The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-06-09
Rural New Workers, the Carmans and
the Ohios certain varieties were best
adapted to certain localities.

Rural New Workers, the Carmans and
the Ohios certain varieties were best
adapted to certain localities.
Sd. Fairfield of Iowa, Talks on the selec-
ton ana Care OF Seed Potatoes.
S. j. Fairfield of northwestern Iowa
gave an interesting talk on the seiec-
ton and care of seed potatoes. Mr..
Fairfield was present at the institute
two years ago at which time he made
practically the same talk to the farm
ers. He is heavy raiser of potatoes,
and has got the business down to a
very practical basis. The section in
which he grows potatoes is some
different than Princeton and vicinity
and as he grows for certain markets
he is OF course partial to certain
varieties Of potatoes, and the famous
Burbank of this section is not his
ideal, though if he was growing pota-
toes in this section he would soon
lind that it was a winner. However,
he had nothing to say against it es-
pecially, nor for that matter, any of
the varieties, but in his chart talks he
kept his pointer on the we'll rounded
variety Of potato as an ideal one for
seed and selling stock, for reasons he
pointed out. Mr.. Fairfield said that
he started in raising potatoes on the
rough prairie land of northwestern
Iowa several years ago and learned
to raise potatoes On ground without
clover, but when he finally got thirteen
acres of potatoes to growing on rich
clover land he soon found every hill
we'll filed and the potatoes we'll devel-
oped. In selection variety was of not
so much Importance as shape and
vitality of the seed stock. The me-
dium sized, good round shaped potato
was the best as it made a good eating
potato as we'll as good seed stock and
good selling potato. The thick and
ball shaped potato was apt to be more
compact and firm and would withstand
unfavora bic weather and soil condi-
tions. Mr.. Fairfield said that for
late potato the Rural New Yorker
was good variety, while the early
Ohio was fine variety for vigor-
Gus stock. He did not think favor
ably of the Burbank and the long
shaped potatoes and his opinion of
course was governed by local condi-
lions.
In selecting seed stock farmers
should pick out in the fall just those
kind of potatoes that they would want
to harvest the next year. Unless the
seed is vigorous and hardy the farm
er is laying very poor foundation for
his next crop. There is no luck about
potato planting Or raising, and moth
ing but good stock, the best of care
in the cultivation and Intelligent work
will result in good crop. It is the
same in potato raising as in all plant
and animal life. A puny plant will
never produce a vigorous and hardy
plant, nor can man or animal thrive
and do we'll unless there is perfect de-
velopment.
Mr.. Fairfield thought that the best
potato for seed stock was the medium
sized potato, and the stock should be
absolutely sound. It should be placed
in very cool cellar during the win
ter Or in trenches and kept in a tenn
perature very close to freezing, the
closer the better, but farmers should
SO construct their caves or cellars that
the temperature in the same could be
easily regulated both for heat and
cold. Mr.. Fairfield gave a descrip-
ton Of the cellar he built on his farm
for keeping his seed stock. It is
about sixteen feet long and twelve feet
wide and over the cellar is built a
roof made out of poles and simple
frame work and late in the fall or just
before it SHOWS he coves it over with
snow and then places straw over the
snow. He has the cellar provided with
a ventilator and he also has a square
box which will hold about two bushels
Of potatoes and this box is made so
that it can be raised and lowered and
when he desires to cool the cellar he
fills the box with ice and lowers it into
the cave. After the potatoes are
placed in the cellar he leaves it open
as long as possible SO as to cool the
stock we'll and the cellar is left open
until the frost can be seen gathering
at which time the cellar is closed I'D
tight for the winter. A thermometer
is so fixed that it hangs in the cellar
and can be easily watched so that the
least variation in the temperature in
the cellar can be noted. If the cellar
becomes too cool lantern can be
used and it will soon warm up the
cellar. By using care in the selection
Of his seed stock and keeping it in