Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-09-28
Harvesting ard Storing.

the early market potato growers 40
not wait for this. but are governed
by the size of the tubers. AS long as
aby portion of the vine is green the
tubers can continue to grow. AT the
Vermont station Whl,e Star potatoes,
planted May 20 yielded 1863 bushels
per acre of merchantable potatoes
when dug August 22; 234 bushels Sep
tember / 303 bushels September II,
and 3e3 bushels September %. More
than third the merchantable crop was
made after September l. AT the
above dates the average size OF all
tubers was, respectively, 81, A. 5.2,
and ST ounces, respectively. THESE
figures show the importance of pro-
tecting the foliage from the late blight
by spraying and they also afford some
data as to the rate at which potatoes
develop Ia = III the season.
Ia gardens very early potatoes are
sometimes obtained by carefully
removing few of the larg-
er tul,.r. from growing plant
yep,acing the soil and allowing
the smaller potatoes to continue grow
ing ("grabbling0. Experiments con-
Quoted in Germany by Wollny and
Nobbe and in Austria by Leydhecker
- loco nf
tbs operation carefully done. The
.ai &c amount of labor required pro-
potatoes are selling at a price much
higher than can be expected from the
later crop.
In harvesting a large area a highh-
priced potato digger is frequently
used; hand digging with a fork-tined
fork is probably the best method on
small areas, though many make use OF
a potato hoe or of ploW. Careful
handling always pays and extreme
oarefulness is necessary, especially
with the early crop, to prevent injury
20 the tender skin of the immature
potatoes
N harvesting large area high
potatoes should ba exposed to light
as little as possible. In storing po-
tatoes a low temperature is required.
The potato tuber is uninjured by a
temperature of 33 degrees F.. and
one authority gives the freezing tenn
perature of potatoes 3o.2 degrees f.
Warmth favors sprouting, which in
lures potatoes both for planting and
eating
Summary.
I'd A rich, sandy loan, we'll drain
ed and well supplied with vegetable
matter is the best soil for the potato.
sitter and may be improved as po-
ta1o soil by green manuring and drain
age, and lighter soils can often be
made sufficiently rich by the addition
of green manures and fertilizers.
(2) Potatoes should not as a rule
be grown continuously on the same
land but should be alternated with
other crops. Barnyard manure may be
freely used but should as rule be ap-
piled to previous crops in the fota-
ton
go If commercial fertilizers are
used, a mixture containing nitrogen
acid as superphosphate and potash as
sulphate and in which potash pre-
dominates, is recommended.
~ Preparation of the land should
be deep and thorough.
(59 Planting Withoue rdging gen
orally affords the larger yields but
stiff soil and the desire for an extra
early crop sometimes necessitates
planting on ridges.
(6l The best time for planting de-
pends on the climate of each locality.
The planting should be so timed as To
bring the period when the tubers are
rapidly forming al date when the
average rainfall is ample.
J7) On mellow. we'll drained soil
deep planting c. to inches) is best,
especially when the season happens TO
be dry. For the early crop or on
stiff soil with a tendency to bake the
depth of planting lay be decreased.
80 The use of the harrow before the
plants are all up and frequent shallow
shade the land. are advisable.
90 Seed potatoes grown i'll New
England in several tests proved super