Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1886-08-19
Farm and Home.
GROWING LATE POTATOES.

The soil best suited TO the pro-
ductlon of a large yield of potatoes
is a rich loam-n heavy clay soil
being very unsuitable. Nor is there
any use in attempting to grow a
large yield on the land that is not
in fair condition as TO fertility. If
not already rich it should be made
so by the liberal application of
manure. No fresh, stimulating
manures, however, should be used,
or the crop will run to too much
vine.
The mineral ingredients of the
potatoes are also very important,
and when lacking in the soil must
be supplied from some other quar-
ter. The ash OF the potato has been
found by repeated analyses to be
composed of about three-fifths of
potash, one-fifth phosphorus acid
and the other fifth OF soda, mag
nesia, lime, sulphuric acid and
chlorine. So that an acre of pota-
toes yielding, say, 160 bushels
(about 10000 pounds,) take from
the soil about "a pounds of potash
and pounds of phosphoric acid,
showing plainly the value of pot
ash and superphosphate as fertili-
zers for the potatoes. Wood ashes
arc, therefore, particularly valua-
BILE for the purpose, inasmuch as
they contain large quantities OF
these as we'll rs other mineral in
gradients. Plaster, also, (the sui
phate flime,) is very beneficial,
whether applied in the hill at the
time of planting or the plants as
soon as up. Having SAID thus much
in regard to the requirements of
the potato, we will now say some
thing as to the preparation of the
land, etc. The ground having been
previously broken up and well
prepared and which for late pota-
toes may be any time between the
first of June and the first of Au-
gust, and the potatoes cut so as to
leave but o single eye on each
picace, the next thing is to lay of
the rows for planting, about two
and a-half feet apart both ways,
and in the absence of good COM
merc1aI fertilizer, o shovelful OF
barnyard or other manure scatter,
cd over each check, j. c., where the
rows cross each other. In plant.
ing, drop two pieces in each check
and cover with q one-horse bar
share pillow by throwing a turrow
from on either side, thus forming
q small ridge over the potatoes. II
wonld also be well to sprinkle q
few ashes on the pieces of potato
after they are dropped and before
covering up.
And now for the cultivator: AS
soon as the plants begin making
their appearance above ground 8
thick-set, heavy brush should be
run DcJWeen Ine rows, winch WIZ
sweep off the clods and young
weeds, and give a clean, nice ap
pearance to the plants. And then
as soon as the plants are some two
inches high give them a slight
brushing round, with the hoe
plowIng out the spaces between
with the double-shovel, and cross
ing the same in like manner and
Just near enough the potatoes to
cover up any woods without iDjur
ing the vines. Thatis all tho Culti
Walton they will require. We pre-
fer planting IN checks, from the fac
that the, potatoes can be KEPT
cleaner and are much easies dug
careful hand. with q pair OF horses
and plow, throwing out moro pota
toes IN q day than three or foul
hands can pick up, and do it sc
completely that scarcely "a potato
will be lost.-Baltlmore Sun. n