The Somerset reporter., 1904-09-01
Potatoes in Somerset.

We have frequently stated on what we
conceive to be coed authority that
potatoes can BE- raised with proht On
large scale 10 Somerset count perhaps
not with he same degree Of succ. - hat
l. real Nd Ia the county Of Aroostook
b~ well along in that direction.
Ihi- theory WAS demonstrated by
Fred q. Davis OF Madison, Hon Turner
Boswell Of Solon and Others 10 this
vicinity last year and they are trying 1t
again this year, with success well as
sured.
Upon invitation of Mr.. DAVIS We look.
ed over his fields Of potatoes a few DAYS
ago. He planted ABOUT 10 acres this
season and has already rnarset 10
Skowhegan and Madison something over
200 bushels of his early varieties.
Mr.. Davis believes In thorough culfiYg-
ton Of his potato felds, generous dress.
ing OF the land and fro quent spraying.
He begins to plant as early as the land l.
dry enough, and continues, where HI
soil is suitable, until he gets through
with al the land allotted 10 that crop.
lie planted few early ones 10 April this
season and Il few In July, but considers
May and early June planting will pre-
duce he best crops.
His method IS to prepare his land Ia
good shape by plouRhing and narrowing
and then plant IN drills two to four
inches deep about three feet apart with
potatoes from Il TO Il inches apart,
using commercial fertilizer generously In
the drills. He uses from one-half ton
to ton TO the acre, ont-half to twt-
thirds OF 1t at planting time, the balance
when the potatoes are hoed the first time.
He goes over the field with harrow
twice before the potatoes are up thus
keeping the weeds down and the soil
nicely stirred. His cultivation with The
horse hoe aud otherwise is sufficient 10
keep the fields clean of weeds. The
potato tops cover the ground thoroughly
and hardly a weed TO half acre is per-
ceptible TO the eye.
Frequent treatment with dry prepar-
alton similar to Bordesu Mixture keeps
the bugs off and discourages the rust
fungus, 80 that bis fields are as green,
September LIST, as In July. He uses
Loggetts Champion buster for this pur-
pose.
Mr.. Davis Is doing something In way
of experimental work, this year, in
varieties OF potatoes and methods of
treatment. He uses the white varieties
largely as they stand better In the mar
kets than the colored ones. One variety
propsgated by a neighbor, William Hol-
way, he is much Interested In and the
prospect is good that it will yield heavily.
An extra fine hill. last year, among bis
Green Mountains attracted his attention.
He saved it using the potatoes for seed,
this year, giving them good chance TO
show their quality and yield. He is also
Interested in an experiment he tried, his
spring, in the method of planting two
eeres of the Maggie Murphy variety
The planting WAS done when the pla
was plowed, by dropping the seed AID
phosphate in every third furrow and let
| ting the next furrow cover potatoes aud
phosphate. AT this time the appearance
is the experiment will prove a success.
Judging from lis potato yield, list
year and the appearance of his fields this
season, Mr.. Davis confidently counts
upon 300 bushels 70 the acre as COM
pensation for his hard work and
thorough cultivation Of the crop he is
keenly interested In and has given iutel-
ligent and careful attention 70.
Diptheria, sore throat. Group. Instant relief,