Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-02-24


given to the world. Though they are
called Irish potatoes now. the tuber
originated In South America. he be-
lieved. somewhere below the Panama
strip
The morning session was given to a
very interesting discussion ON the cui-
tivntion OF Irish potatoes In the Ar
kansas Valley. The popular belief and
experience is that potatoes are not eas-
lily rrised on this soil and the methods
by which few farmers have been
able To obtain quite remarkable yields
OF this crop aroused the curiosity OF
the farmers and called out good at
Z ndance and an attentive hearing.
To J. =. Roth was assigned the sub
Ject OF -vari.tics."
Mr.. Roth said he would probably be
thought optimistic about Irish potato
CROWN. around Rocky Ford. He had a
variety OF f,n- sample potatoes on the
desk and used them to support his
statements. Mr.. Roth In potato
grower from III. Divide and has had
IL years experience. From two potn-
toes Of the Mammoth Pearl variety
brought west In his srunk-hc had
shipped from the Divide country two
years after several earioadr- But the
early Ohio potato was his pet here In
the Arkansas Valley. and he had some
Beauties on exhibition. This potato
planted In March was ready for the
table on the 5ist OF May. Out OF 10
varieties none. In his opinion. quite
came up to the -ohio.' Contrary to
general belief he was confident Irish
potatoes could be grown In this valley
and around Rocky Ford. Hot tenn
pcraturc was against the growth Of the
Irish potato: Il Improves northwnrd.
tt dctcriorntcs southwark. He believed
seed brought from non-irrigntin. Sec
tions would make better potato
here under irrigation. Greeley growers
went outside for their seed. He ad-
viscd moderate sized potatoes cut In
two. The veins running from the eye
TO to the center and the seed should
be cut to get a part OF the center OF
the potato In each set. You can't raise
good potatoes from pcclinRs. Plant
your seed fresh cut. or after only one
days drying. Planting In dry art
will cook the seed. The Rose Seeding
II n good red potato and should be
cultivated here.
j. ]. Guthrie had no preference NJ TO
variety over the s:nriy Ohio. but when
he got crop the Early Ohio was good
enough for him. The variety he had
planted on his ranch nn1 spread
among his nciHhbors was n much bet
ter yicidcr.
Gcors Beavers said he had 700 BUSH
els oi the Guthrie potato from three
ncrca. He got also so bushels to the
acre OF Early Roses.
Warren Biinn didn't so greatly nd
mire the Mammoth Pearls. They look
ed fine but were coarse and strong.
They didn't exactly smell to heaven"
but they would smell up whole house
In the cooking of potful.
n. Badger planted an ncrc of the
Guthrie potato last year and gathered
quality that they are the best potato
they ever raised. They grow close to
the stalk and are more easily culti-
waited.
MIR. Roth said he believed he got
400 bushels Mammoth Pearls to the
acre. without reflection on the Guth-
rie potato he claimed the Early Ohio
would do better on the same soil.
Mr.. Guthrie asked Mr.. Roth what he
considered the effect of the moon on
potato planting.
Mr. Roth planted his potatoes IN the
earth and not in the moon and had
therefore paid no attention to the moon
in the matter of planting potatoes.
There might be something In moon
effect. He couldn't say.
Mr.. Guthrie talked on raising pota-
toes. He used to think he knew how
In 1909 and 1904 potatoes were n fail
ure. Last year he got 500 bushels
from an acre and half. In soil he
preferred sandy loan. We. had n
grey sand loan here. not black, but
he didn't know that that made any
difference. One year he put all he had
into 10 sacks OF seed potatoes and
didn't get n hatful. Later he bought
some Burbank seedlings of George
Hammond and got n big yield. But his
seed run out. But in five acre patch
he found one hill of red potatoes and
on test they turned out to be the best
potato he ever ate and he only ate ..
The rest were kept for seed and that
was the origin of what is now known
as the Guthrie potato. He didn't know
what 1t was or where II came from.
You must sub-irriEnte for Irish pota-
toes. No water must stand on them or
run over the hills. Flood the ground
in the surlng of the y7nr. plow and hnr-
row and let II lay two weeks or so
before second plowing and plant in
that moist soil about 9Th to goth of
June, early potatoes in March IL pos
sible. If you don't plant In moist
ground they VIII cook. Don't leave n
row of seed uncovered while you eat
your dinner or that row will show the
effect. He never allowed the soil to
get dry while the potato was growing.
but they should be allowed to mature
in dry soil. He tested five or six new
varieties every season. The same treat =
ment will not do for early and late va
rieties. Early Kinds should be irrigated
before blossoming. the late when they
blossom. The cause of n good crop
of potatoes this year was the cool and
moist season.
The meeting agreed with Mr.. Guth-
rie.
"The Poultry Business" was the
first topic for the afternoon. A few
good coops of chickens were on exhi-
bition in the back end of the hall.
Prof ]. w. Talcott of Denver was not
able to attend in person and talk chick
ems. but he sent paper on the sub
5ect which Prof. o. ]. Baxter read to
the meeting.
Chester Johnson. as a local poultry
raiser. said the very foundation Of the
poultry business was tho egg raising
capacity. The real proflt Of the busi-