The New South., 1894-12-01
FARMER AND PLANTER
The IRISH po1ATo.


In the southern states inAcrest IN the
Irish potato has bvcr constantly on the
increase since the great discovery that
sceend-erop poaatcs~, cvcH II net hall
grown at digging time, make The hest
OF seed. When the south vas depend
cnt on The north fer seed potatoes,
| good seed potatoes could net ne pro
curcd, and when this s1nih ne done
they were expensive. Mort, y j. pcssi.
bic for every farmer in the south 70
raise his own seed potatoes. and better
sccd than he could grt from the Tar
I north The result OF thss ", more land
In every part of the soati y devoted 70
tho Irish potato. and the Acreags y m
e-easing from year 20 year. The north,
the only rart of our o<kMasry eei"re
! 1850 we thought could rs*se potatoes,
il now dependent fer maNF months In
the year on the south Tor potatoes
Wherever there are good shipping faciii-
Ties In the south. potato raising y
| profitable.
1 We are asked 10 tell the best kind OF
potato to plant IN tho soath, and we
regret we can answer only in q general
way. The kind Of potato best for a
certain locality In the south Is 10 be
determined only by actual experiment
In the north the variety OF Irish po'
taso that is snited TO one section can
\ be recommended for amy locality in
the north who're Il has not been tried,
with feeling OF confidence that II
viii do well. Bat this we ean not do
so Ar as the south Is concerned. The
\ potato that does we'll in Louisiana may
be unsuited 10 the climate and soil OF
Tennessee. What Is called late potato
Ia Kentucky and Tennessee and other
southern states in the same latitude
would not do to plant fol. nn early crop
In those states; but, 1t scssns from the
testimony OF many CORES pondcnts and
! potatoes shipped north early ia the
season. Us far south as Mobile. owing
To some pccnliaritg OF climate or soil,
there Is not as much difference in late
aud early kinds Of potatoes us 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 earlv po-
| tato In the southern pnrt OF Alabama.
In Kentucky the Puritan. Early Rose,
Beauty Of Hebron and Tharburn are
all fayorites, and they are found TO do
we'll In the south. OF this number the
Early Rose Is the favorite. With many
| potato raisers Ia the south. from Ten
nessee to Texas, the Triumph is pre-.
ferred to all other kinds. 1t Is pro-
dnctive, extra early and grows well for
second crop. Tho Triumph seems to DO
well in all parts Of the south. The only
objection we have to II IL that II Is not
good potato TO slip TO the north. on
account uf IT. quaiii y-not Fais ssliss 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 10 plant for second
crop sh ould be dug as soon as matured.
| Put in barrels as soon MS they come
from the ground. and u any are re-
Jecfed let 1t DC the email ones, as they
are less apt togrcw; the largest tubers
show sprouts first After placed IN
barrels they should pe pat IN q shaay
place out 81 the reach o. ram. ~
planting time, which must be deter
mined by the planter, or some one N
the neighborhood who knows iro'n ex-
rerlence, they should ec cut and I'M
inediately planted. Every potato
should be cut liftae ana blg' Inc time
Of planting varies in diucrent states
The further south we 80 the later po-
tatocs can we planted. In tennessee
the hrst oi August is the usuni time 70
plant second crops In Alabama Sep
tcmber is the proper time,
| When there y any trouble about po.
tatoes sprouting readily when planted,
TO make sure OF a crop, the seed should
be sprouted before planted. Iiicre are
various methods OF kprouting, but the
most approved plan Is 70 cut the
tubcrs, put them in cold frame six or
seven inches deep, dampcn well with
water, cover with straw and keep well
dampencd. 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 he fine, free from all
trash, and damp or moist y the po'
tatocs are slow n coming mp harrow
the land frequently ana CROWN VIII
DC FASTENED. ~ when the vines are
killed by frost, the tupers are only
hall or tbrce-qnarters grown 10 mol
be afraid they viii not make good