New Ulm review., 1917-05-02
NATIONS NEED IS
Big POTATO CROP
PRICES LIKELY TO BE HIGH FOR
MosT-IMPoRTANTn OF FOOD
STUFFS.
UNIVERSITIES AGRICULTURAL
EXTENSION BOARD SENDS
APPEAL.

The extension division of the College
OF Agriculture has sent out an appeal tc
farmers to raise big potato crop this
year. Potatoes are among the nations
most important foodstuffs, and prices
are likely to be high" says the letter
recently received by the Review.
Patriotism and prices call for Just as
large an acreage as one can possibly
handle" the letter continues. "Minne-
sofa in 1916 produced 16, 100000 bushels,
about half the crop of 1915. This year
it should get back to normal production
If it is within human power to do So"
After telling in detail what kind of soil
should be chosen for the crop, how it
should be prepared, etc., which the
average Brown county farmer knows as
well as any one else, the letter deals
with the selection of seed and continues:
Take Pains With the Seed.
"The seed supply is low. Doubtless,
however, there are supplies in various
parts OF the state, which if made avail
able would hell to swell the acreage
planted and bring about maximum
yield. Persons having more seed than
they themselves need should report such
supplies to the Agricultural Extension
Division of the University of Minnesota,
| in Or(1or tibet onpo,,roo,,oo,,+,. $1,000. L .
made to those who are asking for seed
potatoes.
Seed from the northern parts of the
state are desirable where the vines were
still somewhat green when killed by the
frosts. Such seed. are generally known
to give high yields. If such seed cannot
folaa1d then Others should be Used. /
Varieties recommended are: Early
Ohio, Bliss Triumph, Irish Cobbler,
Burbank, Burbank Russet, Green Noun
tain, Rural New Yorker, and King.
Seed Should Be Treated.
"All seed should be treated to prevent
such diseases as common scab, rosette
and so on. The seed potatoes should be
soaked for an hour and a half in a
solution of four ounces of corrosive
sublimate (poison) dissolved in five
gallons of hot water and afterward
diluted with Is gallons of water If
corrosive sublimate cannot be had, one
pint of formaldehyde (40 per cent? in
thirty gallons Of water may be used. In
this solution the seed should be soaked
two hours. The seed should be dried
after soaking or else planted Immediately.
i How to Cut the Seed. +
"The seed piece should be uniform and
blocky in shape, about one ounce in
weight. If seed a:e very scarce, the
I pieces may be cut to one-half ounce
The first piece is taken from the stem end
by cut diagonally across the potato
Finally, the seed end is divided. The
number Of pieces to the potato depends
urbn the size and variety of the potato
An eight-ounce Early Ohio will have
| from twelve to fifteen eyes, and if small
! pieces are taken nearly as many pieces
i may he taken. A Rural New Yorker OF
Green Mountain potato will cut from
} eight to twelve pieces. With care il
cutting the cost of seeding may be
materially reduced. s@
}, When to Cut the Seed.
: "Seed potatoes should be cut not more
than day or two before planting. Much
; damage may be prevented if the pieces
are spread out in a thin layer on dis.
infected floor Of canvas in order to dry
) slightly on the cut surfaces. Slightly
} dried pieces are more readily worked
thru the planter. .@
81 How Much to Plant.
'Twelve bushels of the early varieties
) and ten bushels of the late will be re.
quired to the acre, if one-ounce pieces
| are planted in rows three feet apart, the
early varieties being planted ffteer
inches apart in the lows and the late
eighteen inches apart. "
}. Methods of Planting.
1 In small fields the hand planter may
:. be'used. In planting larger areas either
the picker or the two-man type o1
4 machine must be used. Cooperation
in the use of the larger planters will re-
duce the cost Of production. Every
] planter in community should be kept
working to it's full capacity to this end.
i Depth of Planting.
Seed should be planted four or five
inches deep in light soils and from three
to four inches deepin heavier soils.
Care After Planting.
Z Within ten days after planting the