The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-06-22
POTATO CULTURE.
Five Things Essential 70 Raising . Decd
Crop II the xabsfs.

POTATO CULTURE.
Five Things Essensial 70 Raising . Decd
Crop u the 1sbsfs.
The soil best adapted to potatoes is
a rich loan, containing abundance Of
organic matter. Five things are es-
scntial in the culture Of potatoes: First
y dry soil; second. . rich soil; third. a
deep soil; fourth. q we!l-pulverized
soil; and fifth. good after culture. The
crop will be abundant in proportion as
these several requisites ere regarded.
and ccScient in proportion as they are
NEGLECTED. The set chosen makes a
great difference in the yield. A very
early potato has shorter time to
grow and mature a crop, hence labors
under disadvantage for want of time
to grow and mature largely. There
fore. late qualities are most suitable
for the main crop; but in the late varie-
ties there is a great difference in the
yield. varying from 200 to 600 bushels
per acre. cultivated under the same
circumstances
The distance of both hills and drills
must depend on the strength of the soil
and kind of potatoes planted. some
varieties having much larger tops than
others. this is modified, however. by
the manure used. some kinds promot-
ing the growth of tops at the expense
of the tubcrs, other kinds promoting
the growth Of tubers. and making the
tops proportionately small.
The soil should be turned in the fall,
or. if friable, it may be done just be.
fore planting; but in all cases the land
should b, put in such condition as to
be perfectly loose and mellow.
Ordinarily speaking. good dressing
of manure will double the products Of
a root crop: rich soil is as essential
TO good crops. and particularly to root
crops. as nourishing and abundant
food is to the fattening of farm stock.
Lean pastures and coarse forage may
keep. but will not fatten. cattle.
1t is equally true that. although farm
crops will live and grow upon poor
soil. the product and profit will be
great only on rich one. It is better
to cultivate one acre of rich land than
three acres of poor land. The expense
of cultivating the latter is threefold
that of the former, while the product
of one rich acre is often equal to the
product Of the three poor acres.
After the land is plowed and har-
rowed. to put in fine filth. If machine
is not at hand the following way. re-
ported from Iowa. can be recommend
ed: An early variety was selected that
would mature if planted quite late.
The object was to have the weed seeds
terminated and green coat of vege-
tation to turn under, and. owing to
the lateness of the season. to have
the tu6ers make a quick growth be.
fore the ground became packed so they
could not swell. They were planted
June 20. with seed properly cut. one or
two eyes to a set With 12-inch
stirring pillow one furrow was made; in
the second furrow a boy followed.
dropping one set every two feet as near
as possible. planting this way every
third furrow until finished. Flowing
was to 12 inches deep If any weeds
started the cultivator was run through.
but the ground was kept rs level as
convenient
When it was time to dig the same
plOw was taken, and the ground was
turned back. Four boys picked up as
fast rs plowed out. as there were few
potatoes. except in every third furrow.
Whom through blowing the harrow was
used to 60 over the burrows crosswise.
and thus get nearly every potato. The
following is the result on one acre:
Rent of ground. q 90
Seed. three bushels. ......... ............ 500
PloughinS, planting, man, team, boy,
one-half day. 800
Digging. man, team and four hands, one
half day......... NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. %
Amount OF potatoes on the acre. $50
bushels.