The Elbert County tribune., 1909-05-27
rHRlvEs BEST ON ALFALFA SOD
LAND IN THE sEMI-ARlp
DISTRICTS.
POINTS ON IRRIGATION
DANGER IN TOO MUCH WATER AS
TuBERs SHOULD MATURE
IN DRY SOIL.
(By W. Paddock, Colorado Agricultural
College.O

Use alfalfa sod whenever possible.
Plow in the spring from the latter part
OF April to the middle of May, usu-
ally about eight inches deep. Finish
the days work by narrowing all the
land that has been plowed with a
smoothing harrow. After the ground
has been plowed see that 1t is well
leveled, SO that there will be no high
OF low places Harrow a sufficient
number of times to put the ground in
fine tilth; use disc II necessary.
The seed is planted with one of the
standard makes of planters. AS four
horses are commonly used on planter
the ground will be pretty thoroughly
packed. To relieve this condition the
ground is cultivated Immediately after
planting This will help to kill out
weeds and alfalfa A heavy four-shovel
cultivator, drawn by four horses, is
used. The shovels are set to throw
the soil towards the rows and to run
as deep as they will go. The depth will
vary from eight to twelve or thirteen
inches. This operation leaves the
soil loose, but more or less lumpy, and
with an uneven surface, especially on
heavy soils. The smoothing harrow
should Immediately follow the culti-
vator to re-establish the soil mulch.
The number OF civilizations depends
upon weather conditions and upon the
rapidity of the growth of the vines.
The cultivator is used 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 or
dinarily a third follows the second by
a week or ten days, and If the vines do
not get too large or irrigation be-
comes necessary, cultivation is con-
tinued. Each time the cultivator is
used more soil is thrown toward the
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 1t can he avoided until the
potatoes are in bloom or the tubers
are set
The ditching is done with a narrow
double mold board 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-
walton and II 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 po-
tatoes are grown in high ridges. This
system has been evolved gradually by
our best growers in an unconscious eff
fort to combat disease. 1t is COM
plete success on good potato soils, and
much may be done with the heavier
soils by following the plan mentioned.
The details Of irrigation, manner OF
laying out the rows, etc., do not need
to be described. But there are few
simple points which are essential to
success. First. do not irrigate pota-
toes up If 1t 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.
II 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 a crop of even sized
potatoes.
The water should always run shall
low in the burrows, never deep enough
to stand around the tubers, but a suf-
licent amount applied SO that the mois-
ture may seep up into the ridges. In
this way the soil about the growing tu-
bers may be kept damp but not soggy.
This is the ideal condition for the po-
tato plant, but unfavorable for the
growth OF potato diseases.
An effort should be made to keen
the soil moisture uniform by freouent
light irrigations. II 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 ir 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 II the soil is kept wet until har-
vest time, the tubers contain an excess
or moisture and this necessarily re-
suits in poor quality. Then, too. pota-
toes dug when the soil is wet present
a poor appearance on the market be-
cause OF the quantity of soil which is
bound to stick to them.
In order to have the soil in proper
condition at digging time. and the po-
tatoes of the best quality, it is neces-
sary to stop irrigation three or four
weeks before the usual time for frost.
Crop rotation divides the risk OF
crop failure and muItipIies the
chances for permanent ana nrne+oh,a