The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-01-29
Growing Potatoes.

When the writer was n boy the
method of planting potatoes was as
follows: The land was covered with
barnyard manure. Il furrow was
struck, and the seed dropped in the
furrow about a foot apart. Perhaps
boys would follow with n rake and
draw into the furrOw the manure from
an area of three burrows. Generally,
however, the manure was plowcd un-
der as the pillow came to it. The pota.
toes were planted in every third fur.
row. This method did well enough
in sandy soils, but think of planting
potatoes in this way in heavy clay
land. The system is not entirely oh.
solete yet, but it is with the best pc
tato growers. Still, as rule. potato
ground is carelessly prepared. We
read columns of advice as to prepar.
ing land for the potato crop My land
IL the black prairie soil of Illinois.
] am an advocate Of fall blowing in
general, but if / fall plowed for no
other crop should DO it for potatoes.
Just as soon as the ground can be
worked in the spring, l disk it both
ways. Just before planting. l disk
again one way. This destroys the
weeds and puts the land in good con.
dition for planting.
Select the largest and smoothest
potatoes for seed. and cut to two
eyes, after having treated them with
a corrosive sublimatc solution as fol.
lows: TO from eight to ten ounces
Of corrosive sublimate-whlch is dead
~ poison and must be handled with
carc-I add gallon of boiling water,
stirring it until the sublimate is thor
Oughly dissolved. Then this is put
into a tight barrel and fifty gallons Of
cold water is added, ana The mixture
is thoroughly stirred. Put the solu.
ton i'm some kind of q receptacle which
Will enable YOU to immcrse the pota.
toes properly. 1t can he divided into
different barrels, each holding enough
to cover q lot Of potatoes that have
been placed i'm gunny sack Place
the potatoes I'm such sack. and put
them into the mixture. letting them
remain there for an hour, stirring the
sack occasionally IN order that the
potatoes may become thoroughly wet.
If the whole mixture can be nut into
convenient tank, the potatoes can
he emptlcd directly into the liquid. I'm
@ Their case. remove them after an
hour to drying floor which should be-
so constructed that the potatoes can
drip and the drippings should be
saved Jon some way When dry. cut
and plant. and If there are many good
potatoes TO plant q potato planter will
bo found economical though many
good potato growers stW plant pota
toes without "a planter
Tn q recent issue writer stated
thot hc made tho burrows with
shovel plOw. and it is am excellent
method The rows ought 20 Joe about
three and half feet apart and the
seed about fifteen inches apart I'm the
row. Cultivation should begin very
soon after planting. at least as soon
as the weeds begin tO show Ordina.
rily potatoes may bc narrowed with
profit twice before most people begin
cultivation Put in the culHvator as
soon as the potatoes are well uD and
the weeds start and cultivate as long
CO.'S YOU can get through without iniur.
ing the vines but after Tho second or
third cultivation the ground should Doe
worked very shallow William Cor
ley, in Agricultural EpitOmist.