The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-04-06
OUR FARM BUDGET.
Potatoes Neglected Crop-k Demand
= for More.
SCOT In ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Poultry
House-Farm Notes, Etc.


A Neglected crop.
Potatoes now sell in many markets at
about the same price as wheat. The supply
on hand is small, and the quality poor.
As planting time approaches it is believed
that the price will advance. The culture OF
potatoes is neglected IN most of the Western
States. The local market is insufficiently
supplied, and it is rare that any
are sent to other parts OF the coun-
try. Seine seasons large quantities are
Wrought from the Eastern States and Canada
Potatoes are almost the only farm proouct
that is more frequently moved West than
East. Few Western farmers raise potatoes
as a leading crop Most of them endeavor
to procure enough tor their own use' ana
during favorable seasons they have a few 10
sell. There is no ghod reason why this crop
receives so little attention. When the SOIL
and climate are we'll suited to their produc-
ton the yield of potatoes is from five to ten
times greater than that of wheat; when this
is the case no crop pays better, considering
the labor bestowed upon il, than potatoes.
The proprietors of small farms can engage
in the cultivation of potatoes to excellent
advantage as no extensive machinery Is re-
the crop.
Many object to raising potatoes on an ex-
tensiye scale because so much hard work Is
required. They do not like 10 cut, drop,
hoe dig or pick up potatoes Ihey prefer
crop that can be planted. cultivated and
harvested by machinery. They can save
great deal of manual labor il they go about
il in the right sort of way. Whatever they
do toward increasing the yield of potatoes
will decrease the amount of labor required.
By selecting suitable soil and applying a
considerable amount of the most desirable
fertilizers, they will decrease the amount
!. of land needed TO produce a gwen
number of bushels, and by doing so
they will save much labor in blowing, plant
ing, cultivating and harvesting. No more
labor is involved in raising 400 bushels Of
potatoes on an acre tnan in raising forty
bushels Potato raisers should study how
to produce very large crops and thereby de
crease the amount of labor required to raise
a given number of bushels. 1t requires a
considerable amount of labor to pick up a
large crop of potatoes. but this work can be
done by BOYS too small to perform ordinary
= field labor. A machine is now manufac-
tured in this city which renders the harvest
ing of potatoes as easy as that of grass or
grain. 1t removes them from the ground
and collects them free from dirt in a bag or
basket. 1t promises to do for potato raising
what the self binding harvester does for
grain raising. 1t is not economical to use
Il, however, unless one has several acres in
cultivation.
THE BEST FERTILIZERS.
Land which is not quite rich In potash and
lime will not produce a large quantity or a
good quality of potatoes. Newly-cleared
forest land, on which the franks and
branches of trees have been burned, or on
which large quantities of leaves have de-
cayed, are always rich in potash, and on this
account are almost certain to produce a
large amount of potatoes of excellent quail
itY. Weed ashes constitute the most valua-
bic fertilizer for potatoes, as they contain
the largest amount of potash. The ashes
of soft coal and wood ashes that
have been leached for soap-making
are also valuable. Bones prepared in any
manner, as by grinding or softening by
piling them in horse manure, or by treating
4 them with an acid. make an excellent fer
tllizer for this crop. The best way, how
ever, of treating bones for manure is to boil
them in strong I've or to expose them for a
long time to the action of moist ashes. The
mixture of soft bones and ashes to produce
the best results should be applied directly
TO the hill either before or after the potatoes
are planted. The commercial superphos-
phate of lime should be applied in the
same manner to render 1T of the greatest
possible value.
The ordinary product of the compost heap
is excellent for potatoes, il contains car
bon nitrogen and potash. It is not necessa-
~, as many farmers suppose, to burn veget-
ables in order to render the potash they
contain available for fertilizing purposes.
1t is readily washed out of substances that
contain il, and the roots of plants will APP
! propriate it if it is within their reach, Old
straw damaged hay, forest leaves, the vines
of peas and beans. are valuable for fertilizers
of potatoes, especially il they are planted in
land somewhat hard Gypsum, land
plaster. is an excellent fertilizer for potatoes
planted on soil that is quite dry. Barn-yard
manure intended for potatoes should be
well rOtted, thoroughly Pulyerized, and well
mixed with the SOIL These last operations
can be performed by the employment of the
harrow after 1t has been applied to the soil.
Coarse manure should be buried by the
pillow They aid in the growth OF vines. and
afford excellent place for the tubers to
mature in.
PREVENTING scAB ON POTATOES
Potatoes produced from the newer varieties
are less likely to be scabby than those raised
nom the seed OF varieties that have com
menced to run out" The character of the
soil in which potatoes are raised, and of the
manure that is applied to them, also exert
an important influence on them in this re-
sDect. Potatoes grown in soil that contains
considerable iron are very likely to have
rough SklnS, or 70 De so scaOOy that II is
necessary to pare them before they are
cooked. They are in no condition to be
baked. as their appearance will prevent
their being placed On a tasty table. Potatoes
sell much better ii covered with smooth
skin, free from spots or blemishes ofany kind
For home consumption they are greatly to
be preferred The time employed in re-
moving the skin from potatoes before they
are cooked is considerable, and the loss in
volved is large when they are high The
most valuable portion of the tuber is nearest
: to the surface, and in removing the skin be-
fore cooking we lose the part of il that is
Of the greatest value for food. A farmers
wife, in writing to a Kansas paper, has this
TO say on the subject:
Housewives dislike the scabby scurvy Do
tatOes that have in the latter days been SC
common. They do not look nice; they are
wasteful, and there isnothing pleasant abou,
them Still we scrape and wash, and wash
and icrape, for boxed potatoes are real
luxury, and we do not want them boiled.
The other day friend told me how to pre-
p vent potatoes being so rough and scabby.
Two years before, his brother, a small farm
er, fell short of manure, and set his wife to
work to provide cheap substitute He had
MANFRED part of his potatoes in the hill.
had quantity of forest leaves that he had
used TO bank his house, piled up in the