St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-23
POTATO CULTURE.
Five Things Essential to Raising Coco
(rOp of the Tubers.

crop OF Inc
The soil best adapted to potatoes is
rich loan, containing abundance OF
organic matter. Five things are es-
sential in the culture of potatoes: First,
dry soil; second, rich soil; third,
deep soil; fourth, a well-pulverized
soil; and fifth, good after culture. The
crop will be abundant in proportion as
these several requisites are regarded,
and deficient in proportion as they are
neglected. The set chosen makes
great difference in the yield. A very
early potato has a shorter time to
grow and mature 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 q great difference in the
yield, varying from 200 to 900 bushels
per acre, cultivated under tho same
circumstances.
The distance of both hills and drills
must depend on the strength of the soil
and kind of potatoes planted, some
val ICtlCS nav liuSh lil SCl WI oii'''A
others, this is modified, however by
the manure used, some kinds promot-
ing the growth of tops at the expense
of the tubers, 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 be put in such condition as to
be perfectly loose and mellow.
Ordinarily speaking, good dressing
of manure will double the products of
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 a poor
soil, the product and profit will be
great only on rich one. 1t 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 a machine
is not at hand the following way, re-
ported from Iowa, can be recommends
ed: An early variety was selected that
would mature if planted quite late.
The object was to have the weed seeds
terminated and a green coat Of vege-
tation to turn under, and, owing to
the lateness of the season, to have
the tubers make quick growth be-
fore the ground became packed 80 they
could not swell. They were planted
June 20. with seed properly cut, one or
two eyes to a set. With a 12-inch
stirring plow one furrow was made; in
the second furrow boy followed.
dropping one set every two feet as near
as possible, planting this way every
third furrow until finished. Flowing
was to - inches deep. If any weeds
started the cultivator was run through.
but the ground was kept as 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 as plowed out, as there were few
potatoes except in every third furrow.
When through blowing the harrow was
used to go over the burrows crosswise,
and thus get nearly every potato. The
| following is the result on one acre:
Rent of % 90
Seed three bushels. ..........-..... W
Ploughing, planting, man, team, boy,
| one-half day. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 200
Digging. man, team and four hands, one
| half day ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 80
Total. .......... ...... Gil so
Amount of potatoes on the acre, $50
bushels.
Harvesting and storing should not
be commenced until the tops are most
ly dead, as the tubers have not arrived
at full maturity before this time. If
dry weather comes after potatoes are
ripe no time should be lost in digging
and securing. Digging potatoes is dis
agreeable, slow work when the ground
is wet; besides, there is danger of rot
ting and freezing if left unsecured. -