The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-10
Klickifas County Agrtculturtst-

0nEAt1AI &QU0eY A8xtC0lkHt1S1.
The potato - Q most valuable farm
crop. adapted to nearly all classes Of
soiis. and with careful cultivation and
proper fertilization yields from so TO I.3oo
bushels per acre. A rich. sandy ioArn.
containing leaf mold. OF natural noun
tain surface soil. u preferable for grow
Ing choice tubers. but any well drained
tract. having proper plant food. viii pro-
duce satisfactory crops. May and June
are good months for planting. and the
present market demands the Burbank ~
the idea. potato. II the land il irrigated
about the middle Of May. then well
piowed. narrowed and leveied. II viii be
In good condition for planting the first Of
June The most successful potato EYow-
ers cut the seed In four pieces. using
twelve TO fifteen bushels for an acre.
Furrow out the Ianu with . ehovel pillow.
drop the seed about twelve inches apart.
one In hill. and cover TO depth Of four
or five inches-
Potatoes should not be irrigated more
than once before the blossoms appear,
after which the hills should be kept
moist until the tubers are ripe. Too
much water viii cause scabby. half
grown tubers. and IL kept up late In the
fall will produce q second growth. max
Ing the crop unmarketable. II the seed
shows signs Of scab II can be soaked In =
solution Of corrosive suhlimate. mixed II
the rate Of two ounces to eighteen gal-
Ions OF water. When the plants begin 10
show above ground the field should be
thoroughly narrowed. After narrowing
cultivation should be given by pillow. until
the blossom buds appear. when irrigation
win complete the work The furrow sys-
tenn II probably the best and most gem
orally practfced method Of irrigating. and
nat cultivation gives better results than
the old ridging process Water must not
be left TO stand upon the field or run
around the vines on the surface.
Harvesting may be probably done by
the use OF the four-tined fork. e the
acreage IL not too large. Some potato
growers use small piows or hoes success
fully, though frst-class diggers are the.
best IL several acres are to be harvested.
The tubers must be handled carefully to
prevent bruisins or peeiing. and should
not be left out long enough to sunburn
or freeze. A cool. dark cellar II the best
place for storing potatoes. and an even
temperature IL necessary to good keep
ing. Sorting should be done at leisure
after the potatoes have been stored. and
none but hrst-class specimens should be
kept for market or home use II IL not
advisable to retain any seed for next
years planting. as the annual change of
seed and land Is necessary for good crops
and healthy growth. Seed potatoes. like
all other garden and farm seed. should
he purchased every year from reliable
seedsmen.
Potatoes require liberal fertiiizing every
year TO be productive and profitable. All
experiments In potato growing show that
the fertilizer used must contain q high
percentage Of potash. Barnyard manure
win increase the yield II properly rotted
before applied. but the best results are
obtained from planting land on which
manure has been spread and a clean
cultivated crop grown the previous year.
Commercial fertilizers may be used with
profit by placing in the furrow contain
Ing the seed bed. thereby giving the
plants immediate benefit OF the food. X
fertilizer carrying considerable potash
- literally deposited In the rows. and
covered at once to prevent teaching. the
moisture from proper irrigation enables
the plant roots to take up and utilize all
the food elements This should be done
early In the plant growing season In
order that thrifty growth may be at
tanned and the vines may be more able
10 hafiie the ravages OF insects and re-
sist droufh
Market potatoes must be well packed
In centais or gunuy sacks for the pur-
pose. well tied and 80 tight that they viii
not shake or brnise. Such sacks have
sold for - per ton during the present
season In the Pacific coast markets. and
the supply has not heen equal 10 the de-
msnd. There r. no indication Of any de-
crease In the demand but the rapidly IN
ereasing population and ever expanding
markets Of the Orient and Alaska make
the outlook very bright for potato grow
ers. The market for desiccased potatoes
JOEL SHOEMAKER.