The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-06-04
FARMERAND PLANTER.
THEIRISH POTATO.
As 1t Can Be Grown at Al
most Any Time.

This important crop can be grown
almost any time in the south. The sea.
son for planting the spring crop be-
gins in January and lasts until the frs
of June. The fall crop may be planted
from July to September.
This wide range Of planting is pos.
sible because the Irish potato grows in
almost all climates. 1t seems equally
at home in Florida and in Maine, in
Virginia and in California, in Texas
and in Wisconsin. This crop knows
no north, no east, no south, no west.
Wherever a hungry man is found, this
best of food plants is found. 1t is a
great crop for the farmer, the market
gardener and for the field.
But its value is best understood when
we remember that it is, or should be,
found in every household or kitchen
garden in the land. Every man that
owns or uses a spot of earth should
plant Irish potatoes. A square rod may
be made very profitable if made into
a lazy bed. A large farm may be cul-
tivated in them almost as easily as in
any other crop. When we consider the
length of time needed to grow and
gather them, we find that it costs less
than it does a crop of cotton.
For field culture, prepare the soil
very deep, and make it very fine. These
are important points. If this is done
we'll, the rest is easy. Then spread
about a thousand pounds of fertilizer
broadcast and harrow it in. This fer
tilizer should be properly balanced,
with the potash preferably in the form
of s%ulphate. Seven to eight per cent.
phosphoric acid, ten to twelve per cent.
of postash and three per cent. Of nitro
gen makes a good formula. Then lay
off lows three feet apart and drop po-
tatoes II to 16 inches, and put on
about 800 pounds Of the fertilizer in
this furrow, and cover with one fur
row, throwing on about four inches of
soil. This will do for the south; in
the north they should be covered deep
er. When they are beginning to come
up, pillow out the middles and run a
weeder over; repeat this about every
ten deys. Remember to be careful not
to disturb the young tubers when they
begin to form.
But We wish to emphasize the impor-
lance to every family of having a small
patch of Irish potatoes. The soil should
be made good, not very highly ma
nured. Make it fine and then open a
deep furrow and drop in the potatoes.
Put on four to six hundred pounds of
fertilizer as mentioned above. Put
rotting straw or leaves, or yard
scraping or lot rakings, two or three
inches deep, in this furrow on the po-
and then cover.
Do not let any crust remain upon
this patch. Run over with weeder or
light harrow or hand rake often enough
TO keep the surface fine and destroy the
and grass. AS soon as they are
we'll up, spray or sprinkle with Paris
green. If the leave are eaten the po-
will not grow. 1t is too late
10 wait to kill the bugs after they have
eaten the leaves. They should find the
poison on the vine when they hatch
and die before they grow. In this case
AN ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure" We have seen the
Bugs sitting on the clods waiting for
he potatoes to come up. Kill them
before they eat the young leaves.
A "lazy bed is made by planting
he potatoes n foot apart in the fur
'ow and covering with another furrow,
potatoes in that furrow, and
on, so as to have them one foot
part each way. Then cover n foot
Ieep with straw. Repeat this covering
six months. To get the potatoes,
imply run the hand under the straw.
This will furnish potatoes all the time
md last for many years.-Jas. Hunni-
utt, in Farmers Home Journal.