The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-14

the Washington County Truck Growers as
ISOLATION, will no doubt prove OF interest |
TO all those who contemplate going into the |
business
The growing Of early Irish potatoes for |
shipment to Northern markets has, during |
the past two or three years, become one OF |
the most important factors IN building up !
the immense truck growing interests OF the |
South, and with proper encouragement In !
the way Of fast transportation and reusonn- !
Bile freight rates bids fair TO become -
substantial aid IN bringing back prosperity /
TO those sections of Texas which have by /
reason of short cotton crops become MAJ !
terlally impoverished.
OF the many varieties Of vegetables
grown in the South for commercial pur
poses, the Irish potato commends itself |
above all others to the farmers OF this ,
section as substitute Tor portion OF /
their Intended cotton crop, and as a starter
toward broader and more profitable |
diyersihcutior
Many varieties Of vegetables In order TO
be placed upon distant markets In good CON
dillon require careful. intelligent methods !
Of preparation and packing a knowledge Of /
which Is only gained by experience, hence /
the growing OF such vegetables for North |
ern shipment by the average farmer would /
likely result IN disappointment aud loss |
horticultural enthusiasts TO the contrary
notwithstanding
All farmers however. are more or less
familiar with the culture OF the Irish 20.
tato, and as the tubers compared with
many other vegetables are easily prepared
for market, have In this product some
ching that may be taken hold OF with n
reasonable chance OF success by those who
have never even learned 10 get out OF the
rut they first began to walk In.
Another strong point IN favor OF the cX-
tenslve planting Of the Irish potato in this
section is the carly maturing Of the crop.
We have thousands OF acres OF warm sandy
loans especially adapted for the raising NJ
early potatoes. These lands are only rated
as second class farming lands, but If given
a liberal dressing OF suitable fertilizer and
planted with q nrst-eiass article OF Trl-
umph potato seed, VIII put more money In
the farmers pocket acre for acre than
the best black land planted 10 cotton ever
will.
Remember further. that while II takes
less Than three months 10 grow q crop Of
potatoes and turn them into cash, it re
uuires more than six months 10 grow and
cash cotton crop,
The growing OF potatoes also maB.s
easily possible the renovation and building
NJ OF the soil by crop rotation, the early
harvesting Of the potatoes leaving the
ground Ia ideal condition FOR the planting
~ other crops, as peas, June corn, sweet
potatoes, etc, which crops may be cashcd
nj profit through the medium OF the
farmers friend, the great American hog.
Now, although as before stated, every
farmer knows more or less about growing
irish potatoes, there are certain methods
Of culture that must be followed II the
best results are 10 be obtained These
methods may be briefly summarized as fol
lows:
First, as to seed For commercial pur
poses II IS waste ~ time ma money
20 plant any variety but the Triumph In
this section. and these should be- the best
scgb AS preventive Of srab IN the
young tuhers soak the seed potatoes In a
solution made rs follows: Dissolve "a
ounces corrosive subllmate IN two gallons
water, adding Ike amount of muriate
OF ammonia 10 aid In rapidly dissolvlng the
submate. nfterward dilute TO make ter
gallons; any quantity may be made by oh
serving above proportions. The potato,
may be placed IN the solution confined %
q coarse sack for from twenty to thirt,
minutes and afterward spread out to dry
before planting Care should be exercised
In using the corrosive snhhmate, MS ~ 4
very poisonous
Of scab and may be rubbed or wei
sprinlded on the seed potatoes just bctor
planting,
Don't cut seed into small pieces. no creat
or mistake can be made than this ~ earl
POTATOES are wanted. The smaller and me
dium size tubers may hc planted whole
the larger ones cut into not more than tw
or three pieces; about five barrels per acr
Is a liberal seeding
As to soil, wcll drained, sandy loan
preferable II with n southern or westcr
exposure so much the better, Break duriu
fall or early winter deeply rs possible an
several weeks before planting time lay OF
rows thirty TO thlrty.siN Inches apart an
put In the burrows thus made from thlrt
TO forty loads well decomposed manure {
the acre, covering same lightly with
sweep, the furrow to be opened again q
plnnting time about four inches deep
II commercial fertilizer Is TO be USED
the rows may be laid on Just before plan
Ing, the fertilizer applied and a sln0
sweep or shovel run down the row to be
ter Incorporate the fertilizer with the sol
good fertilizer for Irish potatoes plan
ed on sandy land may be made up as ~
lows: 500 pounds cotton seed mca, "
pounds bone black supcrphosphute, s.
pounds sulphatc Of potash. Apply from sc
TO 500 pounds per acre. according 10 fc
tillty OF land To get the best results frol
commercial fertilizers the land must !
kept In good mechanical condition. by car
full cultivation.
plant tho seed eighteen inches apar
cover by throwing together two light IN
rows, leaving ridge or wuter shed. Ju'
as the potatoes come up run light ha
row over ridges TO destroy first weed ere
md afterward keep Glenn with sweep
Cultlvator. always working shallow as pc
Hlble and never close 20 the potato yln'
or the young roots will be destroyed, T.
sutlng In serious injury 10 the crop.
AS soon after the 10th Of February
ground is In good working condition plan
Ing may be commenced. Pay no Attent0
10 tho moon. but more "a the condition
She ground, as much depends on huyiu
same In first class tilth at planting tim
II Is much better 20 walt few DAYS b
fore planting even " late than put seed
wet. soggy land.
With q favorable season Irish potutol
planted from February 10 10 March I WI
be sufficiently matured for digging an
shipping in carload lots by May 10 to .
good two-horse pillow or middle breaR'
may be used 10 throw out the tuhers. while
should Mt once be carefully gathered I'M
one-third or one-hRlfIhushel baskets
noxes-provided with handles for that pu
pose-and thoroughly dried by exposure
The air for from twelve to twenty -fol
hours, due care being taken to keep q
tubers In the shade and away from q
direct rays Of the sun. II is presumed III
the potatoes have been planted on a sane
or at least n sandy loan soil, so that VIII,
thoroughly dry but little dirt adheres az
the tubers look clean and bright.
Packing operations may now be col
menced using either sacks containing "
bushels or preferably the regulation 2
tato barrel. well ventilated by cutting avn
portions OF the slaves.
Reject all small, cut or scahhy potatoe
and don't use scoop or shovel IN handlip
MS this method, although conyenieI
bruises and thus induces early decay
the tuhers, which. from the time they a
dug until they are loaded on the CA
should be handled with the utmost car
Allow nm extra weight Of two pounds Z
bushei to Offset loss caused by eyaporat
while in transit. In other words go
thing for the grower 70 do while paeki
his produce Is 70 put himself IN the buye
place This would largely do away WI
complaints Of short weights and infer
goods from the other end OF the line, n