Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-03-19
FERTILIZING POTATOES.
Address Delivered by A. \
Brown at Produce Exchange
Meeting.

give this excellent article on the fertiiz-
ing and spraying of white potatoes. de
livered at the request of Mayor Harrison
at the meeting of the Berlin Branch of
the Peninsula Produce Exchange by
Mr. 4. n. Brown. of Wyoming. Della.
ware. Mr. Brown said:
Growing white potatoes has become
"A very important commercial product
upon the Peninsula. with very much
greater possibilities than those yet
realized. therefore, one of the essentials
in their production is more knowledge
on the part of the growers with refer
ence TO furnishing the potatoes withplant
food of such kind and in such amounts
as will tend TO its highest developments:
to do this intelligently. it is necessary
that farmers sh ould know the physical
conditions of their soil. the constituent
elements of the white potato so that
they can supply in maximum quantities
those particular elements of plant food
which are required by the tuber and
thorough knowledge of the form or
source from which these elements are
obtained. Ii is well recognized law
of nature tn at best results follow where
all conditions are favorable, while we
cannot control conditions absolutely,
we can by intelligent direction aid con
ditions
If the soil upon which we wish to
grow the white potato is too compact. so
rs not to admit of the free passage of
soil moisture we must add vegetable
matter or humus. If too loose or friable,
we again add hnmus TO hold the soil
moisture, as plants feed or are feed by
soil waters, il is of the highest impor-
lance that the physical conditions of the
soil should be aerable enough 10 admit
of the free circulation of soil waters. yet
compact enough to hold these waters so
as to reduce to the minimum the loss of
them Again the fe utilization of a crop
demands that the fertilizer supplied
shall contain the three essential ele-
ments of plant food, viz: Nitrogen,
Phosphoric Acid and Potash in snch
form and in such quantity as will
furnish the needs of the crop from its
first wants to the matured potato. To
do this. we must know absolutely what
form of plant food will do this in great
est degree. at the minimum of cost. the
per cent. of ammonia, Phosphoric Acid
and Potash contained in "a fertilizer is of
very little help in determining the value
of "A fertilizer for a particular crop un-
less we know the form and their
availability of the respective elements.
Some forms of organic nitrogen, for ex.
ample. contain high per cent. of
ammonia, yet from their unsuitable
character are almost valueless as
fertilizer. as all old forms of heterogeneous
are available rs plant food and can be
determined pretty intelligently what TO
supply to the white potato 50 that it
will have the necessary ammonia at
hand for its fullest development from
the beginning 10 the end of its
growth. The same l. practically true
of other elements of plant food, yet
they are determined more from the
standpoint of their disolveut character,
or as is usually styled as their Suitability
Understanding these principals then
and having the physical conditions of
the soil right. a fertilizer for the white
potato TO meet all the requirements
wonld be one containing 4 per cent. of
ammonia. per cent of Phosphoric acid
and 10 per cent. of potash. made up or
derived from the following sources
100 lbs. of Nitrate of Soda, 300 lbs of
steamed dried fish. 600 lbs. of Tankage,
Analizing per int. of Ammonia. 1900
lbs of South Caro.in a Rock analizing
per cent. analizing / 1 per cent. 81 per
cent Phosphoric Acid 400 lbs of Sui
phate of Ammonia lO.l2 per cent.
Potash
Spraying the potato is necessary to
prevent Blight. Bugs and Scab To pre-
vent Scab. cut the potatoes ready for
planting. dust well with flour of sulphur
or spread 100 lbs per acre IN the row
when planting or soak ~, hours in
corrosive sublimate. , OF. To II gallons
of water If the sublimate is used soak
i'll the soluti on before cutting as this is
rank poison and great care should be
used i'll its use. When plants are six
inches high, spray with the weak
strength of Bordeaux mixture contain
ing an arsenic of some form and would
recommend the arsenic of soda Spray
every two weeks through the growing
season if thought necessary. The
arsenic Of soda is made as follows:
Id of White Arsenic, lbs Of Sal
Soda | f.atlau nf kVatar