | 110.4 | 332,830,000 | 45.3 | 150,673,000 | 181,199 |
1905 | 2,997,000 | 87.0 | 260,741,000 | 61.7 | 160,821,000 | 1,948,160 |
1906 | 3,013,000 | 102.2 | 308,038,000 | 51.1 | 157,547,000 | 176,917 |
1907 | 3,128 000 | 95.4 | 298,262,000 | 61.8 | 184,184,000 | 403,952 |
1908 | 3,257,000 | 85.7 | 278,985,000 | 70.6 | 197,039,000 | 8,883,969 |
1909 | 3,525,000 | 106.8 | 376,537,000 | 54.9 | 206,545,000 |
The variation in price is worthy of notice, and the fact that the average yield per acre is practically the same now as forty years ago shows the possibilities of advanced work and methods. The acreage has been increasing gradually with the development of the country.
The annual imports from Europe bear a direct relation to the total home production.
The acreage, production, and value of potatoes in the United States in 1909 follow:
State, territory or division | Acreage | Production | Farm Value December Ist |
Maine ............... | 130,000 | 29,250,000 | $13,748,000 |
New Hampshire .............. | 21,000 | 2,730,000 | 1,747,000 |
Vermont ....................... | 30,000 | 4,650,000 | 2,046,000 |
Massachusetts ................... | 34,000 | 4,250,000 | 3,358,000 |
Rhode Island ................... | 6,000 | 750,000 | 600,000 |
Connecticut ................... | 36,000 | 4,320,000 | 3,586,000 |
New York............ | 438,000 | 52,560,000 | 26,280,000 |
New Jersey ............... | 80,000 | 7,200,000 | 5,904000 |
Pennsylvania ....................... | 305,000 | 23,790,000 | 15,464,000 |
North Atlantic .................. | 1,080,000 | 129,500,000 | 72,733,000 |
Delaware ............. | 9,000 | 864,000 | 622,000 |
Maryland ................ | 35,000 | 2,800,000 | 1,848,000 |
Virginia ................... | 60,000 | 5,520,000 | 3,864,000 |
West Virginia .................... | 39,000 | 3,822,000 | 2,599,000 |
North Carolina ................ | 25,000 | 1,850,000 | 1,498,000 |
South Carolina ................ | 9,000 | 765,000 | 880,000 |
Georgia ....................... | 10,000 | 810,000 | 810,000 |
Florida............... | 5,000 | 475,000 | 570,000 |
South Atlantic ................... | 192,000 | 16,906,000 | 12,691,000 |
Ohio.................. | 182,000 | 16,926,000 | 9,479,000 |
Indiana.............. | 95,000 | 9,025,000 | 4,693,000 |
Illinois............... | 164,000 | 14,924,000 | 9,104,000 |
Michigan............. | 348,000 | 36,540,000 | 12,789,000 |
Wisconsin............ | 262,000 | 26,724,000 | 10,155,000 |
N.C.E. of Miss. River.. | 1,051,000 | 104,139,000 | 46,220,000 |
Minnesota ............... | 160,000 | 18,400,000 | 6,440,000 |
Iowa .................. | 145,000 | 12,905,000 | 7,098,000 |
Missouri .................... | 88,000 | 7,480,000 | 5,012,000 |
North Dakota......... | 40,000 | 4,400,000 | 1,908,000 |
South Dakota .................. | 50,000 | 4,000,000 | 2,520,000 |
Nebraska ................ | 105,000 | 8,190,000 | 4,914,000 |
Kansas ......................... | 91,000 | 7,189,000 | 5,679,000 |
N.C.W. of Miss. River. | 679,000 | 62,564,000 | 33,643,000 |
State, territory or division | Acreage | Production | Farm Value December Ist |
Kentucky.................................... | 40,000 | 3,680,000 | 2,355,000 |
Tennessee.................................. | 30,000 | 2,250,000 | 1,598,000 |
Alabama..................................... | 17,000 | 1,360,000 | 1,333,000 |
Mississippi............................... | 9,000 | 783,000 | 744,000 |
Louisiana................................ | 16,000 | 1,200,000 | 1,092,000 |
Texas.................................. | 60,000 | 3,000,000 | 3,180,000 |
Oklahoma.................................. | 27,000 | 1,890,000 | 1,796,000 |
Arkansas......................................... | 33,000 | 2,310,000 | 2,215,000 |
South Central.................................... | 232,000 | 16,473,000 | 14,223,000 |
Mentana.............................................. | 25,000 | 4,500,000 | 2,295,000 |
Wyoming...................................... | 10,000 | 1,600,000 | 1,008,000 |
Colorado............. | 65,000 | 10,400,000 | 5,928,000 |
New Mexico.......... | 1,000 | 85,000 | 86,000 |
Utah................. | 15,000 | 2,700,000 | 1,161,000 |
Nevada.............. | 3,000 | 540,000 | 459,000 |
Idaho...................................... | 25,000 | 5,000,000 | 2,400,000 |
Washington................................... | 41,000 | 6,970,000 | 3,276,000 |
Oregon.......................................... | 46,000 | 7,360,000 | 4,416,000 |
California....................................... | 60,000 | 7,800,000 | 6,006,000 |
Far Western............................. | 291,000 | 46,955,000 | 27,035,000 |
United States......... | 3,525,000 | 376,537,000 | 206,545,000 |
It will be noted that the states rank as follows:
New York......... 52,560,000 bushels
Michigan.......... 36,540,000 "
Maine........... 29,250,000 "
Wisconsin......... 26,724,000 "
Pennsylvania........ 23,790,000 "
The importance given Idaho, Colorado, California, and other Western states in this book is because of the quality of their product and the possibilities in developing and enlarging the industry.
The average production of wheat and potatoes in different countries covering a period of ten years is given:
 
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