The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1895-04-25
POTATO CULTURE.
Practical Suggestions From One
who has Given 1T Close
Attention.
HOW to Raise a Crop That Will
Put Money I'm the Farmers
Purse.

close at hand, | write YOU a few sug
fit of those OF your readers who have
given the subject little attention but are
DESTROYS of getting light OH this
branch of farming. Excuse brevity /
presme it is practical points you want,
not style.
The potato is one OF the most profit :
we are in the potato belt and the quail
ity of our tubers it is hard to surpass;
furthermore the cultivation given the
crop materially improves the soil, an
item not to he lost sight ofin figuring
profits. AS the result of experience and
observation advlze the following:
Pl"w deco, and plant not less Ian
thrt e inches ,l>.p. use an Asl:u>vail
planter, Il very eAI. l.,..t I.i;,yh;uc :! .cli
puts the seed from Ter to tw2nt, : Tx
inches apart in the row, as one sees it,
about fifteen to clehtcen inches l deem
the proper distance. Seed all of I. ne
straight variety ii DC sslble, such pota-
toes Sell Tor better prices than mixed
lots. Cut N"ur sec'i So asst leave one
or two ,ves ''n each nircv. lrnvv ahou;
two eyes. they Wi! hrin. moro. rotal, 6
than where more seed is LIS L. THIS
planter drops the seed and covers it.
To facilitate cutting the seed use with
satisfaction an Aspin wall potato cut
ter, which cost $1,000. The work is
done very rapidly and we'll. Before the
plants are throu Oh the top of the ground
harrow them we'll every..week or oftener,
until about four inches high; this keeps
out the weeds and tends to permit thu
escape of moisture from the soil. There
is no danger OF injurlng the plants.
When you cease narrowing commence
cultivation. Cultivate shallow and
often, leaving the soil perfectly fiat. Do
not hill the plants at any stage OF the
proceedings, unless in very vet soil, dig
with potatoe digger or forks. Use no
-,
you do you will be certain to raise
scabby potatoes, which should by all
means be avoided, as it reduces the SELL
ing value of the stock very largely. 1
have formula for treating potato seed
which is quite effectual in preventing
scab. received the formula from the
Minnesota experimental station at St.
Anthony Park, to whom 1 am indebted
for many notable suggestions. In 1898
WAS obliged to use scabby stock for
seed. After treating it with the prepar-
alton do not think 1 had half bushel
of scabby potatoes ON my field of twenty
acres.
This is the formula:
Dissolve two ounces of powdered cor
rosive subimate in a wooden bucket of
hot water and when all is dissolved
pour the liquid into barrel containing
fourteen gallons of water and stir
thoroughly. The potatoes may he put
in sacks or loosely into the barrel and
remain one hour and half; if the
scab is bau let them remain two hours;
then remove the potatoes. let them dry
and cut tor planting. 1t you throw
them into the barrel loosely the liquid
may be drawn off with faucet and put
into another barrel where it may be
again used for another batch. The
same solution may be used number OF
times. Do not let the stock eat Of the
potatoes after soaking or get any of the
e use nor empty the barrels where they
will get any Of the poisonous solution.
shall by all means. treat potatoes for
seed in the manner indicated even if they
show little or no indications Of scab.
The germ of the fungus may he on the
seed and produce scabby stock; tins
would be the case il there were any
scabby potatoes in the same cellar from
which the germs OF the disease might be
taken.
II horse or chip manure is used, or
If there Is scab in the land, it may be
there fiom previous crops and remain
there several years, you will get scabby
potatoes, regardless OF that cleaning
given the seed.
II potatoes are planted late IN Lcn less
trouble is experienced with bugs than if
planted early.
have a formula also, which was
used at a German experimental farm, tor
seed treatment and which it is said
caused production of 400 bushel per
acre, but do no, vouch for the truth
of the statement. 1t is as follows:
Steep, II suppose this means soak the
potatoes i'll a solution OF six pounds
saltperer, six pounds sulphate Of am
monia, wv, nty-fve gallons o.: water.
Allow them afterwards to drain tor
day III order that the buds may swell
before planting. 1,4UO bushels per
acre is said to have been raised at a
German experiment station. 1t this be
4