Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-08
QUERIES ANSWERED


NOTES ABOUT IRISH POTATOES
W. w NJ, Midtown. Ca. writes: ad-
mire the Semi-weekly Journal and es-
peciaIly the Agricultural Department
am interested in Irish potato culture.
When is the proper time to plant for a
fan crop7 Can you house them and save
them through the winter7 Please tell me
how 10 save onions and keep them from
rotting When Is the proper time to SOW
seed for spring sets?
Second crop Irish potatoes may be
planted in late July or carry August. AS
a rule. the seed obtained from the first
crop is the best to use. and medium-sized
potatoes should be planted uncut In our
own experience we have frequently saved
the smaller potatoes from the first crop
for seed. They should be kept in a cool.
shady place, and not piled up deeply or
they are likely TO sweat and rot. They
should. Of course. be protected from in
sects. Some prefer to cover them lightly
with straw, thus allowing a certain
amount OF sunshine TO reach them. A
little earth scattered over them is some
times a good way to protect them, pro-
vided they are not left in the ground
where they viii be subject to heavy rains
and the cooking effect of the hot sun
beating down upon them. 1t is no trouble
potatoes They may be left in the ground
and dug as needed where intended for
home use. When grown on a commercial
scale they should be dug either by hand
or machinery after the first frost comes
in the fall, and put in long narrow piles
about two or three feet high, and COW
cred lightly with straw with just a little
earth put on: not enough to keep them
too warm. OF course, or they will rot.
81 -
the weather becomes cooler a little more
earth added. Only a comparatively light
covering is needed to protect Irish pota-
toes in this climate. They could not be
kept in cellars unless they were especial
" constructed so as to permit Of a free
circulation OF air. as they will not keep
well in too warm quarters.
Onions should be allowed to mature
fairly well in the field before an attempt
Is made to store them; that is. the tops
should have died down and the bulbs
themselves become quite dry; then the
tops may be cut of and the bulbs stored
in Slated crates so shallow that they
will only hold a single layer Of the onions.
They should then be placed in a shady
place and protected from rain and damp
ness, and where there is a free circula-
ton OF air. The cooler they can be kept
the better, provided they do not freeze.
The best storage place for them, there
fore. Is an open shed or some place that
allows the air to circulate freely through
and over them.
Onion seed may be sown now. or Il
might have been sown previous to this
date. There are two methods Of grow
ing onions: one known as the transplant
ing method. and the other where they are
produced from sets. When produced from
sets the seed is planted one year TO form
sets from which TO grow a crop of onions
the following year. The transplanting
method is probably the cheapest and most
satisfactory Where this method Is fol-
lowed the seed may be planted In cold
frames or green houses so as 10 force
the young plants along. They are then
taken I'D and transplanted in the feld
where they are TO grow. Where they are
desired for the home garden. the seed
may be sown In the ground rather thick
ly. and after a good stand has been OBJ
tanned, the young plants may be drawn
out In the latter part Of the summer and
planted for fall and winter growth. and
will produce early onions for the spring.