Semi-weekly herald., 1908-06-22

eietDehts ana the latter Is added in
| sufficient quantities by the alfalfa and
peas that are grown In different parts
OF the state respectively. Again. the
Colorado producer has an advantage
in that he does not have to spray the
plants for insects or fungus diseases.
This spraying in the east Is one Of
The most expensive operations OF the
culture. Production OF potatoes In
Colorado is not only cheaper than the
east but the yield per acre Is also
greater by so per cent.
Owing to the difference In soils.
climate and water supply for the
plants the cultural methods that give
best results In Colorado are radically
different from those OF the east In
principle aimed at Is the acration of
the soil This Is necessary because
of fungus diseases OF the soil that are
apt to attack the underground stems
of the plant II the soil becomes COM
pact or water-logged. In order to keep
the soil In this porous condition the
land. which should be preferably al
faifa sod. must be plowed deeply. that
Is eight or ten inches. After plowing
harrow the land so as to make q good,
fine seed bed. Plant with a machine.
making the rows from thirty-six to
forty inches apart and the plants from
nine to fifteen inches apart In the
rows. This difference In distance
must depend on the fertility of the
land In question. The richer the land
the closer should the seed be planted.
II the planting be done with ma
chine. the rows can easily be follow
ed SO that the field may be cultivated
before the plants come up. This cul-
tlvation is the most essential opera
tions In the whole process OF the grow
Ing of potatoes In Colorado. 1t IN
done with heavy double cultivator.
Two fourteen.inch shovels run either
side OF the row and go into the ground
ct least as deeply as the ground was
plowed. Follow the cultivator with a
harrow lengthwise OF the rows the
first time. As soon as the potatoes
come up the cultivation Is repeated,
and again In a week or ten days. AT
each cultivation the soil is thrown to-
ward the row so tnat the spaces be-
tween the rows Is partly ditched when
IL comes time to irrigate or before
the vines begin to fall the ditching n
done This is done with lister or
a winged shovel or u cultivator. After
the ditohing Is done the potatoes
should be In n ridge about 81 inches
wide at the top. The ditch between
the rows should be about eighteen
inches wide at the top and eight inch
es at the bottom and eight inches
deep. The object in this deep ditching
IL to keep the water down 80 as not
to puddle or compact the soil.
DO not water till absolutely neces-
sary. After water is once started.
however, keep the soil as near as
possible in the same condition SO far
as moisture is concerned till the tu-
bers are pretty well developed. Be
sure that the water is turned off In
time to let the tubers mature In a
dry soil. This is important for II
the maturing is done in wet soil the
potatoes will be soggy and conse-
quently poor quality.
The greatest difficulty with the po-
tatoes Of Colorado outside Of the spe-
cial potato growing sections of the
state is the great number OF varieties
and mixtures of varieties and types In
the same field. No matter how good
the varieties may be, more than one IN
the same sack will spoil the sale Of
all. In many places the potatoes are
80 badly mixed that i've or SIX varie-
ties are found in a single sack.
There are only i've or six standard
varieties Of potatoes In the state.
These are Pearl, Rural New Yorker
No. 2. Snowflake and Peachblow for
late and Ohio and Rose Seeding for
early. OF these varieties the Snow
flake is the high quality but not SO
good yielder as the other late va
rieties. Pearl Is a sure cropper and
a good yielder. but not quite 80 good
as the Rural New York No. 2. Tho
Peachblow where 1t docs we'll is a
good sure yieider and good quality.
1t is impossible to say which OF
these varieties will do best In this lo-
cality. The only way Is to try the
standard varieties and retain the ones
that prove the most profitable. The
only way to get the best yields and
the best quality IL to select from the
field. Selecting from the. bin will never
get perfect type. Find perfect hill
when digging in the fall. This hill
should contain not less than eight.
ten or even fifteen tubers OF some va
rieties. They should all be perfect
specimens. II there is one scabby.
cracked or nubby potato In the hill do
net save II. When perfect hill is
found save It and plant It by itself