Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-05-10
HOW TO GROW IRISH PorAroEs.
.r A SUCCESSFUL .sruD" RA1srn.

The Arst thing il to decide - TO the
acreage and the time Of planting, a. the
soil should not be prepared 30 long b.
forehand ~ 10 give the weeds and Rrass
Q chance to get started before the tubefB
are up. The next would BE- the selection
Of varieties to be planted, - some vari-
e&ies do better than others in certain 10.
calities. The quantity Of seed needed
seed See and the distance spart between
rows and hills.
Taking seed the size of hens egg and
halving, or outing larger seed TO that
size, will take close TO eight bushels per
acre, planting three feet by n inches.
Coarse seed will make stronger plants
than fine, - the seed nourishes the plant
for some time after il il up. Most any
kind Of soil will produce potatoes except
adobe, provided the climatic conditions
cd by "spud" raisers to be the most pro-
ductive. Why this il 90 am not scien-
tist enough to explain.
The ground should be plowed about 8
inches deep II possible. One reason ID
that the tuber needs loose deep soil
Secondly, it holds moisture better. II
the soil 10 too dry at planting time to
bring the tubers up II should be irrigated
and then plant a. soon as the ground will
bring them up-it will rot them in the
ground. Plant from 5 to inches deep.
Late potatoes should not be planted
till about the first Of June, or at least
that has been my experience. I have
never had success with early 'tspuds" IN
the Arkansas valley as they would not
'-set on" Many farmers in northern COL
orado hill up with cultivator as soon a.
planted, but would not advocate this
theory where the soil is too heavy.
When the plants begin to show through
the crust and kill small weeds and grass.
Cultivate as soon as they are three OF
four inches high, but not close enough, or
SO deep as to disturb the plants. Throw
the soil to, not from the plants. Always
aim to ridge up every time you cultivate
SO long as the tops do not interfere.
About four Civilizations will be required
on most soils. The object Of this is to
keep the soil loose and mellow as pota-
toes will not do well in hard or compact
soil. The second and third plowing
after an irrigation and will be simply TO
loosen the surface and keep it from bak-
ing. -
Another object in ridging up is, that
when the irrigation is being done the
water will seep through and up to the
roots Of the plants and not down. Get
ting water on the surface close to the
plants injuries them and also the quality
and yield. Tho first irrigation should
not be done until the plants are in full
bloom, if it is possible to get them that
far along, as irrigation before that time
will cause more potatoes to "set on" the
plant than can mature. As soon after
first watering as the soil is dry they should
be cultivated, and 30 on to the end Of the
season. Never let the ground get dry
such lack Of water will cause them to
grow rough and knotty. In the Arkan-
say valley they should not be watered
later than Sept. 10th or 18th.
Potatoes to be frst-class keepers and
of good eating quality should be nearly
ripe before the frost kills the vines.
Plant with an Aspinwall planter and
furrow out with shovel pillow with ad.
Unstable wings, or small double mould
board plow, as they hill them up better
than an ordinary shovel plow.