Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1908-10-23
COMMERCIAL PO-
TATO GROWING
By "A. G. Craig, Assistant
Horticulturist at State
College.

1ullt anu ditOWGh W llG IOuSll uuIlIR
the winter This favors the catching
Of winter moisture, and allows the
subsurface soil to settle, and the sur
face can be worked earlier in the
spring. If fall blowing is impossible,
the land should be disced in the fall so
that the surface may be rough an open
through the winter. Deep blowing
usually gives better results than shall
low. The plowed land should be we'll
narrowed early in the spring, and if
not Immediately planted, it should be
frequently arrowed in order to conserve
moisture, and kill the weeds which
start after the first narrowing
Spring plowed land should be har-
rowed Immediately after the pillow. to
prevent loss of moisture. In the dryer
section, some form of subsurface
packer should follow the pillow. this
should be Immediately followed by
the harrow to work up surface mulch.
If the soil plows up cloddy, a plank
clod masher may be used quite profit
ably.
The time of planting should be gov
erned largely by the climate, and the
purpose for which the potatoes are
grown. The potato plant needs
ample moisture when the tubers are
setting. hence, the grower should en-
deavor to have the plants reach that
stage of development at the time
when the moisture supply is likely TO
be favored. For early new potatoes.
the seed should be planted 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 continuous but
where rains cannot be depended upon,
the earlier the potatoes are planted
the better, if the danger from frost is
guarded against.
The distance between the rows and
the hills in the row is an important
point in potato culture. Varieties
that tend to produce very large tubers
should be planted close. Soil will
admit of close planting in direct pro-
portion TO its fertility and moisture
content, and the care given to the crop.
In high priced land, extensive culture
should be practiced and the rows and
hills planted as losely as the fertility
of the land will permit. Increasing the
size of the seed pieces" will accom-
modate the same results as close
planting, but the danger of sun
burned tubers is apt to be increased
No farmer who grows six or more
acres of potatoes each year can afford
to do without a horse planter. Of the
several methods of land planting, the
following is the most satisfactory:
After the soil is we'll prepared, |
open up burrows to the proper depth
with a single shovel pillow. After the
seed is dropped, cover with the pillow
and harrow thoroughly. The depth of
| planting should depend upon the text
ure of the soil, and upon whether
early or late potatoes are desired. |
Five inches is not too deep for late
potatoes. on light, mellow soils, but
three to four inches better for early !
crop, or on very heavy, or very wet
soil.
The amount of seed to use varies
from three to ten sacks per acre, and |
depends upon the variety of the soil.
/ Varieties which tend to produce very
/ large tubers should have a large guam
! tity of seed. Rich land should receive |
more seed than poor land. If the seed
pieces are not too large, the number
of eyes to each piece makes no differ
ence. 1t is more important that the
size of the the pieces should be uni
form than there should be the same
number of eyes in each piece
Frequently only a part of the pota-
toes which are planted come up. This
may be due to one or more of several
Gauss, all of which should be guarded
against. Cut seed potatoes should
not be allowd to remain in piles until
they heat and are thereby seriously
injured. Seed potatoes that have been
exposed to too low temperature will
seldom give uniform stand. All de-
cayed tubers and those which have
brown or black spots through the flesh
should not be planted as there are two
/ diseases which are found in this
state which are sure to result in an
unsatisfactory stand if seed infected
with them is planted.
Cut seed should never be planted
deeply in cold, wet soil, or unnsatis
factory termination is sure to result.
Finally in the dryer sections, potatoes
should be planted to uniform depth be-
low the dry surface mulch in order to