Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-30
POTATOES.
How to Cultivate Them.

The question OF potato growing
is becoming one of the leading
questions of farming. In a recent
issue of the Black River Falls
Post we noticed an able article on
"How to Cultivate Potatoes
written by n. Ives, Batavia, N. Y,
that we clip for the benefit of our
readers:
With us, the potato has come to
be a favorite special as we'll as
profitable crop. 1t has gone
through process of development
Years ago it was considered
worthy Of only a patch" of an
acre or so. A few coarse varieties
were planted without effort to keep
them separate, and nothing used
in their cultivation but an old
fashioned hoe, from the planting
of the seed to the digging of the
crop. The market was confined
to the shoemaker, the blacksmith
or the storekeeper, who each took
a few bushels in "trade." Now,
the potato is considered one of the
most important and profitable
crops on the farm. The best fields
are assigned to its culture, expen-
sive varieties selected for planting,
suitable tools obtained, often at
considerable expense, and the
greatest care spent in tillage. In
fact, the potato is considered in
many parts of the country today,
the best paying cash crop that the
farm produces.
Experience has taught the cul-
tivator who aims to produce a
profitable crop of potatoes, that
with proper tools and horse power
he can do much better work than
when obliged to depend entirely
upon hand labor. 1t has been
proved, also, that by thorough
preparation of the seed-bed, and
by working the crop often and we'll
through the season, with tools
suited to the different stages of the
work, all hand work, except that
required in dropping the "seed''
and in picking up the tubers, may
be dispensed with. By means OF
horse power the work can be done
cheaper, better and more easily
than under the old system of hand
labor.
Farmers believe, as a rule, that
the potato needs to be planted
three or four inches deep, so they
need special marker. Then, as
the seed is covered deeper than
most others, special tool must be
provided for this purpose. After
planting, the vines are so long in
coming up that the weeds will
occupy the hill and crowd the
vines out unless prompt cultivation
is given at this critical time. If
the weeds can be destroyed just
before the vines appear above the
ground, the rightful owner of the
hill can develop before another
stock of weeds can grow. Thus
it will be seen that this work must
be done at once in order to insure
clean culture for the rest of the
season. tits light job and easily
accomplished, but requires imme-
date attention.
For this cultivation a light
smoothing harrow is excellent.
Many farmers use a plank scraper
drawn by one horse and brushing
down the ridges Of two rows at
once. Any tool that will insure a
slight stirring Or movement of all
the surface earth of the hill, will
fully accomplish the desired object.
If the seed" has been planted less
than three inches deep, it will
answer just as we'll to run a shovel
pillow through the rows, so as to
throw an inch or two of fresh
earth over the hills. This can be
done even when the plants are one
or two inches above ground. This
latter plan has been practicec
about here very successfully when
ever thoroughly performed
| Where any portion of the row is