Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-23

Before entering into a special consid-
Grafton OF the best kind of fertilizers
for potatoes. il will be proper 10 give
briefly some suggestions concerning MT
ting the land and preparing the seed bed
for this important crop. The organic
structure OF the potato is somewhat pc
cuIiar as IL has roots and stems, OF
rhizOmes. under ground on which the
tubers are borne. and foliage and stems
above the ground which are directly con-
cerned In the elaboration OF the plant
food stored In the tubers- The leaves, As
il were, are the lungs Of the plant ana
elaborate and manufacture the FOOD
which Is taken from the soil by the
roots The stems constitute the frame
work OF the plant and form their lear
axis underground develop the rhizomes,
the tips OF which eventually become the
true tubers II will thus be seen that the
root system OF the plant and the leaves
are very intimately associated with the
development OF a successful crop OF po-
tatoes-
The potato is adapted to a wide range
OF soils. As already mentioned, the ideal
soil Is a deep, rich. friable. warm, sandy
loan with good natural drainage and
literally supplied with vegetable mat
ter. This type OF soil suits them es-
pecially well because the potato requires
a C0H&AQEEAUAc AuAOAAA VI
though not an excessive amount. Pota-
toes do exceptionally well after a sod. or
after green leguminous crops plowed I'M
der. They are not so well adapted TO
clay soils as they are often too cold and
retsntiye of moisture. while the crop is
likely 10 suffer from drought on gravelly
soils The soil for potatoes should be
very carefully prepare; il should be
rather loose and friable. though OF course
A. l.. -. -. Lee 49, -
dry out badly In seasons Of restricted
rainfall which would be very unfortu-
nate. a loose soil the .tubers are
smooth and shapely: in stin soil they
are likely TO be misshapen. Heavy soils
will be Hghtened through blowing under
green crops or farmyard manure, though
there is some danger that these crops
plOwed under may make light soils too
porous.
Fan blowing for potatoes to be seeded
I'm the spring is desirable. 1t IS often
an advantage to keep cover crop on the
land during the winter TO prevent wash
ing and erosion. especially in the south,
and plow IL under in the spring. Crimson
clover would be an excellent crop for
this purpose in all sections where II
can be utilized. and much benefit will
often follow heavy top dressings Of we'll
rotted farmyard manure to fuIl-plowed
land in the spring intended for either
early or late crop potatoes. The manure
in this case should simply be disked well
into the surface and not pIowed under.
Seldom IL ever will IL be good practice
10 apply farmyard manure in the drill
row under the sets. as fresh manure, es-
pecially when IL comes directly In con-
tact with the tubers. favors the devel-
opment OF scab. Where green crops are
plOwed under the land shorld be imme-
distely rolled and compacted to bring
moisture to the SURFACE, and disk cul-
tivator. spring-tooth harrow or other
il-pulverIsing implements used to Sc
cure a fine friable seed bed
PLACE IN THE ROTATION.
Naturally. the place Of potatoes in a ro-
tation should be after clover sod or
some leguminous crop that will supply
the needed vegetable matter in which
this crop delights. Potatoes when brought
into a three TO i've year rotation are pot
a particularly exhausting crop TO the
land. and as they bring the farmer a
good money return per acre. there is ev-
cry reason why all progressive and
thoughtful husbandmen should give spe-
ciaI attention to their cultivation.
WHEN AND HOW TO PLANT.
The best time to plant potatoes will
be determined by the season and soil
conditions As soon as danger OF frost
is past, planting may be safely done.
though the ground should be sufficiently
warm 10 cause the potatoes to sprout
quickly as they are liable TO rot IL they
remain In the soil a considerable length
of time before growth commences. Po-
tatoeS are now frequently planted on
the level. but in many sections ridging Is
still followed Where there is an abuhd-
ant rainfall there Is a good practice as
the loose soil favors the development Of
a smooth uniform potato. Ridging is also
likely TO prove most satisfactory on soils
OF somewhat heavy texture that do not
drain well. On light. friabIe soils level
culture is now generally regarded with
the most favor. especially II the land Is
likely TO suffer from drought as moisture
can best be conserved through level Gull
tivation-
In sections where early potatoes are
grown, IL is necessary to get them in the
ground as soon as possible under the
most favorable conditions. and any aids
which may be used to hasten maturity
are Of importance. Fastening maturity
may be brought about In several ways
For instance. the sets may be planted
In pots In greenhouse and later put in
the open ground, or they may be sprouted
I'm a cold frame and transferred TO the
field at the proper time. or they may be
warm room with moderate light and heat
At the Rhode Island station budded pota-
toes So days from planting gave an in
crease Of p bushels OF merchandise tu-
bers per acre over dormant seed tubers.
and at the end OF Ill days the increase
amounted to Al bushels per acre. Pota-
toes are frequently planted in the late fall
in the south and will then be ready for
shipment from two to four weeks before
spring planted seed The deep and thor
ough preparation OF the ground has an
effect on the earliness Of maturity Cow
peas plOwed under in the early fall will
decay rapidly and provide an ideal seed
bed fcE early spring planting. Then. IL
quickly available forms OF commercial
piant food, particularly nitrogen, are
used. the ripening Of the crop can be ad-
vanced from one week to ten days, which
often makes the difference between a
highly profitable return from potatoes and
a loss owing to a glut in the market
Second crop potatoes are grown quite
extensively In the south. and the industry