The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-02-06
ALLIANCE DEPARTMENT.
MARIETTA 10 URNAL rs THE
Official Organ ofthe Farmers Aliaace
Of Cobb County.
sg- WINE OF cARDuI. Tonic for women.
AN ACRE in POTATOES THAT PAID
81,26O.47.


We have already published the
result of the contest on the one acre
prize for the larges. yield of Irish
potatoes offered by the American
Agriculturist on last years crop,
which was awarded to G. B. Mccoy,
of Aroostock county, Maine, who
harvested from a single acre 1888
bushels twenty-five pounds of pota-
toes. The net proceeds of the crop
at the ordinary market price was
sl6O.4S, which, with the above pre-
MUM of $500, and one of $500 offer.
ed by business firm, amounted to
81 ,260.47, which is in the hands of
Mr.. Mccoy as the reward for the
care bestowen upon his acre of po-
tatoes. This experience is of course
interesting and instructive to all po-
tato growers.
The soil on which the potatoes
were grown is strong clay loan
nearly free from stones, and had a
slight inclination to the east. 1t is
a naturally dry soil and fertile. The
land in 1882 yielded 400 bushels per
acre with very little manuring.
Since that time it has been in grass
"a timothy meadow yielding about
two tons Of hay per acre with little
or no application of manure.
The middle of August, 1888, the
sod was turned under to a depth of
. inches. On April, 30, 1889, the
land was carefully cross"plowed, and
two weeks later was narrowed with
a spring-tooth harrow. This was
thoroughly done, getting the soil in
perfect mechanical condition.
The rows were laid off 33 inches
apart, and in the burrows 110C
pounds Of a good commercial fertili
zer was distributed, and with a hos
was we'll incorporated with the soil
CThe composition of this fertilize
was as follows; Nitrogen, 8 to
per cent; phosphoric acid (available)
to 8 per cent; potash, 5 to 6 pc
cent?
-Four and a half barrels I'll bush
els) of potatoes were used as seed
Two eyes were left to each piece
The potatoes were cut the day be
fore planting, and the pieces sprink
led with land plaster. Only goo,
| sized potatoes were used. About 81.
weeks before planting they wer
brought up out of the cellar ant
spread out on the floor of dry
warm room. When cut the potatoe
had strong healthy sprouts: No
more than one in 100 failed to com.
up.
The variety was the Dakoto rec
and planting was made May Is, the
weather being cold for the season
On June 5 the stand was good, and
cultivation began June -. The
cuts were dropped ~ inches apart
in the row, and covered with hoe
which left the burrows still open,
At the first hoeing, June IL, BOO
pounds more of the fertilizer were
sprinkled in among the potatoes,
and the burrows filled up by the
hoeing.
Seasonable weather followed, and
the potatoes were we'll plowed June
20, and a second hoeing given.
From August Is to September Is
the weather was dry and warm, but
cool, wet weather followed after the
latter date. The crop was dug the
latter part of September, and COM
pleted October 3. Reputable wit
nesses were present at the harvest
ing, and the yield was certified as
above, and to the full satisfaction Of
the American Agriculturist and
others interested.
Here is a lesson from which every
farmer should profit.