Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-14
A TREATISE ON
POTATO CULTURE

A practical treatise upon potato cul-
ture is the latest aid to economic agri-
culture by the State department. of
agriculture. This 'potato bulletin, -
which is for free distribution to those
interested in such work, is handbook
of instruction for the novice in potato
growing or for men who have had eX-
perience and wish to develop their
yields.
The author is E. a. Rogers, of
Brunswick, Me-, who is described in
the preface by Secretary of Agricul-
ture N. B. Critchtield as lone of the
great potato growers of the Eastern
section of the country
Eight years ago bulletin on some
what similar lines was prepared by
Alva Agee, of State College, also a
leader in the potato industry, and
published ASA department. bulletin. 1t
was so popular and helpful that the
edition was long ago exhausted, but "a
reprint could not be issued because the
laws of the State forbid second pub
location of the same matter. This led
to Mr.. Rogers being retained for pre-
pairing the present bulletin.
The pamphlet consists of only sixty
printed pages'and one can familiarize
himself will" it5in a short time; never
theless, it contains practically every
thing essential to proper growing and
marketing ofsthe most popular veget-
able on the market
AS text to his work, Mr.. Rogers
compares Pennsylvania with other
States in the matter of potato grow
ing. Maine is shown to stand seventh
in potato acreage planted, having 116,
600 acres under cultivation for pota-
toes in 1908, while Pennsylvania at the
same time stood third with 277 900.
Maine, however, enjoyed an average
of 225 bushels to the acre, being at the
head of the list; no other State reach
ed 100 bushels to the acre. Pennsyl-
vania had only ~ bushels to the acre,
maine with her 116, 600 acres plant
ed" writes Mr.. Rogers, harvested a
crop of 26, 100, 900 bushels, while Penn
sylvania with an acreage planted of
277, 900 acres, only harvested 10, 944,
900 bushels, or, with 161 900 more acres
planted, she did not harvest so many
potatoes by over six million bushels.
THAT this is wholly or largely the
result of better climatic and soil con-
ditions in Maine | do not believe. The
conditions in Maine one year with an
other may be, and probably are, more
favorable than the rule in PennsyI-
vania. From a thorough knowledge of
Maine conditions, | have been able TO
compare them with the conditions
have found in my travels throughout
Pennsylvania, and is my firm belief
that the attention given the cultiva-
tion, with protection against insects
and blight, along with crop rotation
suited to the potato itself, has more to
do with the great difference in yield
found between the two States than
mere soil and climatic conditions"
The writer adds that in sections of
Pennsylvania where proper attention
to detail is given of more than 300
bushels to the acre have been obtained
and i'll one cast.the marvellous produc-
tion of 800 bushels to the acre was OBJ
tanned.
These statements by Mr.. Rogers
form the foundation for his entire
treatise. He then proceeds to handle
the whole subject of potato growing
in comprehensive way, including crop
rotation, selection of suitable soil,
with an eye to undertakings pre-
paration of the soil and proper use of
humus; the several phases of seed pota-
toes; planting the several sorts of
crops proper selection of fertilizers :;
cultivation; uses of the various in
secticides, and their abuses, sprayers
and spraying insects and diseases har-
vesting and marketing the crop.
Not the least valuable feature of the
pamphlet are numerous illustrations,
showing how to do or not do certain
portions of the work