Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-19


from data found In the work Of the sew
eral experiment stations, giving this par
tieular matter attention. We have room
only for the following;
SUMMARY.
l. A rich, sandy loan, well drained
and well supplied with vegetable matter
Is the best soil for the potato. Sitter
land may be improved as potato soil
by green manoring and drainage, aud
lighter soils can often be made sufficient
ly rich by the addition OF green manures
aud fertilizers.
,. Potatoes should not, as rule, be
grown continuously on the same land,
out should be alternated with other
crops. Bsrnyard manure may be freely
used, but should, ss rule, be applied to
previous crops in the rotation.
). IL commercial fertilizers are used
mixture containing nitrogen In form
of nitrate OF sods, phosphoric acid as
superphosphate, and potash as sulphate,
and In which potash predominates, Is
recommended.
1. Preparation of the land should be
deep and thorough.
). Planting without ridging generally
affords the larger Yields, but stiff soil
aud the desire for an extra early crop
sometimes necessitate planting on ridges.
8. The best time for planting depends
on the climate OF each locality; the
planting should be 30 timed AS TO bring
the period when the tubers are rapidly
forming at date when the average rain
fall Is smple.
:. Ca mellow, well drained soil deep
planting q to ) iDches) Is best, espe-
eially when the season happens to be
dry. For the early crop, or on stiff soil
With tendency 10 bake, the depth OF
planting may be decreased.
=. The use of the harrow before the
plants are all up aud frequent shallow
cultivation afterwards until the vines
shade the land are advisable.
9. Seed potatoes grown in New Eng
land In several tests proved superior 10
MARYLAND seed both in New England
aud ia Maryland. However, abe data
seem insufficient 10 determine definitely
the relative value NJ seed potatoes from
different climates.
10. Cutting the seei pieces few
DAYS before planting appears TO exercise
no injurious influence, provided, OF
course, that the cuttings are carefully
stored IN the interim.
IL. The yield from planting the seed
or bud i generally greater than from
the stem or butt end of the tuber. TIE
ewes on the seed end are the first To
germinaie, and hence are especially im-
pOTtant when an early crop l. desired.
L.. Exposing unsprouted tubers In
warm place before planting hastens
growth. but II Continued until sprouts
form which are rubbed OH the yield
may be considerably reduced.
l3 Experiments indicate that II Is
more important To cut the tuber into
compact pieces Of nearly uniform size
than 10 so shape the pieces as 10 have
definite number OF eyes on each set. No
piece should be- entirely devoid Of eyes,
aud the msjority of the seed pieces
should be large enough 10 support at
least two ewes aud better three or more.
II. At distances Of by feet, and
with seed tubers averaging ounces, an
acre requires of quarters about 10 bush !
els.
IL. The total yield increases with
every increase in the size Of seed piece
from the single eye 10 the whole potato;
this increase occurs both In the large
and in the small potatoes, but chiefly In
the latter.
10. The gross yield OF salable pota-
toes large aud medium) also Increases
with the Size OF the seed piece from one
eve 10 the whole potsto.
l.. The net yield OF salable potatoes
found by subtracting the amount of
seed potatoes aud the yield of small po-
tstoeS from the total yield increases
with every increase In the size OF seed
piece from one eye 10 the half potato.
The half potato affords a larger net
salable crop than the whole potato on
account of the excessive amount of seed
required IN planting entire tubers. Tax
log the average OF many experiments II
Was found that for every 100 bushels OF
net salAble crop grown from single eyes
there were IL bushels from s-eye pieces,
l5l bushels from quarters, and i39 bush
els from halves, but only l29 bushels
from planting whole potatoes.
II. These results favor the use OF
halves as seed pieces IL seed potatoes aud
crop are assumed To bee of equal value
per bushel, but when seed potatoes
command very high price quarters
may be used 10 advantage.
10. LSrge seed pieces siiord an earlier
crop and are less liable TO result in
deficient stand or entire failure, which,
Ia unfavorable years and poorly pre-
pared soil. is sometimes the fate of small
pieces.
20. With judiclous planting there is
probably no necessity for reducing the
number of stalks per bill by thinning.
n. IL is better 10 place in hill one
large piece than several very small ones
of the same aggregate weight.
-. Distance, variety, character OF
soil. and numerous other conditions are
factors ia determining the most profita-
ble amount OF seed. The distance allow
ed each piece should Increase with the
size of the piece and should be greater
With varieties with rank growth OF vines
and numerous tubers than for less ylgor-
Gus varieties.
%. Small potatoes can sometimes be
used for seed with profit, in which case
they should be planted whole. Leading
growers are careful 10 select for seed
medium 10 large tubers of good shape,
aud their example should be followed.
"a. In harvesting it pays 10 handle
potatoes carefully, ana this is especially
necessary for early potatoes dug before
the vines are completely dead, aud while
the skin is tender. Removing the largest
tubers by hand, before growth ceases,
does not necessarily reduce the yield.
but is practicable only on small areas.
-. Darkness and low temperature
are the primary requisites in the sue
cessful storing of potatoes.
%. In warm climates second crop
can be obtained within one year by
planting sprouted whole potatoes in mid
summer.
The DEPTH OF SEEDING.