The Colorado statesman., 1908-05-16
CULTIVATION
OF POTATOES
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 Agri.
cultural College.

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 in
fine tilth; use 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 i'm
mediately after planting This will
help to kill out weeds and alfalfa A
heavy four-shovel cultivator, drawn by
set to throw the soil toward the rows
and to run as deep as they will go.
The depth will vary from eight to
twelve or thirteen inches. This op-
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 a 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, but
ordinarily third follows the second
by week or ten days, and if the vines
do not get too large or irrigataion be-
comes necessary, cultivation is con-
tinued. Each time the cultivator is
used more soil is thrown towardsnthe
potato rows and the hollows become
deeper; thus ditching is easily done.
Ditching and irrigating are delayed
as long as possible. The rule is not
to irrigate if it can be avoided until
the potatoes are in bloom or the tubers
are set.
The ditching is done with a narrow
double mouldboard plow. Three horses
are attached and the plow is run twice
in each row at about the depth of cul-
tivation, or ten to twelve inches. The
ditching takes the place of one culti-
vation, and if the ground is hard, or IL
the first irrigation fills the bitches to
any extent, the operation is repeated
so as to make the bitches deep
enough to keep the water below the
surface of the potato ridges.
From the above it will be seen that
much attention is given to keeping the
soil loose and porous; also that the
potatoes are grown in high ridges.
this system has been evolved gradu-
ally by our best growers in an uncon-
scious effort to combat disease. 1t is a
complete success on good potato soils,
and much may be done with the heav-
ier soils by following the plan men
toned.
The details of irrigation, manner OF
laying out the rows. etc, do not need
to be described. But there are a few
simple points which are essential to
success. First, do not irrigate pota-
toes up If it can possibly be avoided.
Wetting the land at this time is very
likely to bring on attacks of disease
which will result in poor stand and
serious injury to the plants through
out the growing season.
Ordinarily the first irrigation should
not be given until the tubers are set.
If the tubers have a chance to form in
comparatively dry soil, the majority
of them will be formed at one time;
then when water is applied all will
have an equal chance to develop; the
result should be crop of even-sized
potatoes.
The water should always run shall
low in the burrows; never deep
enough to stand around the tubers, but
sufficient amount applied so that
the moisture may seep up into the
ridges. In this way the soil about the
growing tubers may be kept damp but
not soggy This is the ideal condi-
ton for the potato plant but unfavor-
able for the growth of potato diseases.
An effort should be made to keep
the soil moisture uniform by frequent
light irrigations. If the ground is al
lowed to become dry, the growth of
the tubers is checked; then when wa
ter is again applied, second growth
starts in, which results in knobs and
irregular growths. The tubers of some
varieties crack badly under this treat
ment.
| 1t is essential that the potatoes
should mature in comparatively dry
soil. If the soil is kept wet until har-
vest time, the tubers contain an ex-
cess of moisture and this necessarily
results in poor quality. Then, too. po-
tatoes dug when the soil is wet pre-
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