Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-11-29
FARMER AND PLANTER
THE IRISH POTATO.
It's Value as a Money Crop in the southel

~~N"N NivP pVtuNoSS, SFCn II llOu null |
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 posi-
bic 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,
Whereverthere 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
regretwe can answer only in q general
way. The kind of potato best for a
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 it has not been tried,
with a feeling of confidence that it
will do well. But this we can not do
so far as the south is concerned. The
potato that does well 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.
In Kentucky the Puritan, Early Rose,
Beauty of Hebron and Thorburn are
all favorites, and they are found to do
well in the south. OF this number the
Early Rose is the favorite With many
nessee to Texas, the Triumph is pre-
ferred to all other kinds. 1t is pro-
ductive, extra early and grows well for
second crop. The Triumph seems to do
we'll in all parts of the south. The only
objection we have to it is that it is not
a good potato to ship to the north, on
account of it's 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 It's 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-
iected let it be the small ones, as they
are less apt to grow; the largest tubers
show sprouts first. After placed in
barrels they should be put in a 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-
perience, they should be cut and i'm
mediately planted. Every potato
should be cut, little and big. The time
of planting varies in different states.
The further south we go the later pc
tatoes can we planted. In Tennessee
the first of August is the usual time tc
plant second crops. In Alabama Sep
TENDER is the proper time.
When there is any trouble about pc.
tatoes sprouting readily when planted
to make sure of a crop the seed should
be sprouted before planted. There arc
various methods of sprouting, but the
most approved plan is to cut the
tubers, put them in cold frame six OF
seven inches deep, dampen well with
water, cover with straw and keep wei
dampened As soon as the potatoes
show signs of growth plant.
The preparation of the soil befor,
planting second crop is an importan
item. Many fail to get stand because
the soil was not properly prepared
The soil should be fine, free from al
trash, and damp or moist. If the pc
tatoes are slow in coming up, harrow
the land frequently and growth vii
be fastened. If, when the vines ar
killed by frost, the tubers arc onl,
half or three-quarters grown, do no
be afraid they will not make goo,
seed. Potatoes dug in an unripe con
dition make better seed than thos
fully matured.
The gardeners around Louisville ca
not always be sure of a second crop o
potatoes and they have found goo
substitute in late or fall crop, grow
from seed selected from a previou
years crop. Early in the sprin
good seed potatoes are barrelled an
placed in cold storage warehouse
where, under low temperature ION
or two degrees above freezing), the
remain in an unsprouted condition III
til they are wanted to plant, which
the last of July or first of August.
Thousands of barrels of potatoes al
put in the cooling houses every spring
and the gardeners find that a late Gro
of potatoes raised in this way is quit
profitable.
AS we have frequently said, Will
we do not believe potatoes raised !
this way are as good as real secon
crop, they answer the purpose and Civ
general satisfaction. But there is n
use of cold storage warehouses for p'
tatoes in the south. The first Gro
natures SO early and the second Gro
is planted SO late, there is plenty {
time between the two for the potatoe