The summer of 1838 was more favorable and Mother Nature abundantly blessed their efforts. On September 11, Spalding reported that between 70 and 80 Nez Perce families were cultivating the soil. Some raised as much as 100 bushels of potatoes. Spalding estimated his own crop of potatoes at 800 bushels with a value of about 80 English pounds or $388.

A visitor who later observed one of Spalding's potato harvests commented, "Mr. Spalding has a fine lot of potatoes, and I think he will have at least 1,500 bushels, 500 to the acre. I never saw any that turned out so well."