The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1908-12-12
COMMERCIAL POTATO GROWING
Some Good Points on One of the
Most Profitable of Crops.
By A. c. Craig Assistant Horticultural, Stat
College Of Washington. Pullman

1oneke OF nashlnktouf
Potato land should be plowed in the
fall and allowed to lie rough during the
winter. This favors the catching of
winter moisture, and allows the sub
surface soil to settle and the surface
can be worked earlier in the spring.
If the fall blowing is impossible, the
land should be disced in the fall so that
the surface may be rough and open
through the winter. Deep blowing 4,
usually gives better results than shall
low. The plowed land should be well /
narrowed early in the spring, and if |
not Immediately planted, it should be
frequently narrowed in order to con- !
serve moisture and kill the weeds
which start after the first narrowing. !
Spring plowed land should be narrowed
Immediately after the plow, to pre-
vent loss of moisture. In the dryer
sections, some form of subsurface
packer should follow the pillow, and
this sho1ld immediately be followed by
the harrow to work up surface mulch.
If the soil plows up cloddy, plank clod
masher may be used quite prohtably.
The time of planting should be gov
erned largely by the climate and the
purposes for which the potatoes are
grown. The potato plant needs ample
moisture when the .ubers are setting;
hence, the grower should endeavor to
have the plants reach that stage of de-
velopment at the time when the moist
ure supply is likely to be favorable.
For early new potatoes, the seed should
be plan ed as early in the spring as the
soil will permit, on light, warm soil.
/ For late potatoes they may be planted
as late as the middle of June, provided
, the moisture supply is ample and con-
tinuous; but where summer rains can
not be depended upon, the carrier the
potatoes are planted the better, if the
danger from frost is guarded against.
The distance between rows and be-
tween hills in the row is an important
point in the potato culture. Varieties
that tend to produce very large tubers
should be planted close. Soil will ad-
NIT of close planting in direct proper
ton to its fertility and moisture con-
tent, and the care given the crop. In
high priced land. intensive culture
| should be practiced and the rows ano
hills planted as closely as the fertility
/ of the land will permit. Increasing
: the size of the 'seed pieces" will &C
complish the same results as close
planting, but the danger of sunburneC
tubers is apt to be increased.
No farmer who grows six or mor'
acres of potatoes each year can afforC
\ to do without horse planter. Of tbs
! several methods of hand planting, th'
f following is the most satisfactory:
f After the soil is well prepared, opel
T up burrows to the proper depth with
: single shovel pillow. After the seed il
dropped, cover with the pillow and har
!, row thoroughly. The depth of tn
! planting should depend upon the text
: ure of the soil, and upon whether earl!
& or late potatoes are desired. Fiv
d inches is not too deep for late potatoes
on light, mellow soils, but three {
Il four inches is better for an early crop
: or on very heavy, or very wet soil.
IS The amount of seed to use varie
t from three to ten sacks per acre, an
y depends upon the variety of the soil
e Varieties which tend to produce yer
u large tubers should have large quar
Il tity of seed. Rich land should receiv
4 more seed than poor land. If the see
pieces are not too large, the number @
4 eyes to each piece makes no difference
II 1t is more important that the size c
1t the pieces sohuld be uniform than ths
T, there should be the same number c
IT eyes in each piece.
II Frequently only part of the pot
lie toes which are planted come up. Tn
IL may be due to one or more of sever
70 causes, all of which should be guarde
~ against. Cut seed potatoes shoul
- never be allowed to remain in piles VI
- til they heat, and are thereby seriousl
n injured. Seed potatoes that have bee
k exposed to too low temperature wi
he seldom give a uniform stand. All d
be cayed tubers and those which hay
I'd brown or black spots through the fie:
TX should not be planted as there are tv
ut diseases which are found in this sta
L which are sure to result in an unsati
= factory stand if seed infected Wi
- them is planted.
:; Cut seed should never be plant
i deeply in the cold wet soil, or unsati
IT. factory termination is sure to resul
&c Finally. in the dryer sections, potato
ne should be planted to uniform depth B
is low the dry surface mulch in order
ng secure uniform stand.
short suEEestIons.
ne All lard TO fry fritters and doughnV
ty must be sizzling hot before putting
I'd the batter.