The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-02-11

to become strong and well establish ed
early In the season, they withstand
the maximum of unfavorable weather
conditions later on, when the hot dry
winds become menace to the crop.
When the time for irrigation ar
rives, V-shaped trench halfway
between the rows should be opened
in alternate middles with an s or 10
inch lister plow;' that is, a narrow
plow with double moldboard which
throws the dirt each way. In these
burrows the irrigation water is run
so that the soil will not become So
lidified by flooding, and the necessary
amount of water may be properly
distributed. For the second irriga-
ton burrows are opened in the mid
dies that were not opened at the first
irrigation, and this alienation is con-
tinued for succeeding irrigations. At
the head of each field is a feeder
ditch from which the water is ad-
mitted to these irrigation burrows
between the rows. 1t is essential
that the right quantity of water be
used, and that it be uniformly dis
tributed. Cultivation should COM
mence as soon after irrigation as
the soil will permit so as to insure
rapid and uniform growth without
check. This will not only result in
the production of smooth, uniform
tubers of attractive appearance,
which are always in demand at high
prices, but will also result in large
profitable yields and at the same
time keep the soil in good mechanical
condition for future crops. Do not
irrigate after August 10, so as to
give fifty or sixty days for ripening
in dry earth.
IL great care and scientific meth
DDS are necessary for best results in
the production of market potatoes,
they are ten fold more important in
growing seed stock for next years
planting. Uniform growth of tubers
for seed purposes, without check in
development, produces a seed potato
of higher vitality than tubers of un-
even growth; and the clean, smooth
tuber with tough skin, free from
clinging soil or dirt, keeps better md
is freer from disease germs dr. ing
the long season before next ar's
planting.
Storage
Each year the storage of potatoes
is becoming subject of greater i'm
portance. The object to be aimed at
in storage is to keep the potatoes at
as low temperature as possible !,
without freezing, and at the same
time keep the surrounding air as dry
as possible. Potatoes should be |
pretty ripe when harvested as skin
slip potatoes turn black, do not keep
well, and are unattractive when ex-
posed for sale.
While mining in the early days of |
Colorado, at an altitude of $4,000 |
feet, the writer met an old prospector
who was going to leave the country.
He said that in an old tunnel would !
find some supplies, including 2 sacks
OF potatoes, which had been put there
two years before, and which l might /
have. The condition of these pctt.r |
toes was apparently the same ss when
they We're dug; they were not shrivel-
ed, no shrinkage was apparent. the
eyes were not sW'..!.fen, and when
cooked they were just as edible as
Wnen aug oIt of the ground. There
nad peen an air shaft constructed at
the enu of the tunnel and through the
sNInel was good current of dry air.
The temperature was about 40 de-
grees farenheit. When the writer
came to build potato cellar he
tried to get as near those conditions
as possible.
The cellar is 50x20O feet. At each
end there is dead-air space of about
10 feet in the form of a vestibule
between the outer and inner doors
which affords protection from freez-
ing. There is a drive way clear
through and on either side the bins
are located, skylights and ventelators
being placed every 10 feet. The tenn
perature of the cellar may be, low
cred by opening the doors and letting
current of air pass through When
1t Is too cold for this, the ventilators
at the top may be opened. The best
ventilation is always secured by
building the cellar in line with the
direction of the prevailing air cur
rents. During the winter the tenn
perature should be kept as near 80 [
degrees as possible; it should never
90 below 30 degrees nor above So
degrees. Potatoes will not freeze
Until the temperature falls below 20
legrees F. In the spring of the year,
when the weather becomes warm, the
cellar doors are kept open at night
md closed in the daytime.
One important point in the storage
II potatoes is to reduce the tempera- !
ure to as low a point as possible
lirectly after the product is stored.
'ut about ! foot of potatoes on the
ellar floor, and by the time the en-
ire floor is covered to that depth
he heat from those potatoes is pretty
veil carried off by, the air currents.
hen add another layer, thus prop Il
rly regulating the temperature as
ne storage. progresses, Ordinarily,
vhen the cellar is filled the potatoes \
re. piled about S feet deep. u
Marketing a
In deciding what kind Of potatoes v
o plant the grower should study the Il
onditions and, demands Of the mar t
let. He should grow a medium sized Fl
Ofotn On r{oh 1nnJ x.A-. | q