The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-05-25

seed are in good condition; and, con
trary to expectations, medium and late
varieties give better results in late
planting than the early or quickly ma
turing kinds. Potatoes spread one
layer deep on barn floor or in shallow
boxes, several weeks before planting,
and exposed to strong light but not sun
shine, put out short, stout, green buds,
and come up in one week, grow with
great vigor, and mature early. Late
planting usually gives smaller crops,
but the advantages are, they may fol-
low early crops of other kinds and thew
keep better than the earlier paintings.
To prevent scab, seed should be sowed
not more than one hour in the corrosive
sublimate solution sometime before
planting, and should be spread out to
dry before cutting. Such treatment
does no good il the land grew scabby
potatoes the previous year. Use fresh
land. Insects carry potato blight from
one bill to another. Never plant q
potato showing a black ring when cut.
Spray with 6 ounces Paris green mixed
in a barrel of Bordeaux mixture. OF
the new varieties tested, the best early
kinds @ Bovee, Early Michigan,
Early Thoroughbred; best late, Car.
man No. 8, Country Gentleman, Enor.
nous, Uncle Sam. In fertilizer tests
superphosphate increased the yield at
a cost of 8 to 6 cents per bushel Of the
increase. Dissolved bone black did no
better and Stag phosphate not SO well.
Wheat bran as a fertilizer was better
than linseed meal. Superphosphate,
nitrate OF soda, and muriate Of potash
mixed gave better results than either
alone.
The Ithaca tests show that most New
York soils are rich enough for potatoes,
and with potatoes at % cents per bushel
and fertilizers at &25 per ton, it is far
better to givethe best culture to bring
out the full virtue Of what is already
in the soil. The average yield is only
one third what it would be with proper
culture. The low yield is more due to
lack Of moisture than lack Of fertility,
and good culture will husband moist
ure. For this purpose, level culture is
best. The foliage must be kept free Of
injury by insects or blight.
The Geneva bulletin is confined to a
consideration of the cause and cure of
pimples. It was found that the grub
Of the flea beetle caused the pirnples by
gnawinR the tubers. Spraying the
vines with Bordeaux mixture and Paris
green protects against both blight and
flea beetles.
The New Jersey tests show sulphur
and kainit, 3C0pounds of each per acre,
to be the best remedy for soil rot and
seab, increasing the yield of marketable
potatoes 1S5 baskets per acre. Seed
pieces from the middle OF the potato
gave a much better yield than those
from either end. Irrigation increased
ecabbiness. In applying sulphur and
mix them SOW in the furrow
opened for planting and run a shovel
plow through to mix with the soil.
At the Maryland Station, Van Guard,
Summit, and Milwaukee gave best
In 8 years tests early cultiva,
tion give better results than lete, and
ridges slightly better than level culture
rows yield more per acre than
wide ones, and deep and shallow cul-
ture show little d ference.
The New Hampshire bulletin states
that such varieties as Rural New
2, American Wonder, Early
Rose and White Star do well nearly
everywhere, while many other kinds
do well in certain localities only, and
actual test by the grower is necessary
TO determine what are best for his local.
lty. Of 80 varieties tested at New
Hampshire Station, Reeves Rose,
White Rose, Vick's Perfection, and
Gov. Ruek gave best yields in the order
named. The highest yield Reeve's
Rose) was 453 bushels per acre, and the
owest early MsrkeO but 80. A few
potatoes Of the Is best varieties will be
Ient free to such New York farmers as
ire experienced potato growers and
will ag1ee TO report results to the
WORDS PEOPLE, SPEAK,