The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-03-29
POTATO CULTURE.
Experiences of Practical Farmers Cath
cred From Various Sources.

Experiences of Practical Farmers Cath
cred From Various Sources
Notwithstanding the methods here
described are at variance in some par
ticulars, the article will be found
worthy of perusal if for no other pur-
pose than that of learning the indi-
vidual experiences of six different
farmers in potato raising. The ar
ticle is from the Grand Forks Times
and is as follows:
PLANT IN THE DARK OF MOON.
My experience in growing potatoes
either in small patches or large fields
has been for several years a success
full one.
Always plant in the dark of the
moon, as early as the ground can be
worked in the spring. Those planted
early will be further along and better
able to stand the blight without check
ing the growth of the tubers and caus-
ing them to rot.
Next, never plant a whole potato;
cut the tubers into pieces with two or
more eyes, plant in burrows four
inches deep, sixteen inches apart, the
rows three feet apart. Ward off bugs
in time and don't plant small potatoes
year after year. They will produce
only their like. Keep the weeds out
by cultivating thoroughly. Plant on
as good ground as possible.
The modern potato machinery will
save you time and hired help. One
or two men with good machinery can
tend over twice the amount of potatoes
that the same number of men can with
hoe, and do it in two-thirds less
time. Since help has grown so
scarce it has become a necessity for
US to adopt any and all means to save
labor and get the work done in time.
EARLY PLANTING.
Plow in the spring seven inches
deep, as early as possible. just be-
fore planting double disk the land
and harrow. I believe in very early
planting. I use a planter without
covering attachments. Use smooth
seed and cut a potato the size of a
large hen-egg into two pieces, me-
dunn sized potato into four pieces
and large one into six pieces. Cut
your potatoes just before planting.
The planter should run four inches
deep and seed should be planted four
teen inches apart in the row and three
feet and four inches between the rows.
After running the planter three or
four hours hitch onto a lever harrow
and slant the teeth back couple of
notches and it will cover three rows
at time about one inch deep. Con-
tinue this method of planting until
your field is all planted. After four
or five days harrow again and this
will add another inch to the covering.
After about four borrowings your
potatoes will be covered four inches
deep and will be up a week sooner
than if covered four inches deep when
planted. Keep narrowing until the
plants are couple of inches high and
then cultivate with a spring tooth
two-horse cultivator as close to the
rows and as deep as you can. Fol-
low each cultivation with a weeder or
very light harrow. Continue this
method until the plants are in bloom
but cultivate not quite so deep and a
little further from the plant at each
cultivation. When the plants are
four or five inches high spray with an
Aspinwall horse sprayer, using Bor-
deaux solution, and if there is bug
in sight put one pound Of Paris green
to each fifty gallons of water. Spray
often enough to keep the vines covered
with the mixture and you will have
no blight.