The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-05-14
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q This is the first OF series %I
o of articles discussing potato %l
o growing. S|
q OIL
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By o. NJ. MORRIS, Horticuturist; J. g.
HALL, Plant Pathologist, and M A.
YoTHERS, Asst, Entomologist.
m THE United States as whole the
potato crop ranks sixth in value.
Notwithstanding this fact, we i'm
ported from foreign countries over 49,
100000 bushels in 1912.
In view Of the latter fact and the
magnitude of the industry, and also in
view Of the number Of problems con-
nected with the industry, it would seem
that every aid possible should be given
to it.
Few of our agricultural crops involve
more complex problems and call for
greater exercise of care and judgment,
II the crop is to be grown profitably
and kept from from fungous and insect
pests.
It is desired to call special attention
to the fact that several serious potato
pests are just entering the state for
the first time. They should be attacked
relentlessly. An ounce Of prevention is
worth q pound Of cure.
Soil Conditions Needed.
The potato requires a rich, mellow,
loan soil for its best development.
Splendid crops are frequently grown on
sandy and heavy clay soils. The sandy
loans produce smooth, even potatoes
with bright skin and shallow eyes and
usually mature the crop at an earlier
date than the heavier loans.
The heavy loans tend to produce large
vines of late maturity and tubers OF
rather rough, irregular form, with deep
eyes and poor quality. A good humus
content is necessary for the best pro.
duction. The vegetation in the soil
should be in an advanced stage OF de-
cay.
Soil that contains a large amount OF
vegetation just entering the process Of
decay is not suitable for potato grow
ing and should be devoted to some
other crop for one or two years before
planting to potatoes. The subsoil may
be heavier than the surface soil, and
sandy or medium loans underlaid with
clay or even gravel as another extreme
caE be made to produce excellent crops
Drainage Is Required.
The soil devoted to potato crops
should be we'll drained. The surface
should have slope enough to admit Of
good surface drainage so that the wate1
will never stand in pools or fail to rul
off in case of excessive rainfall. Th'
subsoil should be Of such characte
that gives good drainage, or tile drain
should be used and well distributed
so that any excessive moisture will b
carried away.
Potatoes can not be grown satisfac
torily in soil that contains an exces
of moisture.
Land that is especially subject to lat
spring or early fall frosts is not wei
adapted to potato culture. Inc vine
are frost tender and must make a gus
growth in the spring before the ho
summer weather comes on.
They endure cool nights well, but 70
the best development should have
great deal Of sunshine. They ar
especially subject to disease durin
cloudy, moist weather.
Preparing the Land.
The land should be cultivated unit
it is mellow and Of rather open {
porous character. This condition ca
best be obtained by rotating the potat
crop with other field crops. Land ca
be used for potatoes for two years SUI
cessfully, but it is ordinarily the bel
plan to devote the land to some oth'
crop the third year.
For the third year Of this rotatio
some crop should be chosen that wi
turn into the soil large amount
vegetation. The old potato CROWN
sections Of the United States have four
it greatly to their advantage to use
four or five year rotation, grown
clover. alfalfa. field peas, or some sin