The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1896-02-06
Bulletin No. go. Irish Potato Culture.

' 81
During the year 1884 tests were made
with 60 varieties of Irish potatoes at the
Georgia Experiment Station, and in
1885 there We're tested 240 varieties.
Seven other experiments were also
conducted the present season with Irish
potatoes, to-wit:
!. Analysis Of starch contents.
2. Trenching tests.
8. Seed. piece and distance tests.
4. Depth to plant.
8. Mulehing tests.
6. Spraying tests.
z. Fertilizer tests.
A detail Of these experiments is COW
cred by bulletin 80, which also contains
N addition short treatise on Irish Do
tato culture, embodying all that could
be ascertained up to date concerning
this tuber from the highest recognized
authorities
The following brief summary Of the
conclusions to be deduced from this bul-
letin may be found quite timely and in
teresting:
SUMMARY.
!. Preparation. This should be deem
and thorough, and the rows trenched
SIX Gu seven inches deep by means Of q
subsoil plow.
2. Fertilizer. Six hundred lbs. high
grade acid phosphate, $50 pounds, nj
trate of soda and $50 pounds muriate of
potassium all, 1000 pounds-applied
either all under and mixed with the
suhsoI In trenching, or half under and
half over, after covering the seed, but
before the furrow is entirely filed, is
suggested as the most reliable formula.
g. Seed Pieces. These should be cut
TO srsa1ht, not eyes, and pieces of from
q OF an OF. to oZs. each, are to be
preferred to larger or SNEAKER sizes.
The most expeditions way to prepare
seed IS to quarter tubers weighing from
3 to 6 ozs., without reference to eyes.
4. Distance. Rows three feet apart
and pieces twelve inches in the row, is
the safest distance.
8. Depth to Plant. -Four inches deep
IN thoroughly mellow, sub-soiled fur
row, may be regarded as the standard.
Three inches is slightly preferable to
five, though little difference is obsery-
able between any depth from three to
seven inches.
6. IGs1e to Plant The earlier the
spring crop is put in the better, provid-
ed late killing freezes are avoided. The
second, or summer crop, will mature if
planted as late as the middle of August
in most parts Of the State.
z. Civilization should be rapid. thor
ough, and on, lcrel 1t does not nav to
fridge up with hoe, nor, on o large
scale, to mulch.
8. Harvesting should not be effected
until full maturity has been attained by
the tubers, which continue to grow as
long as the tops are alive. For extra
early sales the crop should, of course,
be dug as soon as marketable The SUI
should not be allowed to fall on the tn
bers any longer than can be avoided,
and wooden trays, not split baskets,
should be used in handling
8. Surface Mulchin1. This method Of
cultivation, effected by planting in the
covering furrow. with subsequent sur
face mulching, without cultivation,
produces heavier yield than the ordi.
nary plan, but not sufficiently greater
to pay for the cost of mulching and har.
vesting, and is hence only recommended
for garden plats.
10. Second Crop. This, also called
the summer" or "fall'' crop, may be
made success by either bedding select.
cd whole tubers of the first or ''spring"
crop, and using such as show signs Of
sprouting after six weeks burial, or else
by the use Of Lookout Mountain potatoes
Of the fall crop Of the previous year,
cutting to OF. pieces, as for the spring
crop. With either plan perfect stand
may be obtained.
II. Potato Scdb-both Surface" and
"Deep" Scab (Which are merely phases
of the same malady)-is due to bacte.
roid fungus conveyed by the seed tn.
bers, and may be destroyed by miners
ing them. before planting, in solution
of Corrosive Sublimate-1 or. to 80 gals.
water-for four hours. Corrosive Sub
Innate is deadly poison, taken inter
nally, and must be carefully used.
10. Early Blight is produced by the
Macrosporium fungus, and generally, in
connection with drouthy weather, pre-
maturely destroys the tops, cutting short
tho full development of the tubers 1t
may be controlled by spraying with
Bordeaux Mixture
IS. Late Blight affects both stalk and