The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-09-13
THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER

use or potato-cutters enables the crop to be pu
in when the ground is In proper condition ana
when the season and opportunity presents itself
The potatoes as they are cut, should be sprinklec
with land plaster; this keeps them from bleeding
and rotting in the ground before terminating
The potato planter ~scatters the fertilizer in the
drill and covers it before the seed fall. Care
fully conducted experiments demonstrate thai
from 1000 pounds to 1900 pounds potato ferti
lizer to the acre will give the blest results and
better returns and that 1000 pounds should &c
in the, drill under the seed, and the balance spread
broadcast before the cultivator starts.
When the potatoes are ready to break ground
a weeder should be run across the field to pull
down the beds so that the potatoes can come
through the ground quickly.
HOW TO SPRAY
The trouble with far too many growers is that
they wait until the bugs appear and signs of their
ravages show themselves before preparing to pro-
tect the growing vines by applying, when the
vines are fairly above ground, bug death, or Paris
green mixture, dry with a special made sitter.
A little later, say ten days, begin spraying with
bug death in connection with bordeaux mixture,
or Paris green and bordeaux mixture, and do
thorough work, ~oing over the field, be it large or
small, twice in a row both ways at least once a
49, " w Il hdINCSG1uS IL
potatoes. The whole story now hinges on the
spraying of the potatoes, for it is here that a
majority fail. More then this reliance has been
placed in cheap sprayers.
For small planter, a k~napsack sprayer with an
agitator and force pump should be used. and the
mixed in an oil barrel, and stirred
each time thoroughly before filing sprayer.
Growers of larger acreage of potatoes should
use a HORSEPOWER SDr9Ver SDraViDO civ rouo ub;1o
the horse goes in one direction. The ones of
this make fitted with an oil barrel fastened so that
the slaves are parallel with the axle, have proven
to be the best, as by this method of construction
the agitator can be so arranged that it fits closely
on the inside of the barrel and can be arranged
to revolve when the axle turns without the pump
thus keeping the solution thoroughly
mixed st all times, so long as the sprayer is in
motion. The pipes should be fitted on the bottom
side of the barrel, between barrel and axle, so
that all the water can be drawn from the barrel
with a strong pressure pump, holding an even
pressure, and forcing q fine mist-like spray
the vermoral nozzles too fine to gather
into drops of water, all over, and through every
leaf of the plant. If a single leaf is left under
meath 1T will invite rust, and the bugs will be sure
OF company. For these reasons more emphasis
should be laid on the sprayer, that it be one. so
constructed as to insure that uniform pressure Of
power to force the spray into every part
OF the plant and over every leaf.
One thing IS certain, spraying should begin
when the vines are six inches high, and repeated
every week or ten days until the potatoes are
harvested.
THE BEST IMPLEMENTS.
Io grow potatoes successfully and proftably,
certain improved implements are demanded-the
weeder, horse hoe and cultivator b;oh