Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-03-08
Essential Points. in Potato Culture.

OO~ ~ WIN os~ASSu w HOV0VO SAACuASS anu
furnishes large amount of vegetable
matter to the soil. Some of the largest
yields on record have been grown on
old sod land turned underin the tau and
lightly plowed and narrowed in the
spring. with atop-dressing of some good
fertilizer. Early potatoes thrive we'll in
a quick light soil. Wet land 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 pillow it
while wet and heavy. AS has been sug-
gested. sod lands are best broken in the
fall. 1t is also good plan to practice
fall blowing on land naturally rich or
that which has been highly MANFRED
for some previou, crop. Then lightly
pillow and harrow it in the spring.
This plan is pre- cradle to highly manur-
ing poor soil, especially when an ap-
plication at time OF planting is made of
bonedust. ashes. plaster and similar ma
terials. Fresh barn yard manure is to
be avoided. When stable manure is
employed let it be old and well rolted.
Fertilizers of a dry, absorbent nature
are advantageous to this crop, especial
ly on lands inclined to be wet. On
warm, dry. light soil, muck compost
proves beneficial; decayed leaves are
also excellent Ashes, by he'way, not
only provide plant-food but tend to
prevent rot. A dress ne of salt and un-
leached ashes. applied during the grow
ing season, is believed by many to be a
preventative of the grub so prevalent in
richly MANFRED soils - .tl
Both hill and drill planting are prac-
ticed 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 tcicnt space both ways for
the cultivator, etc. The usual rule,
when plant NO 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 many failures occur from too
much seed. and not few of our best
cultivators recommend and practice
cutting seed to two eyes. They select
fair specimens for seed, avoiding the
extremes OF large and small sizes, and
cut in pieces large enough to insure
subsistence to the young plants. In
this matter, as in all others. circum-
stances alter cases. 1t occurs some
times that farmer has on hand lot
of small potatoes OF excellent variety;
with these cut to two eyes he may gain
very ia results, other things being
favorable. but this practice long con-
tinued is believed to result unfavorably.
Potatoes should be cultivated from
the time the vines appear, above ground
until they begin to bloom. Remember
that weeds draw largely of the sus-
,tenance required for the developing
tubers; 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 ir sixty
five to seventy US from planting, in
!surIngs a high price and admitting of
"a 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
feared, and in this way advance the
crop. A method PREVALENT of forcing
potatoes at the North isto select whole
tubers of an early variety, place the e
closely together in moderately heated
bed, composed of light loan and the
like. tn ee or -four weeks previous to
time of planting. When ready to plant
these sprouted potatoes are cut in
pieces and set in the ground about three
inches dep. A little st mulating fer
tilizer in the drill, is often supplied for
warmth. and nourishment to the young
shoots
= The potato crop is becoming an i'm
portant one at the South. "a heir use
has increased and their shipment North
as an early product is growing every
season. Potatoes are planted on the
Gulf coast in December or January;
little further north at d somewhat later
date. adapting the time Of ripening to