American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-11-14
INCREASE POTATO
QUALITY and YIELD
! Experienced Grower Gives
Valuable Information.
roper Seed Selection and Guilt
walton Will Bring Big Returns
in Dry Farm Potatoes. ,

Mr.. ]. T. Hughes, farmer liv-
Ing near Igo, and winner of the
{ first prize for dry farm potatoes at
re recent county fair held here
Il the following article makes some
ti5nelyy, and useful sssggestions cot-
cerging potato growing:
M AS there are quite number OF
people who do not understand the
need of scientific cultivation of po-
tAtoes, ,aaIr will give you my theory
and practice as near as possible
hoping it may be of same benefit.
First to be decided is what var
tefy to plant This is very i'm
portan+ point if you intend grow
ing for market, as then you must
have potato of standard variety,
widely known. AS w have not
time to eduacte the public taste we
must cater to the popular fancy so
far as possible and furnish what is
wanted by the greatest number.
Next to consider is what variety
best adapted to climate, soil and
JASON. Where the season is short
\ md danger of frost in August the
Aorly potato is best. A thin skinned
variety brings the best looking pro-
dHct on the heavy soils, while the
&ussets give a smoother skin on
ne sandy soil.
Next to be considered is produc-
NVeness. In places where the pre-
{ G1pitation is less than 20 inches it
nj best TO have variety that does
not set many potatoes in a hill,
but will attain enormous size with
cut becoming hollow or cored in
the center By choosing a potato
Nf this kind you are more likely to
mt good sized marketable potatoes;
Nh1le should YOU ch varieties
Which set thick in the hill you will
~ lucky to get your seed back.
AFTER having decided upon variety
the next thing to consider is type.
Al you are not posted Or the char
Aoteristics of your chosen variety it
Will be best to write to some of
Dur experimental farms or agricul-
'tpral college and they will help you.
S3}Do not under any consideration
plant potatoes with long pointed
Ha4ds or diseased potatoes. Get
Mpderate sized seed from strong
vigorous growth as near to type as
pqesible, then you are reasonably
sure to reproduce the type, this
holds good for any and all life ex-
iGting.
Now We are ready to plow, plant
and cultivate. The ground must be
6etermined by the amount of mois-
Sfpre. / prefer fall plowing at
4Ppth Of from 10 to IA inches, as
MS allows the ground to settle
nd gives better chance to control
evaporation in the spring and the
&pllowing summer, but if the
Found is not in condition to plow
m the fall, have had good results
NJ plowing from 5 to 7 inches as
pon as the frost was out and plant
4g in every third furrow as fast
the land was turned over. In
antlng this way the land must be
the same day.
M Cut potatoes to two eyes to the
ece and drop about 2 feet apart.
bis allows more moisture for each
Ill than closer planting and gives
a tier results. If the ground -i is
~ plowed use die harrow in the
ring and then furrow the rows 4
ches deep and plant hills about is
ches apart in rows and then har-
~ the land with spike tooth har-
~. On the spring plowing it is
et to harrow three or four times
mediately after planting as this
cks the ground and stops evapora-
"a. After this the treatment may
the same for both fall and
ring plowing. Use a spike tooth
rrow once a week until the vines
80 or inches high, then culti-
ee deep once and follow immediat
with drag made Of 2x10 inch
enks 4 or 5 feet long placed side
side Of the proper width to go
tween rows and cleated on upper
Re in two or three places. Then
IRE hoels In each corner OF one
I'd to fasten chain or whatever |
used to pull. You can use one |
81 two horses as best suits you. In |