Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-17
ABOUT PLANTING POTATOES.

To the Editor of the Eagle:
The fact that almost if not quite the
entire consumption of potatoes In south
ern Kansas comes from other states has
led to the question whether potatoes can
be successfully raised here or not with
profit?
Being a stranger and much interested
in this matter have made many inquir-
les. but so far do not find any very sat
isfactory answer, but from what l do
gather | believe that so far potato cul-
ture here has not been a success.
1t is a matter of very much importance
to the people of this community to know,
and the conclusion should not be reached
in the negative till thorough effort under
intelligent and careful experiments have
proven it to be so.
find in some places in the city the
soil has mixture of clay that, when
dry, becomes very hard. But this Is not
characteristic of Kansas soil. | believe
there are places on every farm where
potatoes can be grown to profit.
Having had SOME experience in
agriculture, and realizing the iln-
portance of this crop to the
daily supply of every family, |
desire to give few suggestions which |
should be pleased To have tested
on small scale, at least, by the farmers
who read the EAGLE.
First. | would impress this fact on
their mind that early crops ere surest to
be a success as a general rule. l would
plant Just as early dis the frost is out of
the ground and would get the earliest
varieties | could. Plow the ground just
as deep as you can work your plow,
there is no danger of its being too
deep. and if the first blowing
did not pulverize the soil thoroughly |
would plow it again, and continue to
work it till it was fine and mellow. II
not very rich | would mix into the
ground plenty of we'll rotted stable ma
nure | would then mark out the rows
with shovel plow. putting it down SO
rs to get the seed from four to SIX inches
deep when covered.
This method will. with the cool soil of
! spring and the distance to come out. OF
course make the potatoes slow IN coming
out. but they will come in due time all
right, and if the weeds came first
as they very likely WILL put on your
harrow and give the ground good har-
rowing. This may be repeated as often
as is necessary till the potatoes are one OF
two inches high. after which the cult
vator should be used till the tops begin
! to show signs of going down, when they
| should be killed up well with the shovel
plow and kept clear of weeds till ripe.
If the potatoe beetle makes his appear
ance ne must be promptly met with
hand picking or poison; either way. only
so the young vines are not injured by
him.
As to the quantity of seed to plant.
| will add that have had the best success
in planting the whole potato. one in a
| place. say one and.a half or two feet
apart in the row. When they are wei
up go carefully over them and take out
! the weaker plants down to three or four
/ in a hill. The point is to have only a.
many stalks in the hill as will be strong
and make vigorous growth helped in
every way and by every posi-
! bic means in order to have gooc
uniform size. While this method may
seem too expensive and may fail here
know it pays well in the older countries
When a crop will yield from two It
! four hundred bushels to the acre anc
often much more than this. and tn,
work can almost all of it be done bJ
horse power even, at twenty or twenty
five cents per bushel it pay
well, and when the price runs VI
to S1.25 it seems to me too muci
labor is not likely, to b.
put on for the pay it will bring
OF course the earlier the crop can be so
| into market the better, hence my reason
for early planting and early varieties.
However. | think the same methoc
may be used for later varieties will
equal success. but whether early or lat
in maturing. early planting is one of tn
essential points not to be overlooked.
5. 3. NJ