Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-02-23
WATER FOR POTATOES
Many Failures of Crop Due to
Bad Season.
Bell Temperatures Can Be Largely
Regulated by Deep Cultivation
Irrigation Previous 20 Plant
ing Proves Successful.

Since ! wrote you on the subject OF
potato failures 7 have received the
report compiled from observations OF
Prof. C. L. Fitch. Prof ". G. Sackett.
Prof Alvin Keyser and others over z
very wide area We may conclude
that the season was to blame and that
m normal years we shall grow pota-
toes as successfully as heretofore.
writes l. Ogilvy In the Breeders Ca
zette. The report contains much that
Ia valuable about good selection, but
for the present 1t may be well to study
the known effects OF climatic condi-
tons and what might almost be
rerned the action and reaction OF
combined high temperature and severe
moisture conditions.
All Investigators agree that We are
only on the verge Of investigations
which must be carried on long time
yet to give us anything Ike absolute
results Prof Ssckett says that the
optimum or best temperature for IN
sarium is Ss degrees and that rise
Or fall from this OF 5 degrees would
produce marked effects. Watering
may lower the temperature TO the opt-
mum degree for the fungus welfare.
and II may at the same time furnish
e degree Of saturation which produces
the worst results Some rhizoc has
also worked havoc but probably not TO
the degree OF fusarium, and It Is destr-
able that we ascertain the tempera-
lures and saturation which best grow
these fungi. and avoid them so far as
possible. The experience OF thirty
years shows that a disastrous CON-
bination Is unusual even with our
present methods, and It will most ike
Iy prove possible to avoid them alto
gether.
Ii the main a season for planting
and q tuber that sets on at the right
time are very important Soil tenn
peratures can be largely regulated by
deep cultivation, especially where q
good supply Of bumus is present Ir-
rigation previous to planting proved
very successful last season. there be-
so treated The extent to which the I
foliage shades the ground viii make
z difference OF several degrees in tenn
perature, and this is itself affected BY I
the application of water Watering OF
every other row grew good vines on /
he dry side and very poor ones on the |
watered one A fair crop OF potatoes
resulted.
To show how important the matter
OF temperature is, IL may be said that I
many afrected vines were found TO
hare perfectly healthy roots in the
cool subsoil. though they could not Of
course produce crop by themselves
Keep the seed-bed as cool as possible.
quick growth to shade the
ground. and avoid saturating the sur
lace or subson until cool weather sets
N These seem to be some Of the
main desiderata In ordinary practice
Nert year II Is true We shall likely
-aise a crop planted In any old way.
,ut paying crops win oftenest result
rom adherence to the best principles
10 far as known Potato growing prac-
ice must change with conditions
lands that at one time had free drain
Ige now have a very high water table. (:
which rises highest during the sum +.
ner months. On such lands the grow
IT must consider the factor OF sub I
urface as well as surface irrigation, /:
whether IL occurs OF his own voIitfon |
IT otherwise Some very gravelly |
istricts. where q few years ago It was {
lmost impossible TO water enough. {
ow use very little water Where {
ong runs were then made in half '
lille rows with the greatest success.
horter ones have had to be subsr- =
1ted.
This filing OF the subsoil with water 2
oes not denote waste by the indf- 5
Idual farmer. He must moisten his
Do soil sufficiently no matter how :
rec the drainage may be underneath /
eldom does any amount OF damage q
ccur in this regard from the water ,
ppiied to the farm Itself. but as
lle 1t is from the use OF water at
luch higher levels Some OF our very
est lands We have become overhIIed
18th water and been relieved to Just /.
,e right extent by drainage. SO that :
alter Is kept from rising beyond the
ost advantageous point for capiIlar !,
y. This keeps the surface land sup :,
led with some moisture all the time.
ID to 8 greater extent the amount :,
cultivation carried on. !,
There was a marked tendency this
st summer after an unfavorable :
ring TO De a little extra good to :
,tatoes in regard to applying water
ID many people prided themselves on :
hat they called forcing the potatoes :,
ong- Then there were those also
no wstered at the usual time which :,
ems TO have resulted dissstrously- :,
lly few. cast In a heroic mold.
ok & chance Of their turning up en- =,
ely. and wstered very late in some =
ses with success. Conditions will a'
ubtless be different rext year. and
e grower viii have to be guided by :.
E season. which is quite unlikely to :,
peat itself -