The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-04-26
TO TilIERS OF THE SOIL.
Hints That May Prove Of Benefit to
Our EsIghbOTs'
articles d UndalSed Hurh 10 The Farmer Collected
From Reliable Sources
POTATOES AND POTATO ROT.

Mr.. J. n larson has an excellent
article on pc ltoes and potato rot in &
recent issue of the Sonoma Republican
from which we take the following:
"The best potatoes produced in the
State are grown, not in the hot valleys
nor yet IN the spray of the sea. They
are not found in the general market and
comparatively few people know anything
about them. They are the Burbanks
Peerless, Peach Blows, Early Rose
grown on the mountain sides from a
few hundred to two thousand or more
feet above the sea level. All! such
potatoes. The pleasure of the eater is
more than gustatory-it is aesthetic.
They are sprightly tuber. They are
plump out of the kettle open-mouthed
laughing, Jackets thrown open, dis
playing soft and snowy bosoms as if in
welcome anticipation OF being eaten.
Not so with the Humboldt or Bodega.
They come out of the kettle or oven
sodden and sullen, Jackets closed but
toned to the skin and like Aunt
Jemimas plaster, the more you try to
get it off the more it sticks the faster
"The man whose farm lies along Il
mountain stream, furnishing water in
August and September we'll up in the
temperate zone, can always find on his
place soil which will produce the per-
lection potato. OF course | am not
talking of revolutionizing the potato
market or of making fortune. | am
simply suggesting to aperson so situated,
the fact that he can supply his family
and to some extent the local market
with the best quality of most neces-
sary article of food at much less cost
than three or four cents per pound,
which is the present retail price of
potatoes at interior places.
"lou will find on every mountain
stream numerous patches OF loose
chocolate soil where the perfect pota-
toes will grow. OF course water is
necessary to complete success, and after
the virgin richness OF the soil is ex-
hausted, manuring will be necessary.
And this brings me to the adverse
side OF the subject which is the pricipal
occasion OF my writing. With manur-
ing comes rot. Is there no remedy for
the potato rot? will attempt to answer
this question by relating my experience.
Last year l planted my potatoes on
ground heavily MANFRED. | sent to San
Francisco and purchased Bean spray
pump, cost S25).
II examined my potatoes carefully to
see whether any brown or rusty spots
had appeared on the leaves or stalks,
which are indications that fungus is at
work. found no spots. Nevertheless
gave the vines thorough spraying
with the Bordeaux mixture when they
had reached the height OF four or five
inches. | again gave them spraying
when in blossom. The spots did not
appear at all on these potatoes during
the season, though some garden potatoes
not sprayed were spotted and rusty
enough. Now for the result. For the
last four years l have MANFRED NV
potato ground heavily with stable
manure kept under cover and not ex.
posed to rain or sun until spread on the
ground. The first three years | lost
greatly by rot-not less than 10 per
cent and nearer % per cent on the crop.
Many were found rotten in the ground
and more thrown out from the barn lott
where they were spread after digging
and always the fairest.and largest were
first to decay. Last year l found but
two rotten potatoes and not more than
dozen were thrown out afterwards.
The area of ground planted was about
the same as in the three previous years.
the proportion of the tubers
with the internal black spots or
streaks so common in Peerless and Bur-
banks were greatly diminished.
Now the true philosopher will not
Jump to conclusion from the result
Of single experiment; yet, l know OF
no condition or circumstance affecting
the growth and care of my crop last
year, except the spraying, which did
not exist in previous years, when the
decay was so discouraging.
yet, there remains a modicum of
doubt whether to attribute the apparent
success entirely to the spraying for the
reason that the result was too nearly
and perfect.
ITO save trouble to any one who NAV
be disposed to try the experiment give
the formula for preparing the Bordeaux
mixture which Icopy from publication
ot the Agricultural Department at
as follows:
Bordeaux Mixture.-Tn a barrel
hat will hold forty-hve gallons of water
dissolve ak pounds of copper sulphate
oluestonel in ten gallons OF hot water
and let cool. In another vessel Stake
our pounds OF fresh lime and thin with
water. Pour this slowly into the copper
solution using course gunny sack over
he heal of the barrel. Then fill the
barrel with water 1t is important that
he lime should be fresh, also well
steamed to prevent elogging OF the spray