The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-03-20

Se4S
in the latter part of April or the firstof
May; and plan to have them all come
as near the same time as possible
Pumpkins are very good food for
swine, as they promote growth, aid
digestion and free the animals from
intestinal worms. Grow them by them
selves and give the hogs all they will
eat, feeding them raw.
Mr.. Henry's talk on hogs closed the
forenoon session. 1886.
HOW TO RAISE POTATOES.
The announcement at the close of the
forenoon session that S. J. Fairfield of
Iowa would speak on the raising of po-
tatoes sufficed to pack the opera house.
The potato is to- Princeton and the
farmers who live in this section what
macarOni is to the gentlemen from
sunny Italy. There was great interest
manifested in the talk which Mr.. Fair
field made. His home is in northwest
ern Iowa where he has been engag ed
in farming since boyhood, and he has
made a specially of potatoes on large
scale. In certain sense he thought
there was little difference between
raising potatoes in Minnesota and in
his part of the country. The soil in
his section is a black prairie loan, diff
fering somewhat from the soil in the
potato belt of Minnesota, and then,
too, the climatic conditions are not ex-
actly the same, but what he had to say
on the method of raising potatoes ap-
piled with equal force to farmers in
any section where potatoes can be
raised.
Like produces like" said Mr.. Fair
field. IA farmer will pay big price
for sire to obtain the best results in
breeding and then he will turn around
and plant lot of little potatoes of
doubtful quality and then complain he
has no luck raising potatoes" Good
seed means good growth and good
stock. It requires firm, we'll kept seed
to make good potatoes. If farmer
wants good potatoes he must use good
large and hardy seed free from scab
and in the best condition possible. In
the fall the farmer should pick
dry, clean, smooth potatoes and put in
a celler or cave with an even temper
allure. This matter of temperature is
absolutely necessary. The speaker
illustrated his talk by means of large
drawings showing model cellar for
storing potatoes for seed. The cellar
is provided with vent seven inches
square and when the temperature gets
too low lantern can be let down into
the cellar to warm it. The cellar is
closed up when the potatoes are all in
and is never opened until spring so that
there is little variation in the atmOs-
phere. In the center of the cellar is
placed a sheet iron box in which ice is
placed in case the cellar should get too
warm. A careful watch is kept on the
temperature of the cellar so that there
shall be no variation. of any conse-
quence to any way affect the stock.
Mr.. Fairfield showed by chart the
two classes of potatoes which he desig-
mated the Burbank or long type, and
the Rural Ohio or round type He
preferred the round type of potato for
planting, being more compact and less
liable to be affected by drought. For
early market he thought that the Ohios
were the only good early potato. On
the question of varieties to plant there
was some discussion by farmers pres
ent and these little discussions brought
out many practical points. Some one
inquired about the Mills prize potato
and Mr.. Fairfield said he had never
tried them. Mr.. Henry stated that he
had and found them a very good yielder
and considered them very good for
sandy SOIL Mr.. Fairfield advised farm
ers to try small patch of them and
see how they thrive in this section.
The devices and methods of treating
potatoes for scab, etc., were explained,
but as this subject was covered in an
article by Mr. Fairfield in the UNION
OF Jan. Both no further mention will be
made of it. Mr.. Fairfield was asked
If he ever Was troubled with scab in
the soil and he said he had never been
bothered in this way. The best thing
for this was a system OF cropping. Put
in clover and pillow under in heated
season when the clover will sour and
form an acid that will kill the scab.
Mr.. Fairfield explained how he cut
the seed. He always used common
kitchen knife that was sharpened and
made as thin as piece of card board.
The seed should not be cut until it is
needed for planting. For Ohios, two
or three eyes to the piece should be
cut; and for later varieties, one eye is