Middletown transcript., 1911-04-22
FARM NEWS AND VIEWS
How To Raise Potatoes

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The Irish potato can be grown on all
kind sof soils and with little or no fertilizs.
tlon, but it is much more profltably and
lar more satisfactory in every way, to
select the soil that is especially adapted
to the potato, and to have the land
thoroughly enriched. The best soil for
the purpose is sandy loan. On clay
soils potatoes are more subject to disease,
and are of an inferior quality.
II pasture land is available, and the cd
is turned under, the autumn previous to
planting, the decsying sod answers we'll
tan manure for the first year after break.
il up. 1t makes, in fact, the ideal
for potatoes. In any case, land that
been long under cultivation ought
to be used for this crop. The newer
land, the less the amount of manure
uired. The best manures for potatoes
well rotted stable manure, ground
pc, superphoephats of lime, and ashes.
practice is sometimes followed of put.
the manure in the drills or hills, but
is not the best plan. Whatever man.
is used, it should be spread evenly
u the ground, and, according to some
b authorities, it is best to have it dis.
outed and plowed under the autumn
Vious to planting.
here is q difference of opinion as to
ether it is best to plant whole tubers
large tubers cut into several pieces.
od potatoes have been and can be,
bed in both ways; but the tubers,
ether large or small, should do we'll
ened. Otherwise the yield will be less
the crop will be very liable to disease.
safest and best method is to select
largest and most perfect potatoes each
ar for the next seasons planting.
Cut the tubers into several pieces go
at each piece shall have two or three
les. These may be planted at once, or
may be spread out on a floor where they
will not be exposed to the direct rays of
he sun, and be left to dry for several days
,r about week.
For early potatoes, plant as early in
April as the ground can be worked. For
ater crops the planting may be continued
lp to the middle Of June.
Plant in drills about three feet apart
md four or five inches deep. In very
heavy or wet soils they should not be
planted more than half as deep. Place
he sets about ten inches apart in the row.
Assoon as the shoots appear above the
yround, they should be cultivated and
loed to loosen the soil and destroy the
weeds. As the plants become larger,
hey should be earthed up two or three
lines before Towering. This will in.
irease the production of side roots, on the
of which the tubers are FORM
ID. After the plants commence to bloom
be only cultivation necessary lie to pull
lp any tall weeds that may appear.
Culture of Corn
The culture should begin with plowing
be ground, and the depth to plow de.
'ends altogether on what the soil is and
be condition OF the field. Not every
ield can be plowed the same depth
throughout its entire length, Tor either
ne end or the other, or else the middle
7ill be too low. If one side of it is quite
teep, with most of the surface washed
#. that should not be plowed more than
our inches deep, and the same applies to
oW places. Prior to narrowing such spots
hould be given good dressing of ma.
ure, and no narrowing done when the
round is very wet. But if the land is
airly dry, plo wing to the depth of eight
lches will do no harm. Rather il will
clip the soil to retain more moisture, thus
the corn better against
rought.
Narrowing, of course, should begin as
ION % the weather and the state of the
round will permit, and continued as
lany times as it is necessary to pulVeriEs
le seed bed thoroughly. The finer the
sttsr. AS to the distance between the
'ws and the depth of planting, these de-
end entirely upon the nature of the land;
therefore, each farmer must Judge for
imself.
After planting, if the land is not too
ony, it should be narrowed again-this
me with peg.tooth harrow, and Just
sfore the corn comes to the surface
lother narrowing with this implement
i'll be beneficial. As soon as the rows
n be seen the fields should be gone over
ith weeder. Having cultivated once
ch way in this manner, an ordinary
rn cultivator may be used, but the fsfd
ould not be gone over with it more than
rec times. If the season is dry, twice
II be sufficient. The point is not to cul.
Tate too deep nor too closely, for once
9 roots of corn are disturbed, the crop
II never fully recover. After the last
ltivation it will do no harm, however,
90 through the field once each way with
mall one-horse harrow, that runs be.
cen the rows. II the season has been
IorabIe, the crop will then need no fur.
n attention till it is harvested.