New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-01-09


teenth Of February. Yor will un
derstand the reason for this sug
gestiOn by what was said in las
weeks issue. There is 10 doub
that the earliest potatoes bring
the best prices, so try to get then
the earliest, but don't put youl
potatoes in the ground too early
because Of the risk of lottening
IN case of a prolonged winter
This is a condition none can fore
see, hence the suggestion.
The Triumph seems to be our
most popular potato, altho it is
not a very prolific potato, it is
very early and does well in this
section. The Irish Cobbler how
ever is also a splendid potato and
while not quite so early, is more
prolific than the Triumph. 1t is
a white potato and there is good
demand for it as also the
Triumph. The Burbank is anoth-
er good potato, while some like
the Peerless. These are all good
potatoes and there are still 9th
er good varieties, but | would sug-
gest that two kinds be planted,
one an early, say the Triumph
and one of the later but more pro-
life varieties
Should you not care to plant
too early, you might get your
seed and terminate them at home,
but don't let them grow long
sprouts before planting-just
sprout them. Then disinfect
them and cut them as suggested
last week. In planting them De
sure that the piece of potato does
not come in contact with the con-
centrated fertilizer. For this rea-
son | suggest that the fertilizer
be applied about two weeks be
fore planting. i
When the potatoes are about
to come out, pass a harrow with
teeth turned back, at right angles
to the rows so as to break any
crust that might exist and thus
insure a much better stand. Hill
ing must be carefully done so as
not to iniure the roots and after
the potatoes are some six inches
high, don't bring your pillow near
them. Use a harrow or any 9th
er implement that will keep
mulch and keep down the weeds.
A Weeder will do this. In fact
a spike tooth harrow and five
tooth cultivator will be found the
things to use.
Diseases: There are a number
of diseases that affect the potato,
but we are not bothered with all
Of them and with precaution near
~ all of them can be kept away. |
There is the potato blight, Tip
Burn, Dry Rot. Baste-iai Wilt
and Wet Rot, Scab. and then we
nave the awful insec: pest, the ,
Colorado Beetle or what is called
IN this country the Potato Bug,
The Flee beetle and the potato
worm. Bordeaux Mixture Paris
Green or any of the Arsenicals
will generally do the work of
freeing the plants from diseases.
Usually some arsenical and. the
Bordeaux Mixture are combined
Is also the Paris Green is used
With the Bordeaux Mixture for it
'urns the plant when used in great
quantities and alone but not when
mixed with the above named mix
ture. Paris Green or arsenic Of
cad should be. used at the rate
Of about eight ounces to fifty gal
ons of water. To make a Boz
1eaux Mixture make a 25 gallon
solution of lime by using 5 pounds
Of lime, keeping this in one YES :
eel. Then dissolve five pounds Of
copper sulphate in another vessel
25 gallons. Mix the two
~ continuous stirring. This is
aot necessarily poison to the
beetle but is a partial deterrent
and good practice is to add ar j
'enic of lead or paris green. Then
'pray the foliage both the upper
md under side of the leaves.