The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-14

, Ha and these two we will notice giving more space to the early, as 1t is the early pota- to that most of our readers are interest- cd in. However, the general directions for the growing of either will ansver equally we'll for both.
 Experiments so far show that if is oniv profitable to grow the early varieties in the southern states and that these should be harvested and marketed ss quickly as possible.
 Many sections of the soutA can grow and market a crop of early potatoes in ample time to use the land in the culti- vation of other crops. In fact some of the best crops of cotton and corn are now being produced on land rom which a profitable crop of potatoes were sold.
 The fertilizing of the soil for the potato crops together with the harvesting, only the better prepared the soil for the crops that followed the potaoess The practice of Uniting early potatoss on cotton lands has become t.iite common in Tex as Mississippi and Alabama In Texas some planters plant the potatoes in rows as wlde as they want their cotton and when the potatoes are up and cultivated the cotton Is then planted between the rows of potatoes, and the digging of the potatoes cuitivates the cotton. Others prefer to walt, di' their potatoes and then plant their cotton. There are many crops that can grown on the land after the potatoes are dug, such as cot ton, corn, and stock peas, sweet potatoes and q long line of veset; ,,es could also be named.
 According to the order of things it seems that 1t would be economy for the south to grow early potatoes for the northern markets and buy the winter l.a ba iar late varieties do not seem to grow well when grown in ,..e south, yet they grow to perfection in the north and west and especially so in our great lake regions The quality Of late potatoes grown In these regions Is of the very best. For the last few years the groWh of late pota- toes in the great northwest hcs become a great industry, and some sections In Col orado and Washing ton have become fla nous for their fine crops of potatoes. Greeiy Colorado seems to lead In this industry in the vest and each season ships many cars of fine potatoes to the south and east. The crops which the southern grower can produce on his land after he has sold his crop of early potatoes will far more than buy all the potatoes he will need for winter use.
 While the quality of the early potato as grown in the south Is not so fine as that found in the late varieties grown in the north, the southern grower has all
 the advantage in prices, as his crop comes on at the time people are wanting new vegetables. Thousands of cars of these early potatoes are grown and ship ped from the south each spring so that the business has become very profitable. so much 60 indeed, that the subject of ear ly potato growing in this ction is be- coming reduced to n science
 The first consideration in potato grow ing Is the right kind of toil. There are at least two plants, wheat and the potato plant. which thrive best Tn virgin soils. The potato must have a soil after this order for 1t to give best results. A deep rich loam that wila allow free and unln- terrupted development of tho tubers Is what is needed. Where one does not hap pen to have this loam the best thing to do Is to set to work preparing it before at tempting to grow potatoes. This can best be accomplished by free use of clovers and other legumes, such as stock peas, velvet beans, or any of the bean or pea family of plants. used in connection with a liberal supply of well rottcc barn yard manure. If a good field that has been In red or alfalfa clover for some time can be hau, this would be the very best of land and in the very best condition for producing a fine crop of potatoes. Land thtt will produce from fifty to seventy five bushels of good sound corn or bale of cotton per acre should easily give from two to three hundrs bushels of mer- chantable potatoes, if properly managed. rich sandy loam is best, though many of our heavier clay soils. if properly pre- pared, will give good results. However. heavy clay soils must Il. ve stored in them more organic matter in order to make them light enough to produce fine ly shaped tubers. Then &gair more care is needed with the heavy soils, as they should never be worked when wet, which might cause the soil to bake and settle on the tubers and thus promote disease or ill-shaped tubers.
 Poor, white sandy soil, as well as stiff white, putty-like soil. should be avoided as such soils will not produce fine pota- toes. and to nt such soils for growing potatoes would be quite expensive. As He yet have SO r~'1ch land that is far bet ter, 1t Is not at all necessary to spend time and money in fitting these poor soils The better plan will be to set this poor soil to grass, put stock on 1t. and build it up in this way. It will not be a diffi- cult matter to find few acres of land in every community that will with a little preparation and care be made to produce fine potatoes.
 The next thing after l. piece of land has been selected is the preparation of the soil Different soils however need different treatment in the preparation for potatoes. But the one thing needed in all Is a rich, mellow seed bed, one in which the tubers will grow both large and smooth, as well as perfectly shaped. This is the main secret of success in com mercial potato growing. There are many soils which would be greatly benefited by drainage Tile for drainage is by far the best and cheapest. for when once prop erly placed it will last for years. There are many arguments that can be pro- duced in favor of der-drainage, the most important of which is that it does away with the open ditches in the fields. These open ditches not only spoil the
 beauty of the ,ield but afford place along their banks for the growth of bri,rs and brush and besides the are al- ways filling ID with trash md have to be cleaned, whereas If the sate- was put through underground tile the whole field could be worked without any lnconven- fence.
 Proper drainage of all soils is absolute ly essential, for fine crops of potatoes cannot be grown in watersoaked soils. On many soils a liberal application of pure air slacked lime would prove benefl- ciai In correcting any acid. y and In put ting the soil in fine mechanical condi- ton for making the plant food in the soil mo-- readily available. Use from one half to one ton Of of rure rocl. lime, sown broadcast and worlSc into the soil. In the use of lime on soils O. in pre- parina fertilizers ( ire mus. fe taken