Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-08-29
The Tillage of Potatoes.

Every farmer is interested in in
creasing his potato crop, and the vari-
Gus methods of growing potatoes al
ways receive consideration. Recent
experiments made at Cornell univer.
sity, under the supervision of ]. L.
Stone, demonstrate to farmers the
applicability to their soils and condi-
tions of methods in potato culture that
have given excellent results. The
farmers who have been requested to
do so have also conducted expert
ments on their farms. and thus as
sisted in arriving at conclusions re-
garding the proper course to pursue
in growing potatoes. The experiments
extended over a period of five years,
and all kinds of weatner-favorable
and acknowledgements. To show
that much depends upon proper culti-
walton it may be mentioned that in
1895 the average yield Of potatoes for
New York state was 122 bushels, yet
the maximum yield at the station was
AIS bushels, while in 1897, wnen the
average for the state was only 62
bushels per acre, the maximum yield
on the station grounds was 322 bush
els. In 1899 eleven plots averaged
at the rate of 1876 bushels per acre,
though the average for the state was
only So bushels. During that year
drought prevailed. and as the land was
then becoming deficient in organic
matter the condition made the crops
more liable to injury from drought
than formerly. but the thorough prep
aration and tillage given the plots pro.
ducei strong and vigorous plants, de.
spite the severe drought of the sum
mer, though an early frost killed the
tops before sufficient late rains had
fallen to enable the plants to pro
duce the usually large yield, which,
however, seemed assured up to the
time of the unfortunate event.
The large yields obtained were secured
by thorough preparation of the land
before planting. thereby developing
in the soil an abundant supply of
readily available plant food and secur-
ing the storage of large amount of
water accompanied by deep planting,
followed by frequent and prolonged
tillage of the crop, thereby preventing
waste of moisture by evaporation from
the surface of the soil or by transpira-
tion from the leaves of weeds, and at
the same time bringing more plant
food into available condition. Also,
and an important matter, by main
tanning healthy and vigorous foliage
on the plants during the entire season
by spraying with Bordeaux mixture
and paris green. A comparison Of
the minimum and maximum yields of
potatoes shows clearly that the large
crops are secured by proper cultiva-
ton. The best results at the station
were obtained by combining the twice
plowing system (autumn and early
spring. with deep planting, in thor
oughly fitted soil, and giving pro-
longed frequent, level tillage, and
using insecticides. Farmers who made
experiments got the best yields from
autumn and spring plowing only
while deep planting and level tillage
showed a marked increase in yields
compared with shallow planting and
hilling. These results were obtained
on various farms. and are valuable to
those who make the potato crop a
specially.
Many farmers are satisfied to ciiti-
vate their crop only when necessity
requires. They do not neglect the
crops, keeping down the weeds and
b,,t IL OF
the station and by the farmers who
assisted show that cultivation does
more; in fact, that the more the land
is cultivated the larger the crop. One
farmer got IA bushels more of pota-
toes from land that had been cult
waited five times than from land cul-
tivated twice. Another plot that gave
1877 bushels per acre was exceeded by
an adjoining plot that had been cult
waited seven times, which yielded 1874
bushels per acre. 1t is plain, there
fore, that frequent cultivation is bene.
fetal. While deep planting gives bet
ter results than shallow, yet deep
planting should not follow shallow
plowing-that is, the burrows opened
10 receive lUe SecQ SuOulu not 20 W
the bottom of the soil that was stirred
by the plow. If it is desired to plant
six inches deep the land should be
plowed eight inches deep. If land has
never been plowed deep then the plow
should go down only on inch more
each year, plowing in the fall of the
year. 1t is well to understand also
that better tillage and larger crops
cause the removal of more plant food
from the soil; hence the use of manure
and fertilizers, or the growing of cover
or SOD crops to be plowed under should
not be overlooked. If the farmer will
give as much labor to the potato crop
as it really demands he will suffer but
little loss from drought. and his
yields will be such as to pay all ex.
penses and return a profit.-Philal lel-
phia Record.