The Van Buren press., 1894-12-08
FARMER AND PLANTER
TIE IRISH POTATO.


THE IRISH POTATO.
lts valus ~ Money Crop In the southern
States-The best Kinds to Raise.
In the southern states interest In the
Irish potato has been constantly on the
increase since the great discovery that
second.crop potatoes, even II not half
grown at digging time. make the best
Of seed. When the south was depend.
ent on the north for seed potatoes,
good seed potatoes could not be pro-
cured, and when this could be done
they were expensive. Now, it is possi-
Bile for every farmer in the south to
raise his own seed potatoes, and better
seed than he could get from the far
north. The result of this is, more land
in every part of the south is devoted to
the Irish potato, and the acreage is in
creasing from year to year. The north,
the only part of our country before
1860 we thought could raise potatoes,
is now dependent for many months in
the year on the south for potatoes.
Wherever there are good shipping facili-
ties in the south, potato raising is
profitable.
We are asked to tell the best kind OF
potato to plant in the south, and we
regret we can answer only in general
way. The kind of potato best for
certain locality in the south is to be
determined only by actual experiment.
In the north the variety of Irish po-
tato that is suited to one section can
be recommended for any locality in
the north where 1t has not been tried,
with feeling of confidence that it
will do we'll. But this we can not do
SO far as the south is concerned. The
potato that does we'll in Louisiana may
be unsuited to the climate and soil of
Tennessee. What is called late potato
in Kentucky and Tennessee and other
southern states in the same latitude
would not do to plant for an early crop
in those states; but, it seems from the
testimony OF many correspondents and
potatoes shipped north early in the
season, as far south as Mobile, owing
to some popularity of climate or soil,
there is not as much difference in late
and early kinds of potatoes as in Ten
nessee snd states north of Tennessee.
The Peerless, that would not do in
Tennessee to plant for an early crop,
answers every purpose Of an early po-
tato in the southern part of Alabama.
Kentucky the Puritan, EARLY Rose,
Beauty of Hebron and Thorburn are
all favorites, and they are found to do
we'll in the south. OF this number the
Early Rose is the favorite. With many
potato raisers in the south, from Ten
nessee to Texas, the Triumph is pre-
ferred to all other kinds 1t is pro-
ductive, extra early and grows we'll for
second crop. The Triumph seems to do
objection we have to it is that it is not
good potato to ship to the north, on
account ofits quality not suiting every
body.
Raising second-crop potatoes for seed
or winter use is attended with consid-
cradle difficulty when the planter is
without experience and whose neigh
bors are as inexperienced as himself.
We have frequently stated that po-
tato after maturing is not in condition
to grow for several weeks. Its sprout-
ing capacity is developed by time. Po-
tatoes intended to plant for second
crop sh ould be dug as soon as matured
Put in barrels as soon as they come
from the ground, and If any are re-
jected let it be the small ones, as they
are less apt to grew; the largest tubers
show sprouts first. After placed in
barrels they should be put in shady
place out of the reach of rain. At
planting time, which must be deter.
mined by the planter, or some one in
the neighborhood who knows from ex-
pcrience, they should be cut and inn
mediately planted. Every potato
should be cut, little and big. The time
Of planting varies in different states.
The further south we 90 the later po-
tatoes can we planted. In Tennessee
the first of August is the usual time to
plant second crops. In Alabama Sep
tember is the proper time.
When there is any trouble about po-
tatoes sprouting readily when planted,
to make sure of crop, the seed should
be sprouted before planted. There are
various methods Of sprouting, but the
most approved plan is to cut the
tubers, put them in cold frame six or
seven inches deep, dampen we'll with
water, cover with straw and keep we'll
dampened. As soon as the potatoes
show signs Of growth plant.
The preparation of the soil before
planting second crop is an important
item Many fail to get stand because
the soil was not properly prepared.
The soil should be fine, free from all
trash, and damp or moist. If the po-
tatces are slow in coming up, harrow
the land frequently and growth will
be hastened. IT, when the vines are
killed by frost, the tubers are only
half or three-quarters grown, do not
be afraid they will not make good
seed. Potatoes dug in an unripe con-
dition make better seed than those
fully matured.
The gardeners around Louisville can
not always be sure of second crop of
potatoes and they have found good
substitute in late or fall crop, grown
from seed selected from previous
years crop. Early in the spring
good seed potatoes are barrelled and
placed in a cold storage warehouse,
where, under low temperature Zone
or two degrees above freezing), they
remain in an unsprouted condition un-
til they are wanted to plant which is
the last of July or first of August.
Thousands of barrels of potatoes are
put in the cooling houses every spring,
and the gardeners find that late crop