The Raymer enterprise., 1913-12-04
DRY FARM POTATOES
Tubers Known to Yield as High
as $50 Bushels Per Acre.
Method Of Preparing Land for cror
VIII Vary With Different Kinds
Of Soil and Season When
Task Is Performed.

(By II. F. PATTERSON. Montana Agri.
cultursi-College.)
That potatoes will grow and pro
duce good crop on dry land has been
proved by tests at the different ex
pertinent stations and by trials made
by the farmers. Potatoes upon dry
land sod have been known to yield as
high as $50 bushels per acre. Not only
do We get good crop, but the soil Is
left in excellent physical condition fol
the following crop.
The method Of preparing the soil
for potatoes will. of course, vary with
the different kinds of soil and the
season in which the land Is prepared.
Some farmers have had good results
by plowing and preparing the soil in
the fall. However, good results can
be obtained by spring preparation. In
the latter event the sod should be
plowed as early In the spring as the
weather will permit and the plow
should be Immediately followed with
the disk and roller. This Is for tbs
purpose Of packing down and re-es
tablishing capillary attraction. The
water can thus come up from below
and aid In decaying the roots and or
ganic matter.
The depth should not be less than
FIVE inches. II We have our surface
soil packed down. 1t Is oftentimes ad'
visable to run over the land with e
disk harrow and later with smooth.
Ing harrow. The disk harrow tends to
break the clods and smooth down
the high places. The smoothing har'
row makes the dust mulch and pre-
vents the evaporation Of the soil
moisture. This is exceedingly valu.
able in all parts Of the semi.arid west;
1t not only keeps in good deal OF
moisture, but also prevents the growth
Of weeds. Raw land that has been
plowed in the spring in this manner
is not usually planted to potatoes un.
til the following spring. but the land
is summer fallowed during that sea
son. This gives sufficient time fol
the organic matter to decay and also
places the soil In good physical con
dition for the following crop.
The next spring when the ground IL
sufficiently dry. It is re-plowed to q
depth OF eight or nine inches, fol
lowed Immediately with the disk ant
the harrow. Not more than half
day should elapse before the plow
Ing and the disking or narrowing. 1
more than this amount Of time passes
the surface will become lumpy ant
: cloddy and as a result be very diff
cult to work.
There Is another danger that con
fronts the farmer at this season o
the year, and that Is the pudding o
the soil The soil should not b.
worked when there is large amour
OF water In it. AS soon as the see
bed is prepared, we are ready to plan
out potatoes The time that the pota
toes should be placed In the sol
will vary with the type Of soil an
locality. 1t is nearly always safe t
put the seed in the ground as earl
as possible.
The method OF planting Is usual
about the same as that for corn. TIL
: seed is placed about 20 inches apal
in the row and the rows about thre
feet six inches apart. 1t is covere
to a depth OF from two and one-ha
to four inches. The rows are ha
rowed crosswise after planting an
. this narrowing Is kept up for ten c
a dozen days or until the potatoes ar
too large; then the cultivator is use
during the remainder OF the seasol
The purpose OF this narrowing an
cultivation Is to prevent the evapor
ton OF moisture and to destroy tt
weeds. Some farmers advocate cult
u waiting every ten days or as often 9
: the condition Of the soil permits.
our dry lang region we should nj
allow the surface OF the soil to b
= come crusted. Potatoes handled
: this way nearly always produce (
= vorable crop. However, there may |
y few factors that will interfere wi,
y the production of a good crop.
In nearly all parts Of the west Il
potato beetle causes a great deal
- damage. We need not experien'
= much difficulty with this bug If v
follow a rigid process OF sprayin
!, The potato can be sprayed with S
a luton of>paris green. In the propo
ton OF about one pound OF paris gree
!, to SO gallons of water. This W
= treat a large area OF the potatoes.
l. the application OF this solution v
!, should never place 1t upon the vim
- when there is danger Of rain, but
To- should be applied early In the NOR
. Ing OF some bright. clear day.
N Two or three crops Of potatoes CT
II be raised upon the same land In su
A. cession II we use care In our meth,
nj OF soil preparation and In our SCI
Il, selection The principal things to !
y member are to have good clean SCI
nj and to plant this seed upon goo