Smyrna times., 1903-12-30
POTATO CULTIVATION.
The Methods by Which Germany Has
Obtained Pre-eminence.

Obtained Pre-eminence.
From the report of United States Con-
sui General Mason of Berlin come some
interesting facts in regard to scientific
potato culture in that country. Among
other things he says:
Potato cultivation, like all farming on
a large scale in Germany, is based on
an exact knowledge of the soil. This
includes not only the elements which it
contains, but its underlying strata, ex-
posure, elevation and surroundings,
whether shaded by adjacent woodlands
or buildings, and especially its suscep-
tibility to natural efficient drainage.
There is no careless, hit or miss guess
work as to what the soil may lack or
what it contains. The agricultural and
technical schools of Germany have
trained an army of practical chemists,
expert in the analysis of soils and fa
miliar with the elemental requirements
of every plant known to German hus-
bandry. The effective value of every
kind of fertilizer, it's influence on crops
planted in sand, clay or loan and the
efficacy of clover, lucern and other
growths when plOwed in to enrich soils
in nitrogen are accurately known.
Although the potato will grow in ev
cry arabic field in Germany, from the
upper hill slopes to the moorlands of
the valleys and seacoast, there is a
wide variation both as to quantity and
quality. in the product of the different
localities Poor, light, gravelly soils
yield small and few potatoes. and in
dry seasons fail altogether. Heavy,
tough, cold clays are likewise unfavor-
able The ideal potato land is warm.
permeable, loamy sand or a light moor
land. well drained, clean and rich from
the vegetable decay of past ages. Soils
containing large proportions of sand
produce potatoes of the best flavor and
with highest percentage of starch. So
marked are these characteristic effects
that in every potato market of Ger
many the potatoes of certain cOmmuneS
are known and rated at the head of the
list because the soils of those districts
have demonstrated their superior fit
ness for potato culture. a potato field
should be open, fully exposed to sun
and wind. not shaded or ObStrucIed by
trees and. above all, free from clay
suDstrata which hold water and make
a wet subsOil. Crops grown on land
with these defects may in some seasons
be large. but they rot easily and are al
ways deficient in starch ard of inferior
flavor. In Germany the red and so call
ed "blue skinned potatoes are found
to do better than the white in damp To-
cations or where the land is excluded
from free action of sun and wind.
In the preparation of land for potato
planting the first requisite is deep, thor
Ough plOwing. In view of the many
centuries during which the fields of
Germany have been cultivated and the
generally high standard of intelligence
among farmers here an American is
surprised to note that in many wheat,
rye and oat fields the plow does not
cut more than six or seven inches in
depth. But for potatoes this superficial
scratching of the earth will not suffice.
Every additional inch of depth broken
adds tangible percentage to the yield.
and on the best farms subsoil blowing
attains a depth of twelve to fifteen
inches. Small tracts are worked with
the spade, and instances are given
where the potato crop has been doubled
by working the soil two spade lengths
in depth. This deep, careful prepara-
ton of the land is always completed in
autumn and the upturned earth left
exposed to the action of frost and thaw-
ing during the winter.
Careful experiment has shown that
a given piece of land prepared in au-
tumn yields one-third more potatoes
than if treated in precisely the same
manner in spring Immediately before
planting time. Having been deeply
plowed and thoroughly narrowed in
autumn, the frost penetrates readily,
the action of the air upon the various
dries out quickly in spring and with
the first warm days is ready for plant
ing. 1t is then plOwed again, usually
to depth of five or six inches, with
broad, shallow plcw drawn by one
horse, and in every third furrow the
potatoes are dropped and are covered
by the furrow slice next turned in
This quick, easy method of planting
with the plow is practicable only inI
light, loose soils that have been thor
oughly prepared. In heavy clay soils
holes five or six inches deep are made
in rows with the hoe or spade, the po-
tatOes dropped therein and covered
with the hoe
The Ambitious Climber.
The Guide-Well. here we are on the
peak at last.
The Tourist-Oh, guide do you mean
tn say VVp 20 N crof No bic,bo,9