The Clio messenger., 1912-09-06
Tho Soil and Its Preparation.

Wuen Iall Proved, tue SOU Will parity
decay by spring and there will be an
opportunity to work the soil several
times with both disk and harrow be-
fore planting. which is very important.
1t has been demonstrated many times
that much better crops can be pro-
duced upon a soil that has had extra
working than when It has not been CIV
en-.
Always avoid low fields where the
frost may destroy the plants early In
the fall before the growth has been
completed.
The Seed.
Whole tubers about the size Of
hens egg are very satisfactory for
seed, especially SO In a dry season.
If such seed is not available use cut
pieces about the size Of hens egg
and have at least two good eyes on
every piece. Larger seed pieces may
give large yield but not enough to
pay for the extra amount of seed re-
quired, especially If It is expensive"
II any of the seed is 'scabby" even
to very slight degree, 1t should be
treated by soaking for two hours in
solution made up in the proportions
of one pint of formalin to thirty gal
Ions water. Formalin can be procured
from any druggist Do this shortly
before planting and before the seed is
cut. Do not put the treated seed back
into crates or bags that held the tu-
bers before treatment, unless the
crates are washed and the bags soaked
In the solution. The scab disease may
live in the soil for some years, SO do
not plant upon land that recently grew
scabby potatoes or beets II It can be
avoided.
Fertilizers.
The best fertilizer for the potato
crop Is undoubtedly stable manure
spread upon a clover sod before plow-
ing in the fall. If spring plowed,
spread the manure on during the win
ter or early spring. The plowed-un-
der clover will in itself make good
fertilizer.
fertilizer, our experiments made dur
ing the past few years indicate that a
home mixed" fertilizer containing
per cent nitrogen, per cent phosphor-
ic acid, and 1913 per cent potash used
at the rate Of 500 pounds per acre Is
the most satisfactory A ton OF this
fertilizer is made by mixing:
1913 pounds nitrate of soda containing
15.5 per cent nitrogen.
357 pounds dried blood containing IA
per cent nitrogen.
1000, pounds phosphoric acid contain
ing IA per cent nitrogen.
$50 pounds sulphate Of potash con-
tanning 4S per cent nitrogen.
1000 pounds home mixed" potato fer
tilizer.
It should not be overlooked that the
value of a chemical fertilizer depends
largely upon the physical condition of
the soil, the moisture content as we'll
as proper drainage and cultivation.
Even very heavy applications of fer
tilizers will not make up for the lack
of any of these conditions nor will the
use Of any kind Of chemical fertilizer
take the place of the humus or de-
cayed matter in the soil.
Planting.
When the planting is done by hand,
burrows may be opened with team and
one horse plow and II any chemical
fertilizer Is to be used 1t can be spread
in the furrow by hand. On light or
Jonoa oofIc a. ie daojrohJa tn nla NJ Tho
seed about four to six inches deep. II
shallow planted some of the potatoes
will become exposed and sun burn.
The seed pieces are dropped the dis
tance desired, covered with hoe, and
the whole field smoothed over with q
harrow.
1t would be profitable to use ma
chine planters upon large acreages
lover ten acres) and with these a ter
tilizer attachment Is often used to dis
tribute the fertilizer II the planter
is not equipped with such an attach
ment the fertilizer may be drilled in
with an ordinary drill before the field
Is planted, or can be spread by hand.
The distance for planting depends
upon the fertility Of the soil, but rows
three feet apart and from 18 to "a
inches in the row has given good re-
suits on an average soil, With inten-
sive cultivation and a rich soil, they
may be planted as close as one foot
In the rows.
Cultivation.
Frequent cultivation will greatly
help to produce good crop and keep
the field free from weeds. A spike
tooth harrow 10 usually used once or
twice before the plants come up and
again just as they appear. A weeder
Is often used at this time and
about once week afterward until the
plants are several inches high. Dur
ing this time II may be advisable to go
over the field once or twice with a
cultivator. After the plants are Eve
or six inches high cultivate about once
a week or every ten days until there
is danger OF injury to the vines.
Spraying.
Potato plants are sprayed with bor-
deaux mixture GO pounds Of copper sui
phate, 5 pounds of stone lime and so
gallons of water) to protect them from