The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-07-10
Irish Potato Culture.
CLEMSON COLLEGE, S. c.;

Of the 18th, inst, I beg to say that
the question of how to succeed in
| raising second or fall crop of Irish
potatoes has not been definitely set
tied. "Thc best laid schemes Of mice
and men" etc., plan that succeeds
one year may fail the next. A great
deal depends upon the seasons. There
can be no doubt that when successful
the second crop is the better, and it is
decidedly the best for seed for spring
planting.
In reply to one Of your questions, I
quote from (my) Bulletin No. 8, issu-
ed in March, 1893, by this Station:
"The great difficulty is in getting
stand early enough for the plant to
mature before frost. This can usually
be had (a) by bedding out the potatoes
just after digging, as you would sweet
potatoes, except that you need no ma
nure, and keep the bed damp. (U
Spread the potatoes close together on
an even surface anu cover two to three
inches deep with hay, straw or pine
needles, and keep them moist. (c)
Spread them in the shade, where the
! morning sun only can reach them
let them remain until they begin to
sprout. In any case plant only whole
potatoes ; and not until the eyes show
signs of termination, cover very shall
low, say half inch to one inch deep"
I can add very little to the above
advice, except to correct what may be
an error. The advice to plant whole
potatoes only" was based upon my
own practice and the opinion Of many
old and successful potato raisers, they
having stated that they had frequently
tried cutting the potato for a second
crop, and in every instance had failed.
In 1893, after this Bulletin was pub
lished, a friend Of mine living on the
College grounds, being short Of seed ;
cut his potatoes to one and two eyes.
He planted at the same time that |
did, his seed were cut, mine were
whole. The result was that his came
up to a good stand and made good
crop, while mine lay dormant until
near frost, in fact, some Of them until
after frost, and made nothing. Neither
Of these were sprouted.
In 1894, I bedded out as in "B"
and as in &C." After the potatoes
had sprouted or started to sprout |
planted both kinds whole, but took
some of each and cut to one and two
eyes. They were planted within two
days. Those planted whole got up
late, but made alittle over a half crop,
while those that had been cut, got up
two or more weeks sooner, had good
stand, and made much better yield.
I intend trying the same experiment
this year, with one other additional.
Last year, after gathering our July
crop, I planted portion Of the ground
in dwarf or bunch beans. We had
been careful to get out all the potatoes
possible, yet in short time after the
beans got up, the potatoes came up
also (volunteers) and made at the rate
of over hundred bushels to the acre;
SO, as I dig, this season, I will imme-
diately plant another crop Of whole
seed, about the size of chen egg:
Small seed, and even very small seed
will make potatoes, but they are later
in maturing and the average size will
be very much smaller. Reasoning
from observation, I would say cover
the second crop very shallow. You
will almost always find that "volun-
teer" potato is either only partially
covered, or is very near to the surface
My rule is to make wide, deep fur
row and cover with a very small plow
or the corner Of hoe, leaving top ef
ridge below the level of the general
surface. At the first working, this
furrow will be filled, and in so doing
the plant will be hilled.
One other matter. If you have a
variety that will mature in eight to
ten weeks, and another that will take
twelve to fourteen, always plant the
second crop with the early variety.
IF from any cause they are late in get
ting up, the early kind may make even
half crop, while the late variety
would make nothing. The same
variety planted in July or August
will mature week to ten days earlier
than when planted in February or
March.
I have just planted half peck Of a
new kind that, it is said, never fails
to grow, and will continue to grow
until frost, and will keep, without
sprouting until the next June or July,
and be ready for another late crop. l
am looking forward with great interest
to the result of this experiment.
In 1892, I grew forty-seven vari-
cites. In 1893, and 1894, these were
increased to over eighty. also be-
gan in 1892 sundry fertilizer, cultiva.
tion and other experiments. Most OF
these, having run three years, I am
now preparing bulletin setting forth
the result. This I hope to have pub
lished within a few months. Send
your name to j. N. Hook, Esq, on
postal card and he will send you, free
of charge, all of the Station Bulletins
that may be on hand. I have written
somewhat hastily, and may not have
covered all the points in your letter;
if so, I will be glad to reply to any
further questions.
Yours very truly,
j. L. G. DUPRE,
Horticulturist.