The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1917-08-09

SOcOnd-crop potatoes do not make
sholr best growth untl the coolies
weather q fall. several weeks bsfOss
1rOst. ID tie vicinity Of Knoxville, An
gust Arst is about the JiGht tina fOs
plantinE sscond-CrOp potatoes. For the
Southwestern half Of Tennessee and
ssF the vicinity Of Chattanooga, the
nats may be twelve days later. On
aho Cumberland Plateau and FOR high
ast Tehnessse counties, Johnson and
Garter, oAly the spring planted crop is
EOwn.
AnssnE Of seed Needed.
Plant In rows 80 TO 80 inches apart
Ind IL to IL inches apart In the row.
Planting at these distances will re-
lauirs from 10 to IL bushels Of seed for
nm acre In good potato soils, those Of
4Bnsdium texture, plant about four to
aAve inches deep. In heavier soils,
wlant three to four inches. To prevent
Ahe tuETow from drying out. as we'll as
ithe seed, ct the time Of planting open
emily one furrow at q time and plant it
and close it before planting the second
furTow, This should be done espe-
cially when early crop potatoes are
lnssd for seed. Drop the seed SO that
~ lies with the cut surface pressed
slightly into the soil. Cover with a
shovel plow run ON each side Of the
Gurrow.
In dry weather, seed will lie in the
ground several weeks before coming
thru the surface. Seed from first crop
potatoes will frequently lie in the
ground from Ave to six weeks before
the plants break thru the surface.
When the rows are visible, cultivate
lat once, throwing the soil up we'll over
the rows To kill weeds and break up
khe surface crust, the rows should be
cross-cultivated with light scratch
harrow, or weeder This should be
done several times, as often as the APP
lpearance Of the soil shows the neces.
isity Of 1t. Don't give the weeds a
chance to grow, or the soil to dry out
below the surface mulch. When the
rows become visible again, cultivation
should follow the rows again. The
lhve-tooth pillow cultivator and 14-tooth
harrow may be used for this. AT least
hhree cultivators with the rows should
ibe given the crop. Use the tive-tooth
pillow or other cultivator with the wide
teeth attached and work as close to
the plants as possible without injur-
ii::2S the reets, throwing the soil well
up about the plants. If cultivation is
done on small areas with hand hoe,
pull the soil up about the plant with
&he hoe at this time. A two-horse rid.
lang cultivator will save labor and do
imore efficient work than any other
lkind Of cultivator. Three or four
weeks before the tubers will be ready
10 dig the rows should DO swept by
summing q bull tongue or special po
ltato sweep between the rows which
throws the soil in ridges up about the
lplants.
XIII the Potato Bug.
The Colorado potato beetle is the
worst enemy of the potato, and II al
bowed to 90 unchecked may strip the
Foliage from the plants. As soon as
nrst signs Of the beetle are noticed,
spray with arsenate Of lead at the rate
Iof two pounds to nifty gallons Of wa.
per. Where sprayer "a not available.
make . mixture Of one-half powdered
Head arsenate and one-half air-slaked
aime or sifted wood ashes or road dust.
Rhis may then be applied by shaking
b thru q cloth bag onto the plants,
preferably when they are wet with
pain or dsw.--C e. Brehm, Division of
Extension, University Of Tennessee,
Knoxville.