Oxford Democrat., 1914-06-02
Potato Planting Details Ignored.

Otnerwlse progressive potato FARMERS
often fail of the careful details inciden,
to maximum production, such as care
less cutting of seed in the rush Of plant,
ing time. While cutting large potatoes
it many times happens the seed pieces
are not carefully observed and some do
not contain live eye. They are many
| times absent in the stem end OF large
tubers. Such dead seed can only cause
a percentage of loss.
Sometimes seed potatoes are cut and
placed in large piles, either 10 bags or
bulk, and if the building is close and hot
weather eusues when not planted within
a few days after being cut, the seed will
heat. Ii heated seed is planted it will
cause loss from small percentage up to
almost the entire planting, according to
condition of seed When cut seed is to
be kept more than two or three days, it
is best to spread 1t quite thin on the cell
lar floor. Another good way is to place
it in barrels and turn from one barrel to
another every two days. A handful Of
land plaster thrown over each basket of
cut seed and shaken down will absorb
the potato juice and retard heating to
some extent.
FERTILIZER BURNED SEED.
Sometimes the plow of the planter is
run 80 lightly it just marks the row; the
mixer following does not cover the fertil-
izer. IL the soil is wet and the furrow
sticks the soil does not respond to the
mixer. In either case where high grade
fertilizer, used in large quantities, comes
in contact with seed its vitality is sure
to be injured. Better wait until soil
conditions are right. Being anxious to
get the seed into the ground many fail
in late season to wait for right condi'
tions.
Many after planting never give cul-
tivation until the seed sprouts break
ground. In favorable seasons potatoes
may produce an immense crop with very
little cultivation, but in season like
last year it was hazardous to neglect
early cultivation. Where the earth
mulch is started soon after planting the
large quantities of moisture always
present in our New England soils in
early spring are largely conserved, and
il the earth mulch is maintained
throughout the season of growth and
the insect and fuugous pests have been
kept under control the result should be
profitable. Especially did 1t prove 80
on the natural potato soils in the dry
season of 1913. | believe the deep grav-
ely loans of the hill farms are superior
for growing potatoes as they are well
known TO be for fruit.
On elevated sites, the air drainage be-
ing good, dead air does not accum ulate
as il does in the valleys in hot sum mer
nights when there is no wind. l believe
this one reason why some years potatoes
seem to make more healthy growth on
high than low land. Then frost rolls
down from high land and crops are not
frosted, while on low land the promise
of abundant harvest is destroyed in
single night. Many of the low lands
contain much clay. In favorable sea.
sons these soils produce large crops OF
potatoes, but in seasons of drouth the
moisture is not as easily controlled by
cultivation and Improbable crops re-
suit.
In soil investigation, determining the
crops best adapted TO the different types
OF soil, there is an immense field of
labor for the national and state agricul-
tural institutions. Such information
would prove of great value, especially to
the young man intending to purchase
farm who has in mind some special
branch of farming. no reliable data are
at hand as TO the best soil or conditions
which would secure to him the most
promising base of operations.-W. a..
HUFF in New England Homestead.