American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1913-03-06
POTATO SEED BED;
HOW TO PREPARE 1T.
First Series of Instruction Articles
on Spuds.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE ACTS
Treats of Soil Conditions, PIow-
ing, Fertilization and Other
Vital Subjects.

for the now famous Idaho potato;
,he selection of suitable soil, and
other matters OF similar import are
discussed in the first of series of
articles prepared by the corps of
the State Agricultural College. Seed
selection and planting is the topic
for the second letter of the series
which is designed to be particular
help to the grower
The first article of the series will
be found of particular value to the
new potato grower, indeed many of
the old growers will find new ideas
in it which can be made of practical
worth this season. The article fol-
lows:
There are many sections of the
state of Idaho we'll adapted to the
production of the potato and there
are a few sections while not exactly
adapted to the production of the
tuber, that can be made to produce
very profitable crops if the soil is
handled properly.
The most desirable potato soil Is
deep, we'll drained, rich sandy
loan abundantly supplied with or
ganic matter However potatoes are
grown in Idaho on soils lacking
one or two of these prime consti-
tuents but it can also be said that
the production on such soils can be
greatly increased and better quality
OF potato can be grown if the soil
is given the treatment that Is
| necessary.
| The best potatoes in the state
are produced on the medium sandy
! loan soils which are underlaid with
4 gravel sand lava rock or a porous
white clay. Heavy, stiff soils are
not suitable for potato production.
| This is in d great measure due to-
the soil becoming packed by rains,
or running together when irrigated.
thus excluding air Often in this
kind OF soil the tubers are found
to be enclosed in an apparent she'll
of clay and growth is practically
stopped. 1t is these soils which
usually produce knotty, ununiform,
diseased potatoes. Other things be-
ing equal if the hills in which the
tdbers are forming cannot be dug
into with the naked hand, the soil
is to heavy for good potato pro-
duct'on, and more suitable soil,
found, plentifully supplies with or
ganic matter and thoroughly work.
ed over.
Such soil should take much more
work and time to develop into a
good potato soil than the returns
justify.
Alfalfa is natural forerunner of
the potato in that it affords a good
supply Of NITROGEN and humus and
aids very materially in loosening I'D
the soil to permit Of ready aeration.
The mineral plant foods with rare
are already abundant in
all Idaho soils and then
the effect of two or three years
Of alfalfa growing, combined with
the turning under in the fall of the
last crop, is added an ideal seedbed
for production of the Irish tuber is
in the making
In order to subdue alfalfa land
for crop of potatoes the following
season it is very essential that the
alfalfa be crowned" in the fall,
hat is, plowed about three inches
deep. This exposes the crowns to
winter freezing and thawing thus
Killing most of them. Any that
ire sill alive in the spring can be
EASILY killed when the land is again
)lowed in the spring, but this time
o depth of from s 10 inches.
rhe deeper the better, so long as
90 much sub-soil is not brought to
he surface. Deep plowing affords
IN excellent storage reservoir for
pring precipitation, increases aera-
ion, and leaves the soil in a loose
'llable condition, and at the same
ime puts the alfalfa crowns down
where they will not cause trouble
n cultivation and puts them where
hey will readily decay and be in
orporated in the soil, thus mak-
ng plant food readily available
After this deep blowing the land
hould be thoroughly worked down
nd pulverized with a disc harrow,
I similarly effective tool. then har
owed and floated
Potatoes, or pieces of potatoes,
hen planted will sprout without
loisture brt they viii not root un-