The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1916-12-22

POTATOES SHOULD HAVE PLACE on
EVERY FARM.
product. Few crops pay better. III
times when grain is dear or scarce
culled potatoes, or any surplus that
may be on hand, should be boiled and
mixed with bran or middlings. Pre-
pared in this way they have high feed
ing value. ANY farmer who Is well
supplied with potatoes is able to Sc
cure much better results with poultry,
hogs and cattle than he otherwise
could without feeding out higher pric-
ed material.
The soil must be in the best possible
condition as regards filth and fertility.
The dirt should be made fine and mel
low to a good depth before planting
the seed. If the piece Is of clover sod
the time for blowing does not count SO
much, but fall blowing is usually best,
and an application Of a small coat OF
manure is good and enables us to re-
duce the expense Of commercial fer
tilizer at least one-half and to further
increase the yield. Use the manure
isfactorY it will pay to harrow in 1000
poundsSSf potash to the acre in the
spring, sowing 1t with planter.
Early potatoes should be planted as
early in the spring as 1t Is feasible to
work the land irrespective of locality.
Late potatoes are extensively grown
in the north, and the planting should
La In, Nov hn chnr1ld hn
two and half feet apart and the hills
fourteen to eighteen inches apart in
the row. Lay off the rows with a one
horse pillow or lister, and drop the seed,
one or two pieces in place, in the
bottom of the furrow. Cover the seed
to a depth of about four inches, using
hoe or a one horse pillow for the pur-
pose. One to three weeks will be re-
quired for the potatoes to come up, de-
pending entirely upon the temperature
of the soil. The ground may freeze
slightly after the planting has been
done, but so long as the frost does not
reach the seed potatoes no harm will
result and growth will begin as soon
as the soil becomes sufficiently warm.
AS soon as the potatoes appear above
the ground and the rows can be fol
lowed the surface should be well stir
red by means of one of the harrow
toothed cultivators. Good cultivation
should be maintained throughout the
growing season, with occasional hand
hoeing, If necessary, to keep the
ground free from weeds. Toward the
last the soil may be well worked uI
around the plants to hold them erect
and protect the tubers from the sur
after the vines begin to die.
BY far the simplest and most prom
Using means of developing high grade
seed potatoes is that Of the tuber uni
and hill selection methods. The for
mer consists in selecting from the seef
bin before planting time a considerable
number Of the most perfectly shaped
tubers of from six to eight ounces IL
weight. When planted these tuber'
are sliced, as dropped, into four as
nearly equal parts as possible Thi!
is done by splitting the bud eye clus
ter in each direction from seed to stem
end Of the tuber. The four pieces OF
each tuber are dropped consecutively
In the row at distance of from ten tt
twelve inches apart in the furrow. Al
tubers showing discoloration of thu
flesh or other evidence of disease
should be rejected.
The hill selection method consists II
marking the most promising plants
during the growing season. At har
vestine time save only those which
give greatest promise. Keep the proge
ny Of each Hill separate and take thu
same means as outlined for the tubel
unit. Plant on the tuber unit basis thu
following season.