Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-13
Planting Potatoes.

0'suNsUS SOSSSOO~
Is it best to plant whole potatoes.
quarter potatoes. pieces with two eyes.
or pieces with a single eye? asks Wal
lace's Farmer. Which will give the
greater yield, planting twenty bushels
per acre or planting but eight or ten
bushels? The answer to these ques-
tons will depend somewhat on the va
riety, soil and seed. Experiments
prove. however, that most potato grow
ers plant too little seed in order to
obtain the greatest net yield. AT the
Michigan station, seed cut in halves
and planted at the rate OF twenty
bushels per acre gave a total yield of
BIT bushels. or a net yield in excess of
the seed Of 297 bushels: seed cut in
quarters and planted at the rate of
nine bushels per acre gave q total
yield OF 254 bushels, or net yield in
excess Of the seed of PAS bushels; seed
cut in etghths and planted at the rate
Of five bushels to the acre gave a total
yield of POI bushels or a net yield of
ZIG bushels: seed cut with a single eye
and planted at the rate Of four bushels
to the acre gave a total yield of ITS
bushels or net yield Of 174 bushels
This experiment is certainly very
this same experiment whole tubers
planted at the rate Of forty-one bush
els per acre gave a total yield OF 293
bushels. or a net yield Of 251 bushels.
This result was rather unusual. as in
most experiments the whole potatoes
have given a greater yield than any of
the cut potatoes.
The value OF the seed has much to
do with the thickness of planting.
With seed at $50 bushel. one would
naturally be inclined to cut it in small
pieces than with seed at so cents a
bushel. AS an average OF thirty ex-
periments at thirteen different state
experiment stations 1t was found that
half potatoes produced. in twenty-thr
experiments out Of thirty. a larger net
marketable yield than did the potatoes
cut to two eyes. In these same expert
ments twenty-five of the thirty expert
ments gave greater net value Of the
crop (value Of the crop less than value
OF the seed) in favor OF the half pota-
toes. In twelve experiments, compar-
ing whole potatoes with half potatoes.
seven gave a greater net value Of the
crop (value Of the crop less the value
Of the seed planted) in favor Of the
whole over the half potatoes. From
this we would conclude that IL gen
orally. altho not always pays 20 plant
much heavier than do most farmers in
the corn belt A New York experiment
er Of much experience recommends
seventeen to twenty bushels as about
right under ordinary conditions.
How far apart shall the rows be
spaced! How close shall the seed
be planted In the row? This depends
largely upon the variety. soil. time Of
planting and manner OF cultivation.
With the ordinary method OF giving
horse cultivation rows three feet apart
and seed fifteen inches apart in the
row is about right. Early potatoes may
be planted considerably closer together
to good advantage. The depth Of
planting also depends largely on the
soil and time OF planting Early po-
tatoes are generally planted too deep.
In ordinary soils two and one-half
inches is plenty deep enough to cover
the early crop. II the soil is heavy and
damp. one and one-half to two inches
may be deep enough. The drier the
soil and the lighter It is. the deeper
the seed should be planted. To avoid
sunburn, 1t is best generally to plant
at least one and one-f1alf inches deep.
For the main crop experiments show
quite clearly that in the ordinary sea-
son and on ordinary soils three to
four and one-haff inches is about the
right depth.
It formerly was a common custom
to plant potatoes in ridges. This meth
cd orfgina tad In thu damn clfnafea Of