West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-07-20

work of hauling was completed ON the
third day-forty-siX loads I'm all-and
every bit went on the corn acre. Then
the young oats and the fertilizer were
turned under The ground was already
mellow and full of vegetable matter.
"1n one more year this will be the
best piece of land in the whole county"
remarked Joe. 1T Will make hun
dred bushels OF corn and maybe more
next year. without another pound OF
barnyard fertilizer or an ounce of com
mercial stuff"
Link and Mrs. Weston ana Annie
had busled themselves cutting up the
Irish potatoes for the seed to plant.
being careful to leave at least two
eyes" from which the sprouts would
come, on each piece Of potato 1t was
tremendous job. Joe occupied the
next day sweeping up leaves In the
grove, packing them across the road I'm
sacks to spread In the rows. After
the potato cutting was under way and
the end in sight Link was called into
the game and helped with the leaves.
Tho next day Mr.. Weston plowed
the acre for the potatoes. turning II un.
Ing. The years work on the land I'm
turning under STUFF had helped Il won
derfully.
The rows were then laid OF with tho
bull tongue plow. and Link and Joe
commenced dropping the potatoes in,
after first scattering liberal quantity
Of vegetable grower commercial fer.
tilizer In the bottom OF the rows Then
the sacks of leaves were taken and
the seed potato pieces covered three or
four Inches deep. One Of the horses
was hitched TO drag made Of a square
piece Of timber eight feet long. and
which was hitchcd by single tree to
the horse. Joe stood ON the timber
and drove the horse at right angles 70
the rows. IL covered the potatoes per
fectly and packed the dirt on them
ana at the same time smoOthed the
surface of the field
Link looked on and finally scratched
his head refectiycly rs ne remarked.
Dat looks ter me like or funny way
ter plant 'tatCrs. ! alters seen en-
planted I'm hills"
Most folks do that for two reasons
ono 10 keep the water from standing
on the seed and rotting them. and the
other Is 60 have plenty Of loose dirt TO
keep the seed moist and for the young
potatoes 90 develop IN"
well. whuts dc reason o. dis"
Ever notice an Irish potato plant
with root aud young potatoes on itf'
"NOssuh"
"Well. ] pulled one up and studied
g. The young potatoes are formed
above the roots which grow from the
bottom Of the main stem. put those
leaves IN there above tho part that Will
be the root 10 give loose place for
the yOung potatoes % develop And 10
viii make tho potatoes cleaner and
larger"
"Jh huh. I sOrtep socsp
And n I bad planted in high hills 1
would have had o. cultivate with hoes,
wouldn't u There's no plow that
would do any good. IS thcrc. on hills
most foot highT
Link shook bis head
$50, this way. Tor the FIRST two work.
ings III use horse aud cuIvatDr and
get 10 done ln short order The last
working, when the potatoes are form
Ing, I'll run pillow through and throw
the dirt ON either side rlalt against the
potato plants That VIII make "a sgl
and give plenty o. room for the young
potatoes 10 grow ln. won't itT"
"Yeab-on' hit won't be bakcd by
de sun on hard ultu be- loose at do
very time when It's needed Ioos8w ~
claimed the darky
That's what ! thought never
heard Of anybody else planting pota-
toes this way. but 80 looks Ike reason
and common sense 20 me. Don't you
think so1 There's no reason 90 put
hills here at FIRST, because the land Is
well drained and deep pIowcd. Water
won't stand on g."