The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-04-08
POTATO GROWERS
RALLY BIC SUCCESS
Large and Enthusiastic Gathering of
Farmers and Others Interested
in Potato Culture.
Frostburg Mining Journal.

Inc puDHC-SplTlteu ellOTG Oh IHe III
liens National Bank to enlist the far
mers of this section in potato culture
resulted Friday of last week in the at
tendance of a number which filled well
the spacious auditorium of the Lyric
Theatre.
1t was this effort which attracted the
attention and emphasized fact known
to many of the farmers-that this is a
section particularly we'll adapted to the
cultivation and development of a high
quality standard in potatoes-a food
probably second only to bread IN the
economy and welfare of hum4n diges-
ton and nourishment.
The forenoon session, beginning about
10 O'Clock. was opened by Thomas H.
White, of the Maryland Agricultural
College Experimental Station, who
spoke instructively of The Best Seed
Potatoes for Maryland, and Prof. C.
E. Temple, of the College, closed the
session with an address upon Glow to
Avoid Potato Diseases"
Notes of the latter and two following
addresses by Prof. William Stuart, also
of the Agricultural College, and DR.. r.
S. Hill, Director of State Farmers
Institute, were made by Rev. G. E.
Metger, of this place, and very kindly
furnished the Journal
Prof. Temple named common potato
diseases as "rhizoctonia, " "powdery
scab, " "black-leg" and blight" and
the preventions-for ''rhizoctonla, 4"
''powdery scab" and ck-leg"-
l. "Dip u hours in corrosive sublim-
ate-4 ounces to 80 gallons of water.
Potatoes so dipped cannot be used for
food.
For blight:
2 Dip seed hours in formalin;
solution pint to 80 gallons of water
Potatoes so treated can be eaten.
The seed the Bank is getting will be
treated according to ''2' in Maine, and
according to 81" when here.
For blight" by the foliage
turning black and its peculiar odor.
spray the plants with bordeau mixture.
Best mixture is pounds of blue
stone, 5 pounds of lime and 50 gallons
of water The bluestone and lime must
be dissolved separately and poured to-
gether. For insects-add 2 pounds
of arsenate of lead and ounces of
Paris green. Never use Paris green on
plants unaccompanied by lime.
AT the afternoon session Prof. Stu
art said, concerning Good Seed Pota-
toes and How to Produce Them" you
must produce what your customers
want if you would sell Good seed is
true to type. selected from strong,
vigorous, productive plants, and free
from disease
Take tubers from to ounces in
weight
Plant in average soil 4 inches deep.
Expose seed to light-but not sun
shine, weeks before planting-to de-
velop strong sprouts.
Cultivate early, and keep ahead of
the weeds. Use the tooth-harrow I'M
til the plants are several inches above
ground.
Immature seed gives heavier yield
than mature, but needs greater care in
handling.
A light crate should replace the sack
now used in shipping.
1t is too soon to determine the merit
of the whole small potato over the cut
1t cut-cut lengthwise to 6 ounce
tuber, and plant IL inches apart in the
row.
The whole potato should weigh 8 or A
ounces. and planted IA inches apart in
the row.
Go through the patch and take out
all diseased and weak plants.
When digging-take those hills that
are true to type and haye the largest
yield. This is called hill selection. 4"
There is also the ''tuber unit" meth
cd, IN which good tubers are selected,
planted separately, and those which
yield best are taken.
Send for Farmers Bulletin, No. 593,
which can be obtained free for the ask
ing from the U. S. Department of Ag-
riculture, Washington, D. C.
DR.. r. S. Hill, State Director of In
stitutes, gave instructive suggestions
upon "The Importance of Soil Fertili-
zation for Potato-Growing," are con-
densed into the following paragraphs:
The best time to put manure on the
farm is as soon after it is voided by
the animal as you can put 1t on a grow
ing crop.
Spread it broad cast.
The crop will at once take up the
nitre, phosphoric acid and potash, and
holds all the humus.
Don't put manure on land and pillow it
under.
The doctor strongly commended the
open barn and concrete floor.
Should lime be used? Not the year
you plant your soil in potatoes.
49, 6, b., e