The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1914-04-18

failure in the crop, almost food
famine follows. The necessity of this
crop is greater than gives credit.
Much attention is given to the Sc
lecting of seed in the past few years.
1t is not generally known that plant
ing potatoes, year after year, in a
climate which allows a long growing
season will deteriorate the quality and
lessen the yield. In the selection of
seed potatoes you should be sure they
are Northern grown. You can mostly
always tell as Potatoes grown in a
climate where there is short grow
ing season, will have few eyes. A short
season forces them to maturity in a
shorter period, giving the potatoes
more vigor which will give you a more
abundant yield if you plant that class
of seed. They will also mature ten
days to two weeks earlier than the
home grown seed.
| know of some sections in Maine
where their yields average from $50
to 200 barrels per acre. This is due
to the selection of seed from a heavy
yielding crop. They always plant the
seed that has few eyes. So often,
persons will buy potatoes with the
greater number of eyes, believing they
will get a greater number Of pieces
from bushel of potatoes to plant.
This is poor practice and will be un-
profitable for your yield.
1t is the nature for potatoes to grow
in the soil. 1t is, therefore, necessary
for you to give your potatoes plenty
of soil if you desire a big yield. Ar
range your planting so you can first
cover four inches and when you see
them peeping up, put your drag har
row on and cover another inch. Do
this the second time. This will cover
your potatoes six inches and during
the working period always shuttle the
soil towards the potatoes. When you
have finished working them, you will
have about eight to ten inches of SOL
on your potatoes. You will find this
benefit if you desire a large yield.
Have your rows three feet apart; and
if using a planter, drop the potatoes
~ inches apart. If you were plant
ing to grow seed, you should only
plant inches apart. Never try to
grow seed if you are in a long grow
ing season climate, You can arrange
your planting so that the potatoes
will be immatured by the time the
first frost comes. This crop will give
you a fair yield as seed, as they will
he more vigorous by being forced in a
short season.
Always use the Big Crop Seed Po-
tatoes of the highest grade for your
seed, free from scab, scale or blight;
and you will easily add 10 to 25 per
cent to your crop. The U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture is urging farm
ers to be more attentive 20 the matter
of good seed potatoes, pointing out
that the use of high grade seed would
easily add ten per cent to the crop, or
34O00,000 bushels, easily worth $780,
100000
During the growing season, it will
be necessary to spray to keep down
the many insects that oftentimes de-
stroy the whole crop. You will, also,
find it profitable to spray should the
blight appear on your vines. The
very best fertilizer to use on potatoes
is 6-5-l0 You can use 1000 to 1900
pounds to the acre. ! am confident if
you will follow the above, your yield
will be very gratifying.
If you need any information on the
Potato Culture or Diseases. write Mr..
R. J. Bowen, Light and Pratt SITS,
Baltimore, Nd.