The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-05-02
ps 49,
ARARMoFo
2 AAD GARDEN
CULTURE OF The POTATO.
Summary Of the Leading Points In Fer
t.lilation For This Tuber.

a Summary Of the Leading Points In Fer
taization 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 under tx.
cesslve fertilization, giving the plant
an unstinted supply Of the food just
suited to it. The result of 53 analyses of
the ash of the potato ttubers) gives the
average of potash which it contains as
go per cent, phosphorio acid II and
sulphuric acid g 2 per cent. To produce
the potato crop in It's perfection potash
is required in larger proportion than
either nitrogen or phosphoric acid. a
study Of so reports Of the largest yields
Of potatoes grown for the prizes offered
by American Agrieulturist III II differ
ent states, gives some very interesting
results
a summary of the leading points in
fertilization for tho 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 1t Is worthless
for this crop. AT the same Time if used
for tho potato, it must be applied Ill Il
fine, deeomposed 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
mercial fertilizer or complete manure
Second, fall manuring is generally "a
good preparation for the potato crop
but not without the application III
spring of wood ashes lime, plaster or
commercial fertilizers. Third, some eX-
pericuco with ones soil and with differ
ent fertilizers is necessary to the best
results Ii one knows from previous cX-
periments whether his soil be lacking
IN potash, nitrogen or phosphoric acid,
1t Will only he necessary to supply the
element wanting OF these three indis-
pensable elements tho 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 tho 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 mono of the contest
ants was foolish enough to use low
grade goods, which for the potato az 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 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
put in drills and half ton distributed
along the rows when the potatoes were
up. 2. One ton, 700 pounds i'll furrow,
400 pounds on top of furrow, 400 pounds
spread and hoed in and 800 pounds be-
tween the rows at tho time 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 tho
drills, and GOO pounds applied near the
plants at hoeing 4. One and one half
tons used, 2, 200 pounds in drills, 500
pounds around tho plants before or when
killing up. 3. One ton and half used,
one ton i'll drills before planting, and the
rest placed around tho plants at the sec
ond hooing, 6. One ton, 800 pounds
broadcast before narrowing, 1,200
pounds in and on the sides of the drills
and mixed with tho surface soil.