Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-10-15
Notes and Remarks.

VI Skdih, 90 POI Schts Oobo
have not rusted to any extent. Con-
dition of the apple crop, 80 per cent.
Several factories manufacturing barrels
for apple packing are reported. Four
teen per cent of the potatoes have been
sprayed. Average number of applica-
tions of Bordeaux mixture, three. No
rust is reported, on potatoes where the
mixture has not been applied. No po-
tato storage houses have been built, as
far as known. Condition of the sweet
corn crop, 10 per cent.
GENERAL AVERAGE FOR THE STATE
. Amount of the hay crop, as compared
with an average year, 81 per cent. Con-
dition of grain, SO per cent. Oats have
not been materially injured by rust in
most parts of the state. Condition of
the apple crop, 10 per cent. The ma
jority of counties report some factories
which are manufacturing barrels for
apple packing. Proportion of the pota-
toes that have been sprayed, A per cent.
Average number of applications of Bor-
deaux mixture, four. As a rule, up to
the first of September potatoes had not
rusted badly where Bordeaux mixture
had not been applied. But very few
houses for storing potatoes on the farm
have been built except in Aroostook
County, where they are quite numerous.
Condition of the sweet corn crop, as
compared with average, 81 per cent.
| REMARKS OF CORRESPONDENTS.
| AuBURN-There will be very large
lapple crop if the weather is favorable
for them to grow. Sweet corn is about
two weeks late but is looking fine.
Grain is very good, and potatoes of tine
EQUALITY, but not very large yield.
Grasshoppers are very plenty and doing
much damage to late crops.
r. d. LEAvITT.
NoTE-Experiments at various ex-
pertinent stations have shown that 200
bushels of potatoes would remove from
the soil 81 pounds of nitrogen, 10 pounds
lof phosphoric acid and IS pounds of
potash. We are of the opinion that po-
tato culture can be carried on, in three
years rotation of crops, and the fertility
of the soil not be reduced. There must
be returned to the soil as much plant
food as it takes to produce the crop OF
Ipotatoes. If this is done, using the
above amounts for guide, and the soil
is thoroughly cultivated, we think it
will not be impoverished. cultivation
is fertilization" We fully agree with
lour correspondent from Albion who
says that instead of sapping the ground,
potatoes, when intelligently cultivated
and a judicious rotation is practiced,
lare really soil renovators.-COmmissioRer.
| ALBIoN-That the potato crop is as
promising, for cash crop, as anything
which the majority of farmers can cul-
tivate, seems TO be generally admitted.
lIt is also apparent 10 those who have be-
come most interested in their cultivation
that the limit of possibilities regarding
lyield per acre, etc, Isl far from being
reached, and that instead of sapping the
ground they are, when intelligently
cultivated and judicious rotation is
practiced, really soil renovators.
In preparing the ground for potatoes
the process should be commenced in the
fall by breaking up whatever area is to
be planted, being sure that this work is
thoroughly done, to depth of not less
than six inches; and light coat of barn
ward manure may be plowed in TO good
advantage, which will lessen the phos-
pbate bill If no manure is used, four
teen to sixteen hundred pounds of Brad
lley's Special Potato Fertilizer or some
other brand equally as good should be
used at the time of planting, thoroughly
pulverizing the ground before seeding.
Keep the potatoes free from weeds while
growing, spray three times, and pay
ing crop will result.
OTIS MEADER.
FRYEBURG-Potatoes will thrive on
great variety of soils, although they do
better and are of better quality when
grown on light clay loan. Potato
ground should be we'll plowed, either in
spring or fall as the experience and con-
venience of the grower may suggest.
THE land should be put in fine condition
with disk and spring-tooth harrows, the
potatoes planted from thirty inches to
three feet apart in the rows, and from
eleven to eighteen inches between the
hills, according to the soil and varieties
planted. In cultivation they should be
lslightly ridged to favor digging, and the
cultivator should be run often enough TO
keep the ground free from weeds and TO
preserve soil mulch. Barn manure,
plowed in, together with liberal applica-
tions of high grade commercial fertil-
lizers, pays well in the larger returns.
ISpraying for bugs and blight often
enough TO keep the new leaves covered
is necessity everywhere.
b. WALKER MCKEEN.
PoRrER-I prefer sandy loan for po,
tatoes. Plow late in the fall, spread on
a good coat of dressing and let it stand
: until spring. Then harrow thoroughly
with a disk harrow, furrow out and drop
the seed fifteen inches apart, using
plenty of phosphate. l use 8O-tooth
lieveling harrow to cover and continue to
use the harrow every day or SO until the
potatoes are three inches high. Then
use cultivator with long wings two or
three times and the job is complete with
out tho use of hoe. For bugs l use
Bug Death, a little Paris green, and
plenty of air-slaked lime, and it will not
linjure the tops, but will destroy the
bugs. At harvest l dig when the tops
are dead, dry well, pick in bushel
lcrates and stack them in the cellar,
sprinkling with lime, and have no
trouble with rot.
F. L. MASON.
PARIs-The dry. weather is hurting
1.-The apples and corn The pastures are
very poor. For potatoes, we take the
Highest soil We have, plow in the tall,
spread on a good coat of manure and
give the piece good narrowing. In the
spring harrow as early as We can and
plant rs soon as the ground is warm.
We cultivate as soon as we can see the
rows, keep the weeds out and spray
with Paris green.
Fl. D. HAMMOND.
CANroN-Spraying is a new thing in
this vicinity except with myself.
E make six or seven applications and have
!, not had rotten potatoes for four years.
ARTHUR B. BRI6Gs.
Il ORoNo-I like light loamy soil for
D potatoes. Break it as soon as the grass
is off, spread on a medium coat OF ma
nure aud harrow it in well. Give it two
or three good harrowings before the
ground freezes for the winter. In the
+. spring after the land is dry enough to
work we'll, harrow again and plant, us
ing twelve to fourteen bushels of seed to
I the acre, with some 800 pounds potato
fertilizer in the hill. Then just as the
potatoes are breaking through the
ground put on the horse hoe and cover
7 the rows some two or three inches deep.
In a few days take the weeder and go
:. over the piece lepgthwise the rows.
n Give the ground good scratching, as ii
tends to kill the young weeds just start.
. ing out of th5 ground. Use the wseder
. several times before the potatoes are
!. four or five inches high. / like to give
-~ol lvofipn of n1astar with