Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-08-30
POTATO CUL TURE

france, HedSuleu SiHSlt looto iiN'i
feet long growing on rich soil, deep
ly prepared.
Prac tical experience, as well as the
extent of the distribution of potato
roots in the soil, emphasize the i'm
portanee of deep and thorough prepara-
ton Of the soil for this crop. Whether
fall blowing is advisable depends on
variety of local considerations. In
general in mild climate fall ploWing
of light land exposes it to teaching; on
the other hand. fall ploWing is some
times necessary, as, for example. when
field is badly infested with injurious
insects
tanurlnq.
The potato requires liberal manur-
ine. Fa,nXard manure usually al
f4sls a j&fge increase III tie crop, fol
not onN Goes it supply nitrogen, phos-
pharic aeid. and potash but it I'M.
proves the mechanical condition of
The soil However. it's direct appli-
celt'o on to the potato affords conditions
favorable TO potato diseases. and thus
Ia lures the quality of tie crop. For
this reason the best practice is to ap-
ply barnYard manure to corn or grass
the year before potatoes are grown. If
it IS considered necessary TO apply it
directly TO the potato crop it should
first be we'll rotted
If for several years before potatoes
are planted the land has been properly
manured With farm manures, or with
green crops ploWed under, commercial
fertilizers can be adVan1ageously used
ON most soils. Generally. a complete
fertilizer should be =ll,ed--ie., one
which contains nitrogen phosphorie
'eia and potash The farmer is JUS
,ified in supplying all three of these
Gus tests he has learned that on his
soil a certain one of them can be safely
omitted.
OF nitrogenous fertilizers. one of the
best for potatoes is the quick-actlng
nitrate of soda. OF phosphate fertl-
lizers. superphosphate is preferred.
Among potash fertilizers the sulphate
Of potash has been found to afford
better quality of potato than kainlt
and muriate of potash. Ashes are eX-
tensively and effectively used to sup
ply potash to potatoes.
Numerous special potato fertilizers
are on the market. their chief pecu-
liarity consisting in a higher percen-
tage Of potash than is contained in the
ordinary brands of mixed commercial
fertilizers. American experiments in
dicate that fertilizer mixture for pc
tatoes should contain high percen-
tage of potash.
Since the proper position OF fertiliz-
ers with reference to the seed pieces
doubtless depends on the character OF
season, soil, and manure, no genera
rule can now be given further than
to caution the reader against applying
tie fertilizer in immediate contact with
the seed pee.
Varieties.
The fO!'owi.4g are among the most
widely grown varieties: Early, Early
Ohio. Early Rose. Beauty of Hebron
and Triumph. Medium and late,
Burbank, Rural New Yorker No. =.
Empire State, Mammoth Pearl. White
Star and Dakota Red.
These are standard varieties. and
hough not necessarily the best they
Gem to have given general satisfac-
ion.
Planting.
The ROWS should be laid off as close
egether as practicable without inter
ring with horse cultivation. Cen
ally the seed pieces should be- diea
ood in furrows made in the level field
and moi on ridges. However, low
.ideas are advantageous for an early
crop and on poorly drained land. In
covering the seed pieces. whether they
7ra planted fiat or on ridges, ii is
we'll to leave a small. sharp ridge mark
ing the line of the row. In some 10