Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1912-05-02

Colte9c.
r.
.+e+ + I.
THE TIME OF PLANTING should
he regulated in accordance with the
soil, climatic and market conditions
Early planting gives the best results
The ground should he warm enough
sc, that the cuttings will grow soon
after planting or there will be danger
of frotting. If there lis danger of frosts
after the plants are lup they may be
hilled up until the danger has passed
Good judgment alone will determine
the time to plant, but the vines will
stand light frosts.
METHODS OF PLANTING vary to
some. extent, but where large areas
are to be grown the machine planter
is the only practical way. II a good
PLANTER is used and care is taken to
Regulate 1t good work Gamble done.
THE TRENCH SYSTEM is used to
some extent in a few localities, but 1t
lis more costly when the time taken Is
considered and no more afi cient. A
fnrrow is made in which the cuttings
are dropped and covered thinly. The
fnrrow is then filled up by cultivation
as the young plants develop nntil the
soil is level. 1T Is an effective way to
keep the weeds in check, but 1t is not
essential. The only merit it possesses
Is the warming Up of the soil and
starting the plants somewhat earlier.
The trench system is not practical
when large areas of potatoes sare
grown.
~DEpTH or PLANTING Is ancrher
practice which should Hbe regulated by
several conditions-vsoil climate. time
of planting, moisture and cultural
methods. In dry seasons deep plant
ing is best. When everything is CON-
! sidered, three to four inches will prove
40 be the best depth to plant. Less
than three inches would be considered
shallow and more than four inches
deep planning. Four inch planting
gave AZ per cent heavier Yield than
three inch planting and 8 per cent
more than any greater depth of plant
ing, Ila trials at this station in planting
three, -four, FIVE, six, and eight
inches. respectively. Deep planting
produced the best quality and the
largest ,ser cent Of merchaotable tn
bsrs.
Deep planting will be found advis-
able on weedy land. as the harrow
MAJ then be used freely without dam
aging the crop. Deeper planting
should be praeJced on dry rather than
on wet soils. II the potatoes are
planted for an early crop while the
soil is cold. shallow planting will be
best.
THE DISTANCE ASARTTo PLANT
the pieces Is Influenced by the size
OF the seed piece, the fertility OF the
soil and by the variety. A good aver
ago distance would be twelve to six.
teen inches apart In the row and the
rows thirty-two to thirty-six inches
apart. The Early Ohio, for fastance,
has small vines and so could be plant
ed closer. When the vines are full
grown they should cover the ground
fairly well.
Close planting gives a more uniform
product and hence there will be fewer
understandable potatoes. Two things
are secured by comparatively close
PLANTING large yield and a more
marketable crop. At this station
Early Ohio potatoes planted in three
and one-half foot rows ut twelve I'm
tervals of ten to thirty-six inches gave
regularly diminishing yields as the in
terspace was increased. Ten inch
planting give 81 per cent greater
yield than twelve inch planting.
HILL VS.. DRILL PLANTING needs
discussion. The drill method Is
being universally adopted. It is a
wise move and experiments show 1t is
In the right direction. II a planter is
used 1t correctly answers the ques.
ton. Hill planting is not satisfactory.