The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-03-16
Early Irish Potatoes.

For the early crop. we select. II pos
sible. light, sandy loam that will not
produce less than bale Of cotton TO
the acre. We like to have it turned in
early winter with a two-horSe ploW
and follow in the furrow and lift the
subSoiI with a subsoil plow or a four
inch scooter on single plow. BY
doing this We are able to hold the will
ter rains as our potatoes suffer almost
every year by drought when not irri-
gated.
At planting time we run a cutaw&y
harrow over the land to thoroughly
pulverize, and lay off rows with sho-
vel plow. three feet apart and four .
five inches deep.
For fertilizers we use the following:
Acid phosphate If per cent. 1000 lbs.
Cottonseed meal ............. 600 lbs.
Nitrate of soda. a.............. 200 lbs.
Muriate Of potash. .......... 200 lbs.
Use 1000 to 1900 pounds per acre be-
fore planting. thoroughly mixing in tie
furrow with 4 scooter plow or a cult
vator set close. Mix thoroughly. This
is important. as most cases of burning
or injury 20 the seed can be attributed,
not so much to the amount of fertili-
Azcr used as to lack Of thorough mixing.
Y If the land is lacking in humus (veg
etablc natter, and was not in cowpeas
the previous summer, we sometimes
give the land fair dressing Of stable
manure (fifteen twoEorSe loads per
acre., which we thoroughly cut away
into the top SOL before breaking. which
tends to pulverize ait Jumps. and the
soil more thoroughly pulverized than
breaking.
If the soil Is fairly we'll supplied
with humus we would rather dispense
with the stable manure. as it tends to
encourage the scab fungus. Do not
use cottonseed, a they do not become
available soon enough for the potatoes.
BY getting healthy, plump seed: free
from scab, we have had so little Of this
disease as to not pay to treat them.
Cut seed pieces to two eyes, and drop
twelve inches apart in rows. Cover
with two burrows. leaving n slight
ridge over the rows. When the seeds
are sprouted and nearly out run
smoothing harrow croSSways over tn"
rows, which will all but level down the
ridge. AS the plants are showing
along the rows so cover them with the
wecdcr. taking two rows at time.
The after.cultivation should be often.
but shallow. using culfvater with
sweeps. Never crust form, thus con-
serving all moisture possible
We plant last week in February, up
to the middle Of March, and begin dig
ging by the time they arc the size OF
good sized hen eggs. In the absence
Of potato digger we run a shovel piow
under the row. which gets them about
all out. We have had no experience
in shipping, as we raise entirely for
our home market.
For the Colorado potato beetle. which
every one has learned to dread, we Use
Paris green and Stacked lime, two
pounds Of the green to one bushel Of
lime, mixing thoroughly. We find n
dry powder duster very good for put-
ting this on. and il done early in the
morning. when the leaves are damp
sticks we'll and is effective.
For the grower who has but small
area. the dust can be put on by placing
it in a coarse woven gunny sack ana
shake over the row. which can be done
almost rs fast as you can walk.
Hand picking is probably the safest
Plan for the home Sarden.-Mark Ric-
gel, SpaldinG County. Georgia.