St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-14
Irish Potatoes.

DR., w, L. Jones, in Atlanta Constitution,
June 25. 1889, says: "Our Southern
raised Irish potatoes are neither good for
the table nor for planting" This seems
to be the prevailing impression, and has
done much to prevent farmers from grow
ing them for market, knowing that the
population of our cities believe this to be
true, and order their supply from the
West, or obtain of grocers who handle
Western potatoes. DR.. Jones is consid-
cred authority upon such matters, and his
testimony against Southern grown Irish
potatoes is calculated to have great weight
with consumers. The South is now grow
ing great quantities of early potatoes and
finding ready sale for them in Western
markets AS there is quite quantity OF
the old stock of Western potatoes still on
the market, Southern grown must COM
pete with these. AS there is little diff
Guilty in disposing of our potatoes, | infer
that those grown South must be fully up
in quality with those grown elsewhere. l
cannot agree with DR.. Jones, that South
ern grown potatoes are not tit for the
table. and | am satisfied he would agree
with me if he could taste some of the Mis-
sssippi product. | have some on hand at
this writing June q that were dug and
housed May rs, and are to-day sound and
solid, are mealy and we'll favored, and ere
not surpassed for table use by those grown
anywhere. say this after having tried
those grown in every portion of the United
States There is great deal in the soil,
it's preparation and cultivation, and in the
seasons, that affects the quality of the po-
tato. Well drained soil is absolutely
necessary to good potatoes. Wet, mouldy
lands will produce watery, i'll favored tu-
bers. Well drained sandy loan, well fer
tilted, produces dry, mealy, well favored
potatoes. If potatoes are left in the soil
after the plants are "dead," the tubers
will soon become full of ''sap" and unfit
for the table. AS DR.. Jones is doubtless
aware that it is the custom in the South to
leave the potato in the ground latter vines
are dead) to be dug as wanted. To this
fact we are indebted for the impression
that Southern raised potatoes are not SO
good as the Northern grown. have al
ways succeeded in having nicely favored,
dry, mealy potatoes, that sell well ON the
market, both local and foreign (other mar
kets). A plentiful use of green cotton seed
in the drill answers two purposes, one as
fertilizer the other as drainage. Deep
furrows are opened with No 2 turn plow.
and this furrow filled to level with cot
ton seed. Potatoes, cut to two aud three
eyes, are dropped on the seed and covered
by two light burrows with turn pillow.
Every farmer who has used the green seed
knows that the shell (hulD remains in its
original form long after the kernel is gone,
and these hulls keep the soil loose, per-
hitting rapid drainage. On digging, the
potatoes will be found Embedded in these
bulls. and will be smoothe and without
blemish.
l agree with the doctor about Southern
potatoes for seed. prefer those grown
in New York. AS for the late crop, l will
say that do not believe they can be made
''sure crop" have been trying for Ten
years to grow a late crop; have planted in
June, July, August, and have never sue
ceeded in obtaining perfect crop. We
have, every fall, new potatoes, but they
are volunteers, springing up over the field
occupied by spring crop. This year l
planted my late crop with seed FROM the
spring crop, in this way: All small po-
tatoes were thrown in the furrow as fast
as dug and were covered in blowing up
the rext row. Some of these are now. up
and growing nicely, but the stand is not
perfect. | also dropped two grains of
corn is now six feet high and seems to
keep the earth cool. Whether this plan
will succeed remains to be seen. | trust
DR.. Jones' request for information may
bring out some sure plan, but | haTdly
think it wi!l.-W. H. Collins, Carolina,
Mss, IN Southern Farm for August.