The Idaho Republican., 1916-06-02
MANAGING THE POTATO

Looking at the average heap of DO.
tatoes In the field, or the average
sack OF potatoes in the grocery or on
the market, 1t does not seem that the
potato grower gives the thought OF
attention to the crop that its great
importance should demand, since II
fills at least third place in the ma.
tion's diet, being next after wheat
and meat.
The farmer who grows potatoes for
market should keep in mind the likes
and dislikes OF the consumer IL he ex-
poets to go on In the business and
make success of it, rather than, as
most potato growers apparently do,
consider how many tons or sacks he
can raise on given number of acres,
giving no heed to the flavor, quality,
shape, size, appearance, color. ETC.,
all of which are of as much or more
Importance than the quantity.
Loose. Loamy Soil
Like most root crops, potatoes
should have Deep, loose, loamy soil.
Ground on which fresh stable ma
nure has just been plowed In should
not be used for potatoes IL they are
intended for market, as on such
ground the crop is likely to be scab-
by, ill-faHored, watery, with q tend
ency to rot, especially If the season To-
wet. Another mistake is to plant ON
shallow plowing with hard bottom,
as then the potatoes have not room
to grow without heaving out of the
ground, when they will be sunburned
and "wtnded": or the ground may
bake around them, preventing the
growth until drenching rain comes
along, perhaps lasting a week, dur
ing which time the growths shoot
out all over the potato and may ruin
1t in that way. The ground having
been so hard at the bottom, on ac-
count OF shallow plowing, the fur
rows could not be run deep enough,
so the seed was planted practically
on top of the ground and could not
be hilled up properly to keep the
new crop covered. Perhaps you never
ate a sunburned potato. Well, just
try one, and you will remember for
a long time the bitter taste and burr.-
ing sensation in the throat caused
by development of poison under the
chemical action of the sun and wind.
Remember, the potato belongs to the
same poisonous family as henbane,
tobacco and deadly nightshade, and
having been rendered fit for food
only by long, scientific cultivation, so
hat 1t is lost labor to plant them In
such a way that even If they do ma
,ure crop the greater part is use
esS.
Variety Governs Shape
AS variety governs shape and size
o a great extent, the potato grown
'or market should be one that is
mooth, elongated, rather than round
n shape, eyes flush with the skin, sol
hat in pairing the potato will not
lave to be cut away or holes dug in
to get the eyes out, saving potato
nd time, which is an object to those
Who have several bushels to peel {
very day, as hotels, restaurants,
amps, etc. Both time and potato is !
money. 1t also counts to the family I
'uying two bits worth at time as |
o many thousands of consumers liv- /
ng in city apartments and other &
lose, warm quarters have to do. A
1hitish, or very light pink, is the .
1ost popular color; red, blue or
lotched do not take so well. They
hould be medium and uniform in
lie, all one variety in each sack or
ther package, as one variety may not n
ook in the same time as another, F
ausing loss to the consumer on ac- d
cunt of one part of the mess being +
ooked to pieces while the other is a
ill partly raw. h
Bad Practice d
Planting whole big potato is bad o
hen the crop is intended for mar u
ct. The young plants feed and de- c
end too much on it until the new @
otatoes are formed, and then theyI "
osorb the musty, decayed, starchy Id
avor of the old one. An ordinary Il
zed potato, say six or eight ounces W
weight, cut in four to six pieces,
18th one or two eyes in each piece
better The point is that a seed R
either too large nor too small gives b
e best results. There is then Just a,
fought to nourish the young plants III
4 they get root enough to forage sc
r themselves; but not enough to be q,