Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-01-29
Potato Growing As q Business.
THE SOIL ON WHICH 1T IS A SUCCESS
AND THE FERTILIZER USED.

Lucien Phinney, of Woodfords, Me-,
writes: Will you kindly inform me if
potatoes are any more liable TO rot while
being grown on intervale lands than on
any other land that is particularly adapt
ed to potato culture? IL you were to go
into potato raising for money, where
would you go and what kind OF land
would you seek? How would you treat
it? Would you advise one to undertake
this business if he well understands
farming in general?
So far as / have observed, potatoes are
no more liable to rot on intervale than
on any other land. Most of the potato
land in this vicinity is intervale, and
much of it is low and somewhat inclined
to clay, and we have been free from any
severe epidemics of rot since potato
growing became business with us in
about 1875. 1t is now known that the
rot can be controlled by spraying, and
every potato farm should be fully equip
ped with spraying apparatus. The crop
is generally increased and improved
through spraying more than enough to
pay for the labor.
Any one who engages in potato grow
ing for money should select his location
so as to insure two prime requisites
land adapted to the crop, usually clay
loan, sufficiently unbroken to allow Of
the free use of machinery, and good
shipping facilities. With these two con-
ditions success can be attained in the
business.
The most striking examples of sue
cessful potato culture in recent years
have come from the Kennebec Valley, in
the center of our state. Several farms
have been purchased, some Of which
were practically abandoned, except for
cutting what little hay might grow upon
them. Portions of this land were
ploughed not more than seven inches
deep and put in good condition for the
crop, a crop rotation was outlined and
business begun. Through the active
use of the riding cultivator and persistent
spraying, good crops of potatoes have
been secured every year, and the acreage
is increasing. By far the larger part of
Names large area in potatoes is grown
by chemical fertilization. 1t is not un-
usual for growers to apply 1900 pounds
of high grade superphosphate per acre.
The usual proportions of plant food are
two, six and ten. This large applica-
tion of potash insures heavy growth OF
tubers and stimulates the growth OF
clover the following year. This clover
is used to fertilize the land and promote
organic matter, either by being plough
ed down or by feeding to livestock and
returning the manure to the soil. If
barn manure is at hand it may be sub
stituted for one-half of the superphos-
phate, but should always be thoroughly
mixed with the soil with the plough.
There is no question of the ultimate
success of any one who understands
farming in general IL he engages in pota-
tn growing under the conditions named
above, provided he has faith and pluck
enough to stay in the business. all
years will not be good years; there will
be seasons of light crops and seasons OF
low prices, but when the general average
is struck and returns are figured over a
series of years there is sure to be
profitable balance.
Potato growing has been the basis OF
Aroostook County farming from its be-
ginning. Live stock has come in as
secondary consideration. 1t is the pota-
to that has cleared its forests, built its
roads, its villages, its farm homes, its
school houses and its churches. From
the potato is to spring that varied farm
industry that will turn into material
wealth all the products of its fertile soil.
B. Walker McKeen in Tribune Farmer.