The Mena weekly star., 1910-06-23
P0tatoss and Polk County Soils.

Dear Sir:-After a two-yeaIs trial on growing of early crops in this section of Arkansas, and of the varieties best adapted to be grown here, Gone of them be- ing the Irish potato,) l want to give you the information which may be of interest to the coming trucker and gardener locating in our county.
 I located in this section of Polk county, Arkansas, two years ago, and immediately endeavored to ind out exactly what this soil was adapted for. Til venture to say that there was not one-half dozen men in the community that understood just what this soil would produce. Nothing in the produce line had ever been ship ped out ot here, and after 1nqui- ries sufficient tor me 10 realize that if found out anything 1t was Up to myself to do 1t, there fore I devoted my entire time on trial last summer. One of the staple products l gave attention to was the Irish potato. Inquired about this vegetable especially varieties grown.
 The people here raised most any variety grown and the crops produced, (which were only for home use) very well, showing the soil and climate we'll adapted to early and late potatoes. The Bliss, Triumph or Red Bliss was grown to greater extent more than any other variety. Now the question is, could the Bliss, Iii umph be raised for early market and come in line with our sister states, say Texas, Louisiana, Ala. bama, Florida, Tennessee. Could we hit it in earlier that Oklahc- ma, Kansas and Missouri and would we in this section of Ar. kansas derive the prices as usual ly paid for the Texas crop2 Now if we could compete with this line, thea the Bliss, Triumph DO tatoes are just the thing, for there is no soil so we'll adapted to this vegetable than Polk county, Ar kansas. Az aiu look up our ald tude and climate and compare them with the Texas and Lou S. jana grower. In those states lhe potatoes are planted Tn November and December. We could do the same, but we've got something to contend with that usually these states have not, that is late frost or freeze in the spring and i have inquired of many old set tiers who all say the frost usually occurs during tbe month of April.
 Last year l planted four vari- cites, viz the Red Bliss, Early Rose, Early Ohio and Irish Cob bier. The Irish Cobbler is ex- tensively grown iu Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Carolinas and Florida. It is an excellent table variety, a good yielder and excel lent keeper. We all know what the Early Rose and Early Ohio's are. These good old varieties art especially adapted to northern climates. Now comes the stand ard potatoe of all, tender, palat- able and the best early market potatoe grown, the Red Bliss; i, demands the highest marketable price, but here is where 1 base my claim very much against if for m early product-yielder or keeper it surely will not pay to grow them here, now why? I'll an swer leach and every state in this union has its staple products, the soil may be one thlng and probab- ly the plant another while sea- sons have something to do with it. The Spaulding No. or Red Rurals are extensively grown in Florida, Alabama, Georgia for early market, also the Irish Cob bier. These are placed in the market just as early as the Bliss Triumph, a much heavier yield CT. They may not bring the extra fancy prices as the red Bliss but if you will look up the market its about 5 to 10 cents difference, but l would rather have the difference in yield than the price, for in the yield of the difference of these varieties the Bliss Triumph is about one-half as much) these frosts in April prevents our Bliss from maturing, they shorten the crop and put 1t back from Is to 30 days, but 1 have found these frosts do not iujure the Irish Cob bier to any great extent and there