Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-04-12
CULTUR: OF THE POTATO.

Summary OF the Leading Points IN FER
tilization For This Tuber.
The key to the highest success in po-
tato culture is abundant fertilization
with just the right sort of plant food
a gross feeder. The potato can maintain
its rank and hungry foliage and produce
a big crop Of fine tubers only nnder ex-
oesslve fertilization, giving the plant
an unstinted supply of the food just
suited to it. The result of So analyses of
the ash of the potato (tubers) gives the
average of potash which it contains as
60 per cent phosphoric acid II and
sulphuric acid ~ per cent. To produce
the potato crop in its perfection potash
is required in larger proportion than
either nitrogen or phosphoric acid. A
study of 60 reports Of the largest yields
of potatoes grown for the prizes offered
by American Agricuiturist, in / differ
ent states, gives some very interesting
results.
A summary Of the leading points in
fertilization for the potato gathered
from these experiments makes it appear,
first that coarse, fresh stable manure is
not good fertilizer for potatoes Yet
this does NOT imply that it is worthless
for this crop. At the same time, if used
for the potato, it must be applied in a
fine, decomposed condition, spread on
the surface the fall before the crop is to
be planted, thoroughly worked into the
soil and supplemented at planting time
by from 800 to 1900 pounds of COM
meroial fertilizer or complete manure.
Second, fall manuring is generally q
good preparation for the potato crop,
but not without the application in
spring Of wood ashes, lime, plaster or
commercial fertilizers. Third, some ex-
perience with ones soil and with differ
ent fertilizers is necessary to the best
results. If one knows from previous ex-
periments whether his soil be lacking
in potash, nitrogen or phosphoric acid,
it will only be necessary to supply the
element wanting. OF these three indis-
pensable elements the soil may be def
cient in only one or two. The practical
value of soil experiments is the guide
they furnish to subsequent cropping.
Fourth, one thing seems to have
been settled-in nearly all instances
commercial fertilizers or complete po-
tato manures furnish the best and most
direct food for the crop in most cases
and in the cheapest form and almost
invariably produce the largest yields.
This statement applies only to manufac-
tured fertilizers or home mixtures Of the
highest grade, as none of the contest
ants was foolish enough to use low
grade goods, which for the potato as for
other quick growing crops are often the
most expensive in tho end though cheap
est in first cost.
In the method of applying the plant
food the reports show interesting de-
tails. A few of these will Indicate the
system Of application, the results being
among the largest yields reported: 1.
Total amount used three tons, two tons
broadcast and cultivated in, half ton
put in drills and half a ton distributed
along the rows when the potatoes were
up. 2. One ton, 700 pounds in furrow,
400 pounds on top Of furrow, 400 pounds
spread and hoed in and 500 pounds be-
tween the rows at the time of hoeing. 3.
One and three-fou1ths tons were used
per acre, one ton broadcast on the sur
face and cultivated in, half a ton in the
drills, and 600 pounds applied near the
plants at hoeing. 4. One and one-half
tons used, 1900 pounds in drills, 800
pounds around the plants before or when
killing up. 5. One ton and half used,
one ton in drills before nlantino. and the
rest placed around the plants at the Sec
ond hoeing. 6. One ton. 800 pounds
broadcast before narrowing, 1900
pounds in and on the sides Of the drills
and mixed with the surface soil