Evening journal., 1914-07-01
The Demara Peninsula Land of Opportunity With Open Door All

growers received about $4,000.
Tomatoes, 1,3l7,2S4 cases of two
dozen each No. cans;. total value,
S2,240000-of which the growers re-
ceived S65S, 500 This does not in
clude the tomatoes shipped away for
immediate consumption, nor those
shipped from Delaware 70 Baltimore
and other points for canning.
Potatoes.
Sweet potatoes have long been a
leading commercial vegetable crop
in this section, and many farm Of
sandy soil has paid for itself over and
over by this crop. The process OF
planting, cultivating and harvesting
is all plain and simple and not be-
yond the skill Of any ordinary farmer.
With the proper soil and good cul-
tural methods, the yield Is from 200
TO 400 bushels per acre, and one
grower near Milford claims to have
averaged a net profit Of S100 per acre
on from fifteen to twenty acres per
year for the last twenty years. While
this is unusual, the crop as whole
/ Is a paying one. Irish potatoes, or
round potatoes as they are often
/ called, have been planted in increas-
/ ing area and with increasing profits
I during the last few years. A few
/ farmers make a speciality of the late
crop. planting them in July, but a
much larger number plant as early
as possible in the spring, apply heavy
quantities of fertilizer and get a good
/ crop which pays WELL No better soil
can be found anywhere for both
sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes
than the alluvial sandy loan of the
/ Peninsula Fill IL with humus by
growing cowpeas and crimson clover
and then apply moderate quantities
of commercial fertilizers and abun-
dant crops are certain to follow IL
the proper tillage is given A paper
read at a recent meeting OF the
| Peninsula Horticultural Society deals
with the conditions at Bridgeville and
vicinity, and says.
"The early potato crop has been q
profitable one for several years. Our
condition as to nearness Of markets
genial climate and character Of soil
are all favorable to this industry
Farmers Bulletin No. S5, United
States Department of Agriculture
says: The ideal soil for this cror
should be one so light as TO offer nc
great resistance to the enlargement
! of the tubers, so supplied with or
= ganic matter as to be rather moist
! without being wet. and so rich as 10
furnish an unfailing supply Of fer
tilizing ingredients. A rich, sandy
loan, abundantly supplied with or
ganic matter and naturally well
drained, is preferable Sitter soil
may be rendered suitable for the
potato by draining and by the incor-
pOratiOn of farm manures, or better
by plowing rnder green crops. Very
heavy clay should be avoided If the
farm contains any lighter soil Re.
Gently cleared ground suits rht
potato. Sandy soils, II not too sub.
iect TO drought, may be fitted for this
plant by the addition of organic
matter. 1t is claimed that potatoes
grown on sandy land are of better
quality than those grown on stlhei
soil The potato requires gooC
soil, but even more important thar
natural fertility Is a proper mechani
cal condition of the soil. Artificia
fertilizers may be substituted in par
for natural fertility. but they ar
effective only when the soil Is in sucl
condition as to furnish a constan
supply of water. The potato shoul
have the best soil on the farm, sine
IL is mr tXacting in this respeC
than Ill ar staple crops and sine
the prcaa of an acre is general
Of greater value. The success Of tn
potato is largely dependent upon tn
In A
clover, cOwpeas or other leguminOu
plant is grown just preceding pota
toes, its stubble furnishes organic
matter and adds to the store %
available nitrogen in the soil Corr
after sod frequently precedes pota
toes, and this is generally regarded
as the best rotation"
This description of the ideal sol
and ideal conditions fits Delaware ant
the Delmarvia Peninsula exactly, ant
the potato grows here to perfection
{ We have just these conditions; on
soil is ideal: we can produce easil.
and cheaply an abundant supply o
vegetable matter rich in nitrogen an
in all the mineral elements OF plan
food by sowing the land in cowpeas
SOY beans, velvet beans, crimson
clover, vetch, rape, turnips and othe
cover crops, according to the rota
= ton practiced. If potatoes are pre-
, ceded by tomatoes, crimson clover 20
{ crimson clover and turnips) can b
/ sown at the last cultivation of tn
, tomatoes, and when the time come
{ to plow the ground in the spring W
shall have a nice mat of green Glove
: to put the land into the right cor
dition so that a heavy application