The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-01
FARM AND
GARDEN ~
INTERESTS
Forcing Early Potatoes.

Philadelphia Record.
There is one crop for which We look to
Bermuda and Europe-early potatoes. The
tariff on potatoes does not keep the early
supply out because our farmers do not
turn their attention to supplying the early
markets, yet early potatoes can be grown
In this country as well as elsewhere, and
with profit to the growers. Potatoes can
be bought in Europe for about IS cents per
bushel and landed here at about $1.75. They
sell anywhere from So TO s. per barrel, ac-
cording TO the time of the year at which
they reach the consumers. Some of them
are very small, not much larger than wal
nuts, but they sell because they are pre-
ferred to old potatoes. Ireland and Scot
land grow a large proportion of the early
supply, and so important is the industry in
Ireland that the Department OF Agriculture
and Technical instruction has Issued a
pamphlet of formation for growers, in
which the farmers are given valuable hints
for producing the early crop. Phenome-
nally high prices are secured for potatoes
reaching the markets of Europe in May.
They come from Malta and Teneriffe, and
also from the Isle of Jersey aud France,
prices lowering as the season extends later.
Soils have considerable influence on earli-
ness, sandy loans being best. The next
point is to select seed of the early tubering
varieties, then sprouting the seed in boxes,
with heavy manuring on the land. The Sc
lection of q variety is a matter Of study, as
q kind that does well in one climate may
not give good results in another. The fash
ion of the market must also be considered,
as quality is not always as important with
the early kinds as shape and color. In
Scotland a variety known as Early Puritan
is preferred, being round, white and early,
and 1t Is also OF American origin.
The most efficient agent in fastening the
early potato is sprouting. Boxes COR trays,
each twenty-four inches long, twelve inches
wide and three inches deep, are used. the
corner pieces being seven inches in height.
and strong, so that the boxes can rest on
the top OF each other, when piled for Stor-
age. Each box holds about twenty pounos.
The seed potatoes are filled into the boxes
until they are level with the sides. No earth
Is mixed with them and no water supplied,
the potatoes being left to bud as nature
suggests. If large seed is used the potatoes
I'LL the box, but if small they may be two
or three piles deep, as it does not matter,
the sprouts finding their way through the
lnterStlceS. The boxes are then piled up
upon each other TO economic space. The
rule in Scotland is to fill the boxes in Oc-
tober, and the sprouts are long enough by
February. The object is not to have the
sprouts too long in length, but TO keep them
from growing too long a time, two inches
Of sprout being sufficient. To check growth
the boxes are exposed to light and air, but
when growth is desired light is excluded.
Exposure before planting is necessary in
order to tougher the sprouts, for when the
boxes emerge from darkness the sprouts are
very white and tender, but become hardy
after a few days exposure. Do not cut
the seed and 90 not use seconds (small
seed with the better kinds. Do not, break
off any of the sprouts, as the first ones
are the most vigorous.
One advantage in boxing is that the
farmer need not hurry TO plant his early
crop when the ground is too cold, as the
seed is doing its work in the boxes, while
the seed can also be stored in boxes at as
low cost as in pits. A fertilizer containing
S per cent. of nitrogen. 4 or 5 per cent. of
potash and Is to 20 per cent. soluble phos-
pilates compounded from soluble materials
is a safe and excellent mixture to use.
Where no stable manure is used apply
double the amount OF fertilizer. applied at
time of planting, and before the sets are
put in broadcasted and narrowed. but do
not top dress the crop with fertilizer.
The sets for sprouts are planted in rows
from ten 10 fifteen inches apart, according
10 circumstances. Cultivation does not
differ from ordinary crops except that it
must be thorough, but the sets should be
planted at equal depth. The soil should be
loose and kept free of grass and weeds.
Green potatoes do not ship we'll in bags,
hence should be marketed in baskets or
barrels. In all experiments made in Europe
there has been a large gain in yield in favor
of Sprouted seed.
While the season is now too late to prac-
tice European methods of sprouting seed
potatoes tor an early crop. yet our farm
ers will no doubt derive valuable informa-
ton from their methods and be in condi-
ton next fall to practice the system of
boxing. But, as all farmers know, a large
proportion of the seed used by our growers
begins 10 sprout early and grow rapidly
after the weather becomes warmer than
the average for winter. Instead of break
ing off the sprouts, as is customary, lay all
sprouted potatoes aside and grow a crop
from them on a separate plot from that
seeded with unsprouted potatoes. This will
enable them to test the use of sprouted
seed and TO note how much time is gained
in earliness by so doing.
Our farmers can do anything with pota-
toes that can be done in any other country,
and there is no reason why they should
not turn their attention 10 growing the
extra early supply, as it is the early crop
that brings the highest prices and gives the
largest profits.