The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-19

N. c. NJ, Blackwell, writes:
have several acres Of good sandy soil
bordering a creek that without manure
makes twenty bushels OF more of corn
as we generally plant it five by three
feet. For the past two years il has
been planted TO corn and peas Would
not this land make good Irish pota-
toes? How could I get it in shape to
make 300 or 400 bushels of potatoes to
the acre. Have seen that 500 to 1000
bushels have been made on an acre
at the North. If that is So why
shouldn't 1 be able to make at least
500 bushels. To make or help make
such crop how much commercial fer
tilizer would it be safe and advisable
to put on one acre? How many BUSH
els of seed potatoes would be best per
acre and how should they be pre-
pared? We generally plant the crop
during the first week in February, but
the first week in March would not be
too late, would it?"
Good sandy land such as you mem
ton, might easily be put in such
shape as to enable it to produce 300
bushels of potatoes to the acre. This
is a large yield on Southern soil, as
potatoes are ordinarily planted, but
we know from practical experience
that even larger yields than that is
quite possible that is. with a liberal
use of commercial fertilizer Where
toll 1xy
adapted to this crop he can afford to
put fertilizer on it literally. That is If
it will produce 200 bushels naturally
he will be justified in spending $50 at
least in fertilizer with a view of in
creasing the product to 400 bushels.
There is very little upland in the
South that will produce 200 bushels
without fertilizing. If this soil could
have even one full crop of pea vines
given to it and far enough ahead of
planting, SO that they are thoroughly
rotted by them with the use of $50
worth of fertilizer, we have no doubt
it would yield you 800 bushels of po-
tatoes. provided you used good seed
of good variety and planted and Gull
tivated the crop just right.
An acre cannot be planted just right
without using at least ten bushels of
seed: twelve would be better, for each
cut should have two eyes.
The average distance for potatoes Is
three feet, but small top kinds like
the Triumph and Rose need only two
and a half feet. In the row the pota-
toes should stand at least fifteen
inches apart. The market requires po-
tatoes of good size and they will not
be this if the hills are crowded.
The potato cuts should be planted at
least six inches deep, if the soil will
allow of it, and it is poor potato soil
if it doesn't. Though planted six
inches deep do not cover with more
than two inches of soilg at first. To-
wards the last the soil should be
slightly thrown to the vines, but
nothing like hill made about them.
Keep very nearly level to the end.
There will be less small potatoes.
On such soil as yours the cultiva-
ton can hardly be too shallow.
The soil about the potato roots must
be allowed to become firmed. In light
sandy soil not more than two inches
of the surface should be disturbed af
ter the potatoes are up.
in making a big crop of potatoes
much depends upon the variety. One
should use the kind that has been
grown to the best general satisfaction
in his particular section.
Unless one buys his seed directly
from some reputable Northern grow
er, he is not sure of getting anything
pure ana true to name. Regular grow
ers of this crop should grow their own
seed potatoes whenever practicable.
When they cannot they should get in
and keep in communication with grow
ers in New England or New York. The
potatoes should be in hand at least a
week or two before time for planting,
so that they can be overhauled and
assorted for a proper preparation.
Nowadays it is necessary to treat the
seed cuts in one way or another be-
fore putting them in the soil with a
view of protecting the crop from scab
and other diseases. Either sulphur or
corrosive sublimate or copper sulphate
are three things more or less used in
potato culture as a disease preventive.
Potato growers even in the South I'M
derstand that it is hardly possible to
carry crop through now without the
use of more or less arsenic to destroy
the potato bugs. Last season
they began to lay eggs on the young
vines in very short while after COM
ing up. For several reasons it becomes
very important TO get the SEEDS plant
ed just as soon as the weather will
permit, after the passing of winter,
but due regard must be had for that
untimely frost that usually occurs in
March or early April, especially after
an abnormally warm February or ear
ly spring. Where the seed cuts con-
tain two or more eyes the damage is
never so serious from these frosts as
when only one eye cuts are used. On
latitude 30 or therea bouts, very large
crops can be made from paintings as
late as the 5th of March, but earlier
paintings are advisable.