The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-24

St. Paul is quite potato market, and
here has been during the past season con-
siderable activity in this vegetable. The
present is the first in several years in which
profit was found in potato raising. In New
York and other Eastern states the crop OF
1896 fed to stock, while only last year
the supply so considerable that the
price did not pay farmers for the cost OF
planting, cultiyating, gathering and shipping
TO market. In New York state, in 1897, the
outside figure % cents per Blu. One
month ago, at this time, potatoes of the crop
of 1897 were selling in that locality at rs
cents per bu. Undoubtedly the yield of 1897
was damaged considerably on account Of the
rot.
At present produce men are asking whether
the high prices of last years crop will In
duce larger growing. There are indications
that the acreage planted this spring, not only
In the middle and central, but in the West
ern and Northwestern states will equal If
not exceed that of 1897. A writer in the Ohio
Farmer commenting on the existing stua-
hon says:
The question now is shall we keep on
raising so many potatoes or shall we cut
off the acreage for 1895? Probably the pay
ing prices now being realized will prove to
be incentive TO many TO put in the usual
acreage. That is the way such matters
work as a general thing. Whenever the
price is high in any one year, the next year
is quite likely to see an increased acreage.
But shall we allow ourselves to go up ana
down with the market variations?
l believe the farmer who takes steady
gait in these matters and pursues 1t year
after year, will be the one who will sue
coed in the long run. Some years he may
not find very large balance in favor or
the potato crop but if it is on the right side,
he is not doing a losing business, at any
rate. and the chances that at the end
of a term of years he will find himself the
gamer. In proof of this statement, can
point to a number of men who have realized
handsomely from the potato crop. Some
know of have paid for their farms largely
from potatoes and put snug nest-egg IN
the bank for a rainy day into the bargain.
In view of this. | believe We are war
ranted in putting in the usual supply of
this crop from year to year, trusting the
events of the inscrutible future to reward
our efforts The potato is a nice crop to
raise. aside from the ruinous bug; and we
have learned to manage that very com.
fortably l have not lost faith in the po>
tato yet and don't expect to very soon.
lust what depth potatoes should be planted
has always been a query among agricultur-
lists. In the first place, they should be plant
ed in well cultivated, yielding earth, so that
they may have ample room for expansion.
This is one reason why the loan of the North
west produces tubers of such great size. In
regard to the depth at which the seed should
be laid beneath the surface the HaymakeI
recently said:
In Canada a series of tests on Planting
potatoes seemed to indicate that the best
depth was five inches. We do not, however,
know on what kind of a soil this kind of
result was obtained. In the same trials
various kinds of potato seed were used, as
whole and cut, and xhe seeds or sets were
placed at various dsstances apart, from one
to three feet. In these tests the hest re-
suits were obtained by whole potatoes at a
distance apart of one foot. This does not,
however, prove that under other conditions
and in other soils, other methods might not
be found superior.