The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-05-08
Says That This Crop is the Most I'm.
portant Asset to the Entire
Northwest.
ALTERNATE PLOTS EACH SEASON
Growers Should Plant Only Acreage
That Can Be Properly Cared
- .. @ .- For.
SORT THEM BEFORE SHIPPING
Select Good Seed, Good Variety,
Smooth and of Medium
Size.

D. E. Willard, development agent
of the Northern Pacific Railway has
issued an important open letter on
saving the potato crop He urges
farmers to plant the acreage they
can properly care for and keep at it.
The letter in part is as follows:
The potato crop is an important
asset to the Northwest. There is
danger that great loss may ensue
from failure to give proper attention
to the management of the crop.
Our advice to potato growers is, to
plant the acreage that can be proper
ly taken care of and plant about this
acreage every year. The farmer who
sticks to the crop year after year and
systematically cultivates is field, Sc
lects his seed with care, and then
conscientiously sorts and grades his
stock before shipping, may reasonab-
ly expect to succeed in the potato in
dustry.
Our Northwestern grown potatoes
are in demand, but to hold the ad-
vantage we have gained it will be
necessary to use some diligence and
care in handling the crop in all
stages, from the selection of the seed
until the crop is finally marketed.
Recently the writer met Mr.. E. H.
Grubb, the potato specialist, in Chi
cago and he reviewed with eagerness
his observations in the Northwest.
He said that many districts that had
heretofore been great potato produc-
ing centers had been practically
abandoned, and farmers had been
obliged to engage in other lines of
agriculture because of the prevalence
of disease that infested the fields.
Careless selection of seed has in many
localities reduced the yield and the
quality to point where the crop is
no longer satisfactory or profitable,
either to the grower or purchaser.
It is desired to call attention of po-
tato growers and farmers generally
to few important items that should
be considered in planting for the crop
of 1913:
First: Select good seed, true to type
of the variety, smooth, of medium
size. Do not plant small potatoes, nor
irregular shaped. Do not plant a po-
tato that is pointed at either end, or
that shows the least sign of decay, or
any disease.
Second: Do not plant on land
where potatoes were grown last year,
or, if possible, on land that has grown
potatoes for three or four years. Do
not in any case plant where any
traces of disease have been discovered
within five years. Plant on clover
sod if you have it.. If you do not have
it, seed a field with clover this year
ready for potatoes next year.
Third: If there is any sign OF
scab, wet the seed thoroughly in a
formaldehyde solution-one pound of
40 per cent formaldehyde to forty
gallons of water Do not plant a tu-
Der that shows the least scab, if you
can avoid it. ~ If necessary to use
those that are slightly scabby, treat
thoroughly with formaldehyde 80
Fourth: Prepare the ground thor
oughly. Do not wait for weeds to get
started before cultivating. Harrow
the field soon after planting and
every few days until the plants are
four to six inches high. Then Guilt
vate (shallow) every few days.
Fifth: When the potatoes are dug,
sort and grade conscientiously. Do
not pay freight on any small, irregu-
lar or diseased potatoes Do not be
deceived by thinking that one humid
red pounds of lily assorted stun VIII
bring the price of twentieth OF a
ton of marketable potaties. 1t will
not. If you "slip in some small
ones and irregular shaped, you will
have to pay the freight, and, more
than this, your good stock will not
bring what it would if the small and
unsuitable ones were not there When When
sampler n the large markets goes
to take out a basketful to be used as
a ssseller'a for carload, he takes out
the smaller and poorer from the sacks
that he opens, not the good ones that
are often put on top. Why does ne
do thsi, do you ask? Because he
wants his sample to be not better than
the average Of the car. He has to
play safe. The wholesale merchant t
In the large markets Is bound to be
CONTINUED q Last psGs,.