The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1913-03-14

Farmers Letter.



his views coincide with my owl
$50 nearly on the preparation
planting and culture Of cary
Irish potatoes, that can hardly
in the preparation Of this article
get away from his wording and
phraseology, however there are
few points on which we differ
but which do not materially at.
feet the result, but will be point.
ed out in this article.
Irish potatoes require soil Of a
moderately light loamy nature.
The field for the potato crop
should have been heavily manur.
I ed with at least ten tons per
acre. Mr.. Harrison suggests that
this manure be broad cast and
turned under. | think better
plan is to turn the field, then
broad cast the manure and in the
preparation Of the seed bed it is
pulverized and mixed with the
soil. The disc harrow is the best
tool to use in this preparation.
1t is hard to emphasize the i'm
portance of thorough seed bed
preparation enough. When you
think you have the soil in such a
condition that it could not be
improved, do the job over again.
Then if you do not get a chance
to do any more preparatory work
you can go ahead with the plant
ing. The seed bed being ready,
| select as near medium sized
tubers as | can get. While | be.
lieve the largest tubers are bet.
ter, but owing to the cost use
the medium size. These are cut
two eyes to the piece, making
the pieces as large as possible, as
the piece Of seed potato sustains
the plant until it takes root.
In making or laying off the
field | use No. 5 turning pillow,
making the furrow as deep as
possible and about three feet a
part. In this furrow is scattered
about 500 pounds 16 per cent.
acid phosphate. | follow this
with an ordinary bull tongue
pillow, in the bottom of the fur.
row, which mixes the phosphate
with the soil. The seed is then
dropped one piece to every l2|
inches. The burrows are then
Sled BY running on each side
with the same No. 8 turner.
This will leave the field in.
ridges eight or ten inches high.
Vt is left ia this condition until
the potato giant is within an inch
Of the surface. Then take AMI
ordinary drag harrow and cross.
the ridges. This in my opinion
IS the best cultivation the crop.
gets 1t is not only adj antageous.
% the potato plant J ,ut it gives 4.
setback to the first growth Of,
Weeds. WMhla three or four
lays AMER tlas is done, the one.
b orse ctyy ,ivator should be-
ore.ught ,4or ward and kept in use
at least o. ace or twice a week UNI
til the potatoes are in bloom.
The last time you go over with
the cultivator sow about one
bushel of cow peas per acre; IN
about ten days the potato plants
begin to die and the peas get q
Tchsnce. When they mature the
moving machine is put on and
enough hay taken off the field to
pay for all fertilizer and labor
incident to the potato crop, be,
sides the field is left clean and
loose for the potato harvest.
When you are ready to dig the
crop, SOW II bushels Of rye per
acre. Use the same small pillow
,.set to run deep. Run three times
to the row, once on each side,
then under the potatoes turning
them out. This practically works
all the land. Two or three men
can pick up aud sack almost as
fast as they are plowed out.
In the afternoon use the drag