The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-04-30
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BY j. L. STAHL


~ NE Of the most stable crops that
IL u can be grown by the farmer in
western Washington is the po-
tatoes. 1t Is crop that usually pays
excellent returns when god culture is
practiced, but often gives very indif-
ferent returns when neglected.
The ideal soil for potato growing
cannot always be had, but good crop
may be secured from quite variety
of soils. Potatoes like best a deep rich
garden loan. Such a soil may con-
tain considerable sand, but one con-
tanning much heavy clay should be
well manured before planting to po-
tatoes Farm manures are the best
addition soil can receive to put it in
good physical condition. With pota-
toes the manure can be applied the
fall before planting so that the leach
ings from the manure may soak into
the soil during the winter. Better,
still, if rotation is practiced the ma
nure can be added to a crop grown a
year previous to the potatoes. Glover
is good crop to grow just previous
to potatoes
A grower can make no greater mis-
take than planting in a poorly drained
soil, as good drainage is absolutely
necessary for the production of
smooth and disease-free tubers.
Preparation of Soil
Flowing should be deep, before
planting, unless the soil is deficient in
humus, and when this is the case the
humus content should be increased
and the depth of plowing increased ac-
cordingly. After blowing it is neces-
sary to work the soil fine, putting i
in the best possible tilth. Pieces of
sod or hard Jumps of dirt have no
place in the we'll prepared potato seed
bed.
According to chemical analysis the
soils of Western Washington, in gen.
eral, are lacking in lime, potash and
phosphorus. Reports of potato grow
ers who have carried on tests of COM
mercial fertilizers, in small way, by
applying sulphate of potash, acid
phosphate bone meal. and lime in va
rious combinations show that in some
cases the applications gave increased
yields while in others they did not
This indicates that there is consider
able need for further experiments
along this line.
Varieties for Planting
OF over hundred varieties and
seedlings tested at the station for the
past three years the following have
given the best results: Earliest Of All,
Early Beauty of Hebron, Early White
Ohio, Vermont Gold Coin, American
Wonder, Pride of Multnomah and Up
to-date Varieties which have been
tested for only year but which are
very promising varieties are: Pride of
the Valley Puritan, Uncle SAM Salts
faction, Burpee's Early, Sir Walter
Raleigh, Champion, Rural New York
er, Carmen No. 1, Carmen No. 3,
Melted Gem.
Early Rose and Burbank, two pop
ular varieties, have not given good re-
suits in yield or smoothness of tubers.
Maggie Murphy and Wilson's Choice,
two excellent varieties, were not in
cluded in these tests.
Earliest OF All. True to its name,
the earliest Of all the varieties tried;
ready for use four days to a week
earlier than Early Rose. Tuber white,
smooth, roundish In shape with
abrupt ends; quality good. Excellent
for home use or early market and
very prolific.
Early White Ohio. Very similar in
shape to the we'll known Early Ohio, ,
but it has a white skin, making a
very desirable market potato as well
as an excellent one for home use.
Vermont Gold Coin. A medium sea-
son white variety. roundish in shape,
flattened smooth and Of excellent
quality. 1t Is prolific and very hardy,
growing on variety of soils
American Wonder. A good stand (
ard mid-season variety of an oval
shaped. white potato. 1t is good in
quality, prolific and very popular in '
some localities.
Pride OF Multnomah. An excellent
late white variety with smooth, oval '
or kidney shaped tubers. The quality
Is very good. Many growers consider s
this the best late variety. IL