The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-17

acre. But supposing he should grow POO
 bushels per acre. and sells at 50 cents per
 bushel, he has for his crop s1O0O0 per
 acre, with 5000 expenses off, leaving s7O.0O per acre profit.
 Supposing the southern grower who is
 growing for early shipment, should so
 manage his land as to produce at least
 one hundred bushels of merchantable stock, and this may be easily done by
 following the directions as given in this
 bulletin The crop should bring him at
 least s75.O0 and allowing even one-half
 of this for expenses he would have left
 a clear profit of $37.50 and besides this he
 will have his land in fine condition for
 producing some other crops as outlined
 above.
 Where two crops of potatoes are grown
 on the same land in one season, this pro-
 fit may be largely increased. But sup
 pose the reader should follow out in full
 detail all the instructions as given in this
 paper and increase his present crop from
 100 to 300 bushels per acre. The profits
 would be doubled, while only the expense
 of harvesting would be increased. for it
 costs no more to cultivate an acre of potatoes yielding only 100 bushels. In view Of the SC facts and figures does it need any
 argument to prove that we need more in
 tensive instead of extensive farming, and especially so for the potato crop. Insects Effecting Potato Crop. The greatest insect enemy and the one
 to be most feared is the Colorado or
 hard shell potato bug. These may be got
 en rid of quickly by the use of Paris green
 using one pound to fifty gallons of water,
 and sprinkling the vines with the same, Or the Paris green may be u1ed in dust form by mixing with flour and air slak- ed lime and dusted on early in the morn
 ing while the vines are yet wet with dew.
 One to two applications of either the SOL ution or the dust will be sufficient in
 most dangerous cases to save the crop. Potato Diseases.
 There are several diseases common to
 the potato, the most common being blight and wilt in several forms. We cannot
 treat of these separate, but wish to state here that nearly all these diseases, as well as insects may be avoided by hay
 ing the soil in fine mechnical condition and by clean and regular cultivation, pushing the growth of the crop from start to finish.
 Marketing.
 Our southern cotton farmers who have just begun to grow potatoes for early
 markets are the class of growers who ure SetkiflS dIlu dSkllS lHdlly questions, so for their benefit it may be
 well to state that one of the main things in this is to have every arrangement made a head. Find the market or the buyers and have the buyers on hand in due time. It is generally more satisfac- tory to sell at home or to deliver to your railroad station, and when this Is arrang- ed for ahead, with the buyers in the large
 markets these buyers will generally fur
 nish the growers all the information need
 ed in reference to bags. when to dig, how
 to grade, how to load the care, and in fact furnish all needed information on these
 points in addition to arranging freight
 rates. When the stock is sold on track the buyers instead of the growers look after freight rates.
 A good plan Is when the crop Is ready
 to harvest to have the pickers follow the blow, picking up clean of all dirt all the merchantable stock which should be sack ed in new clean bags of uniform size. After the field has been gone over and the
 merchantable potatoes stock picked up,
 the pickers may turn back and pick up all small refuse, small potatoes which if cooked and mixed with chop feed will be valuable food for the pigs.
 Another good point for all shipping as sociations to observe is. to never to false
 pack, but always send a clean first-class article to the market. Let the name of the association become its trade mark for honestly first class packed goods. When these rules are established and followed
 out growers will have no trouble in mak- ing not only potato growing profitable but will find that this will apply equally well for all crops.
 Should information be wanted on any point pertaining to potato growing and
 marketing. this department will gladly furnish it on application.