Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-08-30
Sol: and Rotation.

variety of soils inured, it has been
grown on nearly every class of SOILS,
but tfls fact does not MINIMIZE the
importance of selecting for the potato
the kind of soil best adapted to it. The
ideal soil for this crop should be one
so light as to offer no great reslS-
tance 10 the enlargement Of the ttbers,
so supplied with organic matter as to
be rather moist without being wet,
and SO rich as to furnish an unfall-
ing supply Of fertiIizing ingredients.
A rich. sandy loan abundantly supplied
with organic matter and naturally well
drained is preferable. Sitter soils
may be rendered suitable for the po-
tate bv drainage and by the incof-
poration of farm manures; or better.
=hy ploWing under green crops Very
heavy clay should be avoided ii the
farm contains any lighter soil. Re
Gently cleared ground suits the po-
tato. Sandy soils if not too subject to
drought, may be fitted for this plant
by the addition of organic matter. 1t
is claimed that potatoes drown on
sandy land are of better quality than
those grown on stiffer soil.
The potato requires a rich soil, but
even mere important than natural fer
tiity is proper mechanical condition
of the soil Artificial fertilizers may
be substituted in part fer natural fer
tility, but they are effective only when
the soil is in such condition as to
furnish constant supply OF water.
The potato should have the best soil
on the farm, since it is more eXacting
in this respect than the other staple
crops, and since the product of an
acre is generally of greater value.
The success of the potato is largely
dependent on the crops preceding it
in the rotation. If clover, coWpeas, or
other leguminous plant is grown just
preceding potatoes. its stubble fur
nishes organic matter and adds to the
store of available nitrogen in the soil.
Corn after sod frequently precedes po-
tatoes, and this is generally regarded
as the best rotation.
Rye is sometimes sown in late
summer or fall and plowed under so
as to tighten heavy soil Buckwheat
and other plants have also been used
for the same purpose. On light soils
and in rather mild climates, crimson
glover for green manuring may ad-
yantageously take the place OF rye,
where early planting of potatoes is
not specially desirable. One year, at
most two years, Is az long as a field
should be devoted to continuous po.
tato culture, although this crop IS
sometimes grown for more than two
years in succession on the same land.
This latter course taxes heavily the
fertility of the soil and neceSsitates lib
eral manuring; moreover it involves
considerable risk OF injury from flung
Gus diseases. especially from potato
scab clean crop of potatoes can
not, as rule. be grown on land which
in the preceding year produced scabby
tubers The germs of the disease
once in the soil must be starved out
by growing on the infected field other
crops, sueA as grass or grain, for sev-
eral years - certain localities in the
central part of the United States and
elsewhere tie following three years
rotation has given highly satisfactory
results on farms where potatoes are
extensively 1rown; Fall wheat, in
which clover is seeded in spring: sec
ond year. clover plowed under in fan
or winter: aad third year. potatoes, IL
some localities the uncertainty i'll Oh.
tanning catch of clover renders this
rotation ineNpedient
- =
detailed directions for the prepara,
ton of one class of soils would not
apply to others. hence ii can only be
said that preparation should be deep
and thorough and that unnecessary
ecmpacting Il the soil should be
avoided. PloWlng can scarcely be TOO
deep, provided that much of the sub
soil is not brought to the surface, when
4,..n.at io, u tho Aanth Cho11la hn cral