Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-04-05
Isl 49,
AGAlRMe FOgAD
@ ENN GARDEN
CULTURE OF THE POTATO.


A Summary of the Lending Points In Fer
tilization For THIS Tuber.
The kew TO the highest success in po-
tato culture Is abundant fertilization
with just the right sort of plant food
gross feeder. The potato can maintain
Its rank and hungry foliage and produce
big crop of fine tubers only under ex-
Gesslve fertilization, giving the plant
an umsrinted supply of the food just
suited to it. The result of J3 analyses of
the ash of the potato ttubers) gives the
average of potash which it contains rs
go per cent, phosphoric acid II and
sulphuric acid So per cent To produce
the potato crop III its perfection potash
is required in larger proportion than
either nitrogen or phosnhoric acid. A
study of 60 reports of the largest yields
of potatoes grown for the prizes offered
by American AgriCuturist, i'll / 1 differ
ent states, gives some very interesting
Iesults
A summary of the leading points in
fertilization for the potato gathered
from these experiments makes it appear,
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 i'll 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 500 to 200 pounds of COM
merclal fertilizer or complete manure
Second, fall manuring is generally a
good preparation for the potato crop
but not without the application i'll
spring of wood ashes, lime, plaster or
commercial fertilizers. Third, some ex-
pcrlcucc with Ono's soil and with differ
ent fertilizers is necessary to the best
results If one knows from previous cX-
perimcntS whether his soil be lacking
in potash, nitrogen or phOsphOric acid,
it will only he necessary to supply the
element wanting OF these three indis-
ponsablc clements the soil may be def
Gent iii 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 homo 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 i'll the end though cheap
est i'll first cost.
In the method of applying the plant
food tho reports show interesting de-
tails A few of these will indicate the
system of application, the results being
among the largest yields reported: /.
Total amount used three tons, two tons
broadcast and cultivated in, half ton
along the rows when the potatoes were
up ,. One ton 700 pounds III furrow,
400 pounds on top of turrow, 400 pounds
spread and hoed in and 800 pounds be-
tween the rows at the timo of hOeing 3.
One and three-fourths tons were used
per acre. one ton broadcast on the sur
face and cultivated in, half ton in the
drills and 600 pounds applied near the
plants at hoeing. 4. One and one half
tons used, 2,200 pounds in drills, 500
pounds around the plants before or when
killing up. o. One ton and half used,
one ton in drills before planting, and the
rest placed around the plants at the sec
ond hoeing 6. One ton. 800 pounds
broadcast before narrowing, 1000
pounds in and on the sides of the drills
and mixed with the surface soil.