The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-03
Potatoes.

Says N. J. Sheppard, in Southern Lire
Stock Journal:
As with oil root crops one Of the i'm
portant items ia growing a good crop of
potatoes is to have the soil thoroughly pre-
pared in a good filth. Plow deep and
thoroughly and then work fine with har-
row. One advantage with potatoes is that
they can be grown better with COM
merciel fertilizers than almost any other
crop. They require potash and phosphorio
acid as elements OF plant food, and in
majority of cases these can be supplied
more economically in commercial fertil-
izers than in al most any other way. Wood
ashes is also a good fertilizer for this crop
and can nearly always be used Co good
advantage. Ii animal manure is used care
should be taken to have it we'll rotted and
thoroughly incorporated with the soil
There are few crops grown that thorough
preparation OF the soil before planting
helps 80 much to secure q good growth
and yield, and at the same time lessons the
work Of giving good cultivation.
Another item is to secure good seed II
care Is taken to select the medium-sized
smooth tubers from the hills that yield the
most aud the best potatoes when the crop is
harvested, a better quality may be gradually
secured. IL is true that occasionally fair
u bp "a pDbhbOCo Will 10 hGCuESu Wn60 Small
potatoes are used, but this is not proof but
that il better seed had been planted a still
better crop would not have been harvested.
The effect of using the small potatoes will
not always show TO any great extent with
the first crop, but II they are planted and
the small potatoes from that crop are Sc
lected and planted the next year, the effect
will be seen, and the longer continued until
the crop runs out; when if new seed is pur-
Chaqad and nCan "a DlaO ha fol
lowed out. But under present conditions
every advantage must be taken to secure a
coed growth and yield, not only as regards
quantity, but quality as well, and using
good seed is an important item. Generally
1t is best to cut, leaving TWO or three good
eyes to each piece, and planting one piece
in each hill.
Mark out the burrows three feet apart. IL
ashes or commercial fertilizers are TO be APP
piled In the hill it will be best to run out
reasonably deep. drop the fertilizers in the
places where the seed is TO be planted and
Stir into the soil. a good garden trowel
makes convenient i'm element to do this
Well rotted animal manure can often be
applied in the same way with benefit.
Drop the potatoes in this--one foot apart
Is good distance to plant-taking q little
care to put the cut side down.
The depth OF covering will depend largely
upon the time of planting and the charac-
ter of the soil. Generally deep planting
will give the best results But when the
planting is done early. when the soil is wet
and often not thoroughly warmed up, the
seed should not be covered as deep as would
be advisable later on. Ia a level loamy or
sandy soil deeper covering can be given
than in stiff, heavy soil Potatoes need
considerable moisture and this is one reason
for deep planting. IL the soil is dry, and
especially SO in loany soil. 1t will be best
to press the soil down upon the seed after
planting. Where the acreage is small,
planting by hand and covering with the
hoe, or using the hand-planters, will be
best, but where a considerable acreage is to
be planted, the larger 2-horse planter con
be used, saving time and leSsening the cost.