Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-03-09


The soil acknowledged to be the bes
for the potato is rich loan. sandy, ,and
neither too wet nor too dry. A cloyel
sod Is well suited to potato culture, ant
furnishes large amount of vegetable
matter to the soil. Some of the larges
yields on record have been grown on
old sod land turned underin the iall and
lightly plowed and narrowed in the
spring. with atop-dressing OF some good
! fertilizer. Early potatoes thrive well in
quick light soil Wet Ind should be
avoided. for it produces tubers Of coarse
texture and the reverse OF mealy.
1t pays to prepare the ground thor.
oughly for potatoes Never plow il
while wet and heavy. As has been sug-
! gested. sod lands are best broken in the
fall. 1t is also agood plan to practice
fall p'owing on land naturally rich or
| that which has been highly n anured
for some previous crop. Then lightly
plow and harrow it in the spring.
This plan is pre- cradle to highly maaur-
ing poor soil. especially when an ap-
plication at time OF planting is made Of
bonedust. ashes p'aster and similar ma
terials. Fresh barn-yard manure is to
be avoided. When stable manure Is
employed let it be old and well ro!ted
Fertilizers Of dry. absorbent nature
are advantageous to tbs crop, especial
lyon lands inclined to be wet. On
warm, dry light soil. muck compost
lproves beneficial; decayed leaves are
MO excellent. Ashes. by the way. not
only provide plant-food but tend to
prevent rot A dress ing OF salt and un-
leached ashes, applied during the grow
ing season, is believed bymany to be q
preventative Of the grub SO prevalent in
richly manurei so'B
Both hill and drill planting are prac-
tieed by successful farmers. the former
being the more common method. The
distance apart depends on the variety
of potato planted. some SORTS requiring
more space than others Under all cir
cumstances there ought TO be space
enough to admit of thorough culture; IN
a word. su fciont space both ways for
the ciltivator. etc. The usual rule,
when plant ng in hills. is three TO three
and half feet apart each way, and
drills two and half feet by three feet.
The conviction OF late years appears
to be that manufactures occur from too
much seed' andnot lew oi our pes'
cuitivators recommends ana prac, ce
cutuhg seed 10 TWO eyes iney seiec'
ialr specimens ior seeu, avoia'ng inc
extremes OF large anu smnii sizes anu
cut IN pee $ large enough 10 insure
Subsistence to the young plants. In
this matter. as in all others. circum-
s.ances al'er uses. =, occurs some.
times tnat Iarmer nas on manu- io'
Of smaii potatoes o. eAceiient ,arietyi
with these cut 70 Two eyes ne may gam
very far results. other things being
favorable. but this practice long con-
tinued Is believed TO re suit unfav?rably.
Potatoes should be cult ated from
the time the vines appear above ground
until they begin 70 bloom, Remember
that weeds draw largely OF the sus-
tenance required for the developing
tulers; hence must not be permitted TO
thrive. To secure an early crop the
seed should be planted as soon as the
ground can be put in readiness. Early
varieties are ready for market In sixty
five to seventy days from planting, in
sur'ng high price and admitting OF
q second crop for winter use and for
seed. Farmers near market sprout po-
tatoes for seed in some warm place
when injury from spring frosts are
and In this way advance the
crop. A method prevalent of foic;r
potatoes at the North is TO select whole
lubers OF an early variety. place the Q
closely together in nloderaioy heated