The Glenwood post., 1908-05-16
HOW TO PREPARE THE LAND AND
WHEN AND HOW TO
PLANT.
IRRIGATION METHODS
CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO
KEEP GROUND DAMP BUT
NOT SoGGY.
BY W. Paddock Of the Colorado Asrt
cultural College.

cultural Io'Ie9e.
Use alfalfa sod whenever possible
Plow in the spring, from the latter
part of April to the middle of May,
usually about eight inches deep. Fin.
ish the days work by narrowing all
the land that has been plowed with a
smoothing harrow. After the ground
has been plowed see that it is well
leveled so that there will be no high
or low places. Harrow sufficient
number of times to put the ground i'll
fine tilth; use a disc if necessary.
The seed is planted with one OF the
standard makes of planters. AS four
horses are commonly used on a
planter, the ground will be pretty
thoroughly packed. To relieve this
condition the ground is cultivated inn
mediately after planting. This Will
help to kill out weeds and alfalfa. A
heavy four-shovel cultivator drawn by
four horses. is used. The snovels are
set to throw the soil toward the rows
and to run as deep as they will CO.
The depth will vary from eight to
twelve or thirteen inches. This OPP
Grafton leaves the soil loose, but more
or less lumpy, and with an uneven
surface, especially on heavy soils. The
smoothing harrows should immedi-
ately follow the cultivator to re-estab-
lish the soil mulch.
The number of civilizations depend
upon weather conditions and upon the
rapidity of the growth of the vines
The cultivator is used second time
as soon as the plants are large enough
so that the rows can be easily fol
lowed. This time the shovels are not
run quite so close to the row, but to
the same depth, unless the plants are
much developed. Sometimes two cul
tivations are all that are given, bu.
ordinarily third follows the seconc
by week or ten days, and If the vine
do not get too large or irrigataion be
comes necessary, cultivation is con
tinued. Each time the cultivator /:
used more soil is thrown towards th.
potato rows and the hollows become
deeper; thus ditching is easily done
Ditching and irrigating are delaye'
as long as possible. The rule is no
to irrigate If it can be avoided unit
the potatoes are in bloom or the tuber
are set.
The ditching is done with marrow
double mouldboard plow. Three horse
are attached and the plow is run twic
in each row at about the depth of GU
tivation, or ten to twelve inches. Th
ditching takes the place of one cult
vation, and if the ground is hard, or !
the first irrigation fills the bitches
any extent, the operation is repeate
so as to make the bitches dee
enough to keep the water below TIL
surface of the potato ridges.
From the above it will be seen ths
much attention is given to keeping tn
soil loose and porous; also that til
potatoes are grown in high ridge
this system has been evolved grad
ally by our best growers in an unco
scious effort to combat disease. 1t is
complete success on good potato soil
and much may be done with the hea
ier soils by following the plan ME
toned.
The details of irrigation, manner
laying out the rows, etc, do not nee
to be described. But there are fe
simple points which are essential
success First, do not irrigate pot
toes up if it can possibly be avoide
Wetting the land at this time is We
likely to bring on attacks of disea
which will result in a poor stand al
serious injury to the plants throue
out the growing season.
Ordinarily the first irrigation shou
not be given until the tubers are s.
If the tubers have a chance to form
comparatively dry soil. the major
of them will be formed at one tim
then when water is applied all W
have an equal chance to develop;
result should be a crop Of even-siz
potatoes.
The water should always run sh
low in the burrows: never de
enough to stand around the tubers,
sufficient amount applied so II
the moisture may seep up into
ridges. In this way the soil about t
growing tubers may be kept damp
not soggy. This is the ideal con
tion for the potato plant but unfav
able for the growth of potato diseas
An effort should be made to k
the soil moisture uniform by frequt
light irrigations If the ground is
lowed to become dry. the growth
the tubers is checked; then when,
ter is again applied, second grow
starts in, which results in knobs g
irregular growths. The tubers of so
varieties crack badly under this trt
ment.
1t is essential that the potat
should mature in comparatively
soil. II the soil is kept wet until I
vest time, the tubers contain an
cess of moisture and this necessa
results in poor quality. Then. too.
tatoes dug when the soil Is wetl
sent poor appearance on the
ket, because of the quantity Of
which is bound to stick to them.
In order to have the soil In pro
condition at digging time. and the
tatoes of the best quality. II IL ne