The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-03-17
GROWING POTATOES
BY IRRIGATION

TO obtain large yield of potatoes
of q marketable quality by irriga-
ton my experience of ten years
teaches me that the best way is to
pillow under an alfalfa or clover field
that has been covered with liberal
amount of we'll rotten manure in
the fall. Irrigate it in the April
following thoroughly and evenly.
Back. set it with the pillow 10 to II
inches deep. Harrow lightly to
hold moisture but work the ground
as little as possible at this time with
the team for it packs easily. The
seed should be planted ) or 6 inches
deep or one-half the depth the
ground was plowed. Harrow again
lightly to form dust mulch to hold
moisture.
On land that has a gravel SUBJ
soil, two light applications are
necessary. But on land with
several feet of soil, or that has a
tendency to sub lrrigate, one water
ing is sufficient.-more is detri-
mentor it packs the dirt too
solid around the potato, making it
difficult for the potato to grow.
And if water is applied after the
potatoes are in full bloom, second
growth will start. And there will
be mis-shaped potatoes-some like
a peanut, others in bunch Of
knots and unfit for market or use.
The water should be given when
they begin to bloom nicely and
should be run through the rows
quickly and taken off before the
surface has become wet black en-
tirely across the rows, and should
be followed two days later with
cultivation that tends to cover the
potato deeper for a further protec-
tion against sunburn, and keeping
surface Of land as loose as possible
by frequent cultivation.
In selecting seed | prefer the
potato about the size of hen egg,
and similar in shape, planting it
whole. and always avoid planting
a knob that has grown on the side
of another potato.
On the ground like / have de.
scribed | plant seed II inches apart
one potato in a place. This kind
of land requires the seed thick to
keep the size down to the require
ments of the market from four to
eight ounces in weight; if planted
farther apart there would be fewer
potatoes but larger and too rough
for fancy stock. The rows should
be four feet apart which keeps the
water the proper distance from the
potato. Is inches of dirt between
water and potato.
1t is theswater that promotes the
growth and spread of scab, not the
manure, if it has been applied as
stated, the fall before or earlier.
Always treat the seed with For
maline-one quart to 80 gallons of
water-in which immerse two hours
or more. In selecting seed care
should be. taken to get seed that has
not been chilled by cold. Potatoes
will sprout once in the pit that will
not do so a second time after being
planted in the field, although SEEM
ingly sound and in good condition
from the fact that they have been
slightly frosted.
| consider the best market to
cater to is the demand from Alaska,
which closes from the 18th to the
Goth of September, the time of the
departure of the last boat from the
Sound cities for the interior of
Alaska. Our late potatoes will
ripen for that market if water has
been taken off at the proper time.
Moving the vines will assist in
ripening and keep them from peel
ing when handling if done a week
or ten days before they are dug.
Respectfully submitted,
W Il a1lar