The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-07-10
AgriC, ture.
SECOND CROP H POTATOES.


information Regarding Crop That Should
be More Generally Grown in North Caro-
lima.
The last issue of The Progressive
Farmer contained an inquiry re-
oarding this subject. From Bulle-
tin S. of the N. @. Experiment Sta
+ion. we get the following items
which are probably of unusual value
from the fact that they are boiled
down experiences of many growers
who reported to the Station:
..Twenty-five years ago it was a
common practice, everywhere south
Of Mason and Dixon's line, to plant
d late crop of Irish potatoes in July,
from seed kept over from the pre-
vious year. These, even when
brought from the North, were in
avitably shriveled from sprouting
and with but weak vitality, and the
late potato crop was always the most
uncertain of crops, from the diff
Guilty in getting a stand, and from
the weakened tubers used making IA
feeble growth.
Since the war the great develop
ment of vegetable culture In tao
South, particularly of early Irish po-
tatoes from seed brought from the
North, led to the discovery that the
second crop could be better grown
from tubers of the same season. +
No matter how thoroughly the
land was manured for the early crop
it will be best to use a liberal supply
of fertilizer for the late one. If put
upon pea stubble there will be no
need for further purchase of nitro
gen, as was essential with the early
crop but it will always pay to use
six hundred pounds Of acid phOs-
phate and two hundred pounds of
kainit broadcast for this crop.
In planting lay off the burrows
three feet apart, run twice or three
times in furrow and clean it out
with a shovel if not uniformly deep
and regular. Prepare, plant and
cover one row at d time while the
soil is fresh. Plant at the bottom of
the deep fUrrOw, but cover very
lightly. The covering we do with a
hoe, and let the man who covers
tramp over the row after covering,
so as to press the soil tightly to the
seed. When planting on large
scale, a machine similar to one used
in some sections for covering corn
may be used. This consists of an
plOw beam and handles. with a cross
bar in front, to which are attached
two spike teeth d foot apart, and be-
hind these a narrow roller. The
two spikes will pull in plenty of soil
from the sides Of the trenth, and the
roller will compact it. Such a COW
erer can easily be made at home.
Potatoes, properly sprOuted, planted
IN this way will all be certain to
grow, and a good stand is easy to
get. As the potatoes grow the soil
Is pulled in around them by running
the cultivator through until, finally,
the trench is level. Do all the cul-
ture with the ordinary one horse
cUltivatOr, and do not hill up. The
potatoes will then form in the deep
bed Of mellow soil, the deep furrow
will tend to retain moisture, and the
crop will be larger than if grown in
hills or ridges.
The important points to observe,
here IL North Carolina, we think,
are:
list. Bed the seed in the soil until
planting time. This gets rid of those
too immature to grow and which, if
planted, would leave gaps in the
rows.
I'd. Plant about second, week in
August, if possible, and use only
those potatoes that are sprouted.
"3d. Plant in a deep furrow, but
cover very lightly, and pack the soil
t. the seed.
18th. We have since found that
they sprout quicker if a small piece
Is cut off of dotatoes used for plant
ny.
Gradually fill in the soil to the
plants as they grow, and cultivate
the crop perfectly fat"
80 much for our Station bulletin.
We now give an interesting expert
'nce report of Mr.. w. N. Rudd, a
prominent Tennessee grower, writ
Ten TOR the Tennessee Agriculturist.