The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-09-26

i1fstOia. lie 1dlluOlle LHlllhS lnS
potato has been in cultivation in Peru
for 1000 years. Potatoes were first
sent to Europe in 1912, and they were
also sent to the Virginia colonies
about this time. Potato culture
spread slowly in Europe. but more
rapidly in the southern part of Ire
land. The peasants realized that it
was a useful food and planted it every
where. and with this as their commits
sary they We're able to maintain their
position to the English world. Two
and one-half centuries of reliance on
this crop led to the neglect OF other
crops. and when the blight occurred in
ireland it was attended by one of the
worst famines known in Europe. Il
potato has been more highly developed
IN Europe than in America and much
higher yields are secured in the
United Kingdom and northern Europe
than in this country.
Next to rice, the potato is the most
extensive grown and valuable crop in
the world. The annual yield in the
world is nearly five billion bushels.
The potato crop Of Europe in value
and volume exceeds the cultivated
,r,p Of the world. One acre Of potatOes
frequently furnishes as much food
as ten acres OF wheat. Potato culture
has been extensively developed. Yields
Of 1000 to 1000 bushels per acre con-
tanning 10000 pounds of starch are on
record. About 30. O00, 900 acres Of po-
tatoes are Arown annually in Europe.
and Of this area one-third is in Russia.
the average yield being about rs bush
els per acre. &c. many is second III
total area with 5000, 900 acres with an
average yield Of eco bushels per acre.
France grows 100000 acres: Austric
nearly 1000. 900; Hungary, 100000
and the United Kingdom. 1,250.00O.
The average .:eld of England is abor
o@0. The average yield for the United
states for the last ten years has been
- bushels.
Growth and Development. The po-
tato crop requires but little water
-Four inches Of rainfall will mature a
2Nu-bushel cror-. 1t must be relnem
5ercd. however. shat the utmost care
must be used to conserve the moisture
by keeping a good surface mulch dur
ing lie growing season. A sandy loan
soil is best suited Tor the potato. May
IL is about the best time for planting
Ahout ten bushels If seed are requireC
per acre when potatoes are planted II
rows "A inches apart and Is lnche.
apart in rows. III" seed pieces being
about one ounce ~ weight. The seeG
bed may be prepared in the same way
IS for corn.
Method OF Cutting Seed Pieces.-s1
will be observed that there is a hear
Iii the center running from the steam
10 the opposite erfi, and also II yot
Mtll examine closely, you will notice
where the knife Iassed through ar
ty,. that there is ! vein running iron
each eve to the core. No potato Is
Il, for seed unless 1t has eyes enough
10 cut into -four pieces al least, and /
the potato weighs eight ounces, cut /
into eight pieces. one eye to a sees
piece is better thar more. One stall
IroNn from 4 single eye from a large
potato usually grows a thrifty VINE !
nlaced abou fOurt aen inches apar
IN a row. and will weld from two Il
five large sized tnb~rs.
Subsequent Care. Kill the weeds
before the potatoes are up, and q gooe
inn,ement to use fer this purpose is {
smoothing or spiked tooth harrow
The weedar may he used once a Weel
until the plants are from Z to ~ lncn
es tall. BY his tire the plants ma!
have been cultivated once with thu
c%u}tiyator set three to four 1nche:
deep. and will usually need about foul
SUBSEQUENT civilizations, each on
,lallower than the first. 1t is q com
mon saying that potatoes will be ruin
cd of they are cultivated after tht
blossoms are set. the setting OF tn
blossoms being the sign tina the tn
bers are beginning to form
Selected Varieties to Grow. car
r,,n No. 3. Burbank and Rural New
Workers are some of the best varieties
of late potatoes. Early Ohio and Ear
* six Weeks are the best early pota
toes. Select potatoes for seed iron
hills producing from four to six pota
toes weighing shout four ounces
Never plant culls.