Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-02-07
Early Iish Potatoes.
A. b. C. of Agriculture.

A. B. C. of Agriculture.
The growing of Irish potatoes in
Southern localities for the Northern
markets has developed of late years
to enormous proportions. Southern
growers commonly use seed raised at
the North for their early planting,
but many are now using seed pota-
toes grown at home in late fall, from
early potatoes raised from Northern
seed.
The chief variety of potatoes still
grown is the Early Rose, though this
variety is being gradually suppressed
ed by the Beauty of Hebron, Early
Ohio and other sorts. Though Il
multitude of new early potatoes have
been sent out of late years, market
growers are slow to change variety
which has given them good results.
The Early Rose will probably be a
leading market variety for years to
come. In the trucking region about
Norfolk, these potatoes are planted
in February, as early as the ground
can be worked in good order. Com
mercial fertilizers should be used
exclusively for the potato crop, as we
have found that the use of fresh
homemade manure on this crop, is
productive of scabby and unsightly
potatoes. While at the North good
crops Of Irish potatoes can be grown
with fertilizers containing only potas-
sic and phosphoric acid ingredients,
it is found in the South that the best
crops require an addition of nitrogen
in some form. The potato crop pre-
fers nitrogen in some form of a nj
trate, rather than as ammonia. We
have found therefore that the best
practice is to apply literally to the
soil broadcast, fertilizers containing
potash and phosphOric acid, and af>
ter the crop has appeared above
ground, to give nitrogen by dressing
along the rows with nitrate of soda,
making one application of 200 lbs.
per acre at the first working, and ans
other of equal amount at the last cul-
tivation of the crop. Soda will give
better results than if the whole had
been mixed and spread at once. The
nitrate of soda dissolves in the soil
with great rapidity and soon teaches
out with the rain, while the soil will
take and hold on to all other forms
of fertilizing matter until plants cal
for it. Nitrate therefore should only
be used during the growing season.
For the early Irish potato crop the
soil should be light and warm; a colo
wet clayey soil will not produce ar
early, nor a fine crop. In planting
the potatoes should be cut into pieces
of one or two eyes each and SHOULD
be dropped in a furrow, about Il
inches apart. They are covered by
throwing furrow with a small pillow
from each side, making sharp ridg,
over the row. This sharp ridg
warns up in the sunshine earle
than a flat surface and encourage
the growth of the potato. AS tn
potatoes begin to grow harrow dowI
the ridge, and as soon as the top
can be seen, run light smoothing
harrow crosswise the rows. Thi
will kill the small weeds and rende
hoe work unnecessary. All subse
quent cultivation should be don
with the cultivator between the rows
No sharp killing up should be done
as it encourages the growth of small
er potatoes near the stem. The earl,
potato crop is usually off in time 70
the farmer to plant the land in cor
to pack in fall in the silo to feed cat
tie on.