Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-07-02
A Maine Farmers Methods.
F. Z. DAVIS TELLS HOW HE RAISED
LARGE CROPS OF POTATOES.

The aim In raising potatoes should b
to plant so as to get the biggest yielt
and at the same time with the least OK
pense. One Of the farmers in Somerse
County, Me-, who has been able to d.
this most successfully 10 T. E. Davis. HI
has secured yield at the rate OF 60t
bushels an acre on portions OF his field
and on the average 800 to 500 bushels
He tells his story how he did It:
"The soil must be In the best possible
condition as regards tilth and fertility
1t should be made fine and mellow ant
the soil Of good depth before planting
the seed. II the piece is of clover soc
then the time Of ploughiDg does no.
count so much, yet an application OF
small coat of manure Is good and enables
us to reduce the expense OF commercia
fertilizer at least one-half and to further
increase the yield from so to 100 busheli
an acre; yet care should be taken not Il
put on too much manure.
"Ploughing and planting are only {
small part Of the work OF raising pota
toes. They require considerable care
II in dry season they should be culti
waited often, the loose soil having q
tendency to moisten the plants. II you
wish to raise the largest possible crop
500 bushels or more an acre-you must
get as many perfect hills to reach full
maturity a. possible. I advise rows
II 1-2 feet apart and seed pieces to be
dropped u to Is inches apart In the drill
using good sized seed, cut one to three
eyes.
"In raising 800 bushels an acre make
the rows three feet apart. Place the
seed pieces IS to 20 inches apart. One
ton Of the best commercial fertilizer ID
not usually too much an acre. find 1t
a good method to SOW the fertilizer with
the planter before dropping the seed.
Then it is mixed with the soil. After the
plant is up little fertilizer can be used
on II, but it should be brushed from the
plant with broom or in some similar
manuer.
"Some of the implements have found
useful in addition to planter are digger,
horse hoe, etc. A corn planter can be
used to make the drills and put out
fertilizer, and a wheel hoe used in
gardens, with the small ploughs, can be
used to cover the seed. have used q
double one which does perfect work by
setting both small ploughs 80 as to turn
a furrow in from each side, thus making
a continuous ridge over the seed. The
first cultivation for the purpose OF keep
ing down weeds and stirring the soil can
be given with q light harrow-a drag
made by tapping inch boards or planks-
or . brush harrow is sometimes good.
10 my own work use harrow from the
time of planting until the plants are five
or six inches high, and finish with .
horse hoe and weeder. Do not be afraid
to work the crop as long as horse can
60 between the rows without injury to
the tops.
"I have in my own work, by following
the methods here described, been able to
secure yields of 500 bushels and over an
acre on commercial fertilizer alone, OF
the best grade, about per cent nitrogen
aud 10 per cent potash. remember on
one piece my men called attention to the
fact that they were getting bushel OF
potatoes to market In six PAGES OF q
single row. II my figures were correct
this would be over eight hundred bushels
an acre in ordinary field culture, but this
piece had the advantage of coat of barn
manure the fall previous to planting.
Mr.. Davis Is advocating this method
among farmers, and many Of them have
found already that they can save about
oue-half in price by mixing their own
fertilizer. - John z. Taylor, Skowhe-
gan, Me-, in Tribune Farmer.