Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-05-03
POTATO RAISING.
Hints on Varieties to Plant, and the
Selection of Seed.
(From the Waupaca Record.)

| VARIETIES TO PLANT.
We as farmers should try to raise the
varieties that sell the best, as well as
the heavy yielders.
The fall and winter market calls for a
long, white skinned, shallow eyed pota-
to, appearance seeming to count for
more in the city market than quality.
In this, as in other branches of farm
ing, we should aim to produce the most
salable. There being so many varieties
of potatoes, it is useless to mention the
best for any section; but they may be
classed in five groups: Burbanks, Rose,
Hebrons, Early Ohio and Peerless.
| 1t will not pay to raise any other
variety that do not resemble these close
ly enough to pass for the same. Among
these are Empire State, Bellies, Stray
Beauty, Blue Victor, etc.
These general directions apply for
planting of a market potato: but for
seed, either at home or to be shipped,
use great care to keep seed pure. Find
the variety best suited to your soil by
experimenting in a small way with a
number of varieties, retaining three or
four of the best.
The potato trade generally commences
about the middle of August, and for
four or five weeks there is generally a
good call for Rose and Hebrons. Our
crop, following just after Illinois and
Indiana stock is marketed, appears fine,
being larger and brighter, many more
smaller ones passing then than when
sold later.
Every farmer should give one-ffth Of
his potato acreage to these varieties,
planting them the first of May, and
harvesting and marketing them when
work is cheap, before the October rush.
For the main crop the Burbank types
should be planted largely.
Early Ohios always bring good price
in mid-winter for seed, but being more
liable to scab than any other, should
only be planted on new land, or on
ground especially fitted for them.
shall experiment some with the dip
for scab, as recommended by the Mich
igan experimental station on this variety
and Will report results.
In years past, for few weeks in Jan
uary and February, Peerless have been
as high in price as Burbanks for the
seed trade. This trade has not amount
ed to much this year, and [ predict it
will be less in the future
The southern farm mers have discovered
that by saving seed from the first crop
harvested in May and June, letting it
lay few weeks first, and planting a
second crop, the potatoes from this crop
make good seed for spring planting.
The Gulf States are the ones mostly
engaged in this, and were also the buy
ers Of our Peerless potatoes. Conse-
quently, unless farmers are satisfied
they can raise enough larger crops of
Peerless to balance the difference in
price, they had better not plant many.
SELECTION OF SEED.
[ would plant seed from the best
shaped potatoes, free from scab, and
from two to six ounces IN weight.
Contrary to the general custom Of cut
ting obliquely across the potato to get
pieces with two or more eyes, | would
cut lengthwise aiming to have some Of
the seed end on each piece, using the
two-ounce potatoes whole, those little
larger in two pieces, and five and six
ounce ones in four pieces.
[ have experimental with both of
these methods and believe the weak
hills in the Burbanks. Late Hebrons,
and other long varieties, are largely
caused by planting the stem end pieces
The results from testing Early Ohios
and Peerless are not so conflicting
I believe that on our soil ali medium
and late varieties should be planted
three feet each way, the very early ones
little closer.
Every farmer can profit by expert
menting in seed and distances for plant
ing, with very little extra trouble
p T. M1rHC,17D