Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1885-05-16
POTATO CULTURE.

The Importance OF the crop An"
Rctter Methods In Growing II.
More attention has been paid to tho
cultivation and Improvement OF TINS
than any other vegetable. grain or crop
on the list of garden and farm pro
ducts. This is no doubt due TO the
prominent place it takes in the food Oh
the people. We speak OF our daily
bread" but the daily potato is AS i'm
portant and necessary to tho tables Oh
all. rich and poor. all over tho land.
Every one wants potatoes, yet the UNI
xersal demand does not make them
a very printable crop except IN certain
f,vored localities where tho soil and
climate are lust suited to their CROWN.
The average Weld of this State at the
average price will bring not over thirty
| dollars per acre. which, considering the
expense of cultivation and the labor Oh
handling in excess Of many other
crops, Is not a large return. Bette,
crops would bring larger returns anu
better profits. and the thing TO hnd out
;s how to raise larger crops and be GER
tain of them. There is more diversity
Of opinjon in regard to the planting,
mode of preparing seed and cultiva-
ton of this crop than is true OF any
other farm crop. One plants early
; another late; one manures with wen
rottcd and another with coarse, I'M
fermented manure; one cuts the
seed to one eve; two eyes. seeo
ends, stem ends and whole tuberS'
LARGO medium and small; one hills
thc7o another prefers flat culture, etc,
to the end. Where there Is so grca'
difference of treatment some one oush'
IN find the right method but all ths
methods turn out very much the Same
: AVERAGE results, and no ono has yc
3 shown manifest superiority over all
As a farm crop from which to exPec
money return. the potato crop Is no
:, considered reliable in most LOCALITIES
It's greatly dependent on the season
as a drouth at tho critical time "ht
y. tubcrs are forming will limit the Siti
on the best prepared soil and with IN
he's, cultivation. For the general Gro
there is perhaps no better condition
" the soil than to turn under clover SO
y that has been well manfred previousi
y on the surface Plow early and the
~ work with a tillage implement that WI
". mellow the soil As deep rs ploweu-
ne this is not done before planting, IL ca
~. never be done edectually. The tube
~ will not grow in hard soil. no matt
~ how rich, and after planting the Sc
"a can no, be mellowed under and clio
about the plants as thoroughly as q
N fore. Plant early and not too thick
Isl common soil. As before stated. no o
a. has learned for a certainty just what
~ the best way to prepare the seed
l L that cut one eye to piece viii 90 l
ng La n,. nntbod One method of sele
inc seed that would seem to be IN
no. line of Improvement is when diggi
To select for seed the most product
hills and the best tubcrs in such M
tSe This would be in the same line as TO
10 lect the most thrifty stock for breedi
purposes.
No doubt a lack of care in selects
VI" seed has been the cause of the carry
ing eaio JUNCTION recurring the prod
~ ton of new varieties This has
'pa' suited only in keeping the product
nis quality about the same - it was ye
1iio AGO; in fact it is questionable II
run , ouality is rs good as then. The Sc
and uon y. - IocaI;tv some yaric
Se' do better in one soil and some IN
other, and il is impossible TO detcrtr
which variety is best suited except
trial and that generally for more
one season Then, again. var
that grows we'll may not be OF G
en- Ii quality. A trial of several varleue
advisable as they come into notice,
give we would never advise buying Il
This quantities at large prices OF anyt
sting new that has not been well tested.
,;6.d OF late the scab, disease OF
a.. skin of the potato. or the work OF :
os'' parasite or worm. which OF these
tude, a,;nn h.en determined bv the s.
tifc investigators. has done much
vege- age in many localities, in many
life. almost running the crop.
&C.. :, opportunity for the scientific de
Us ment of an experiment station t1
iitufe tinguish itself and do great p'
Not cal good to potato growers. by tn
grass, coverv of the cause and PREVENT
upon this malady.
There are many questions conn
with the harvesting and handhi
, luao. this bulky crop when grown in
night Iities ioi 81. Tor himself a
io o.nns profit of the crop will sometimes
on the difference in methods OF ma
~ ing and marketing .-Detroit FoS