The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1917-04-18
POTATOES ARE GREATLY ~
NEEDED FOR THE WAR
Recommend atoms From, Department
Of Agriculture, University Iof
Minnesota.
By A. w. AamOdt.

which it has entered but it also
needs assurances that it's food sup
plies will be ample not only for it's
army but for it's civilian population.
Potatoes are among it's most impor-
tant toodstuffs and prices are like
ly to be nigh. Patriotism and prices
therefore, call for just as large an
acreage as one can possibly handle.
Minnesota in 1916 produced 16,80O,-
900 bushels of potatoes, about one
half the crop of 1915. This year it
should get back to normal produc-
ton if it is within human power to
do so.
Fields Should be Chosen With Care
The siol for potatoes should be
sandy loan, we'll drained. A clover
or alfalfa field that has been we'll
MANFRED can be plowed for potatoes
with excellent results. The seed bed
should be permeable, loose and fri
able in order to give the tubers
chance to grow and expand. The
soil should be plowed to depth of
seven or eight inches and double
disked as soon as it is workable.
Then it should be narrowed as far
as time and labor will permit with
spike-toothed harrow in order to
keep the soil condition and destroy
weeds.
Take Pains With the Seed.
The seed supply is low. Doubt
less, however, there are supplies in
various parts of the state, which if
made available would help swell the
acreage planted and bring about a
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
der that announcements may be
made to those who are asking for
seed potatoes.
Seed from northern parts Of the
state are desirable where the vines
were still somewhat green when Kill
led by the frosts. Such seeds are
generally known to give high yields.
If such seed cannot be found, then
others should be used.
Varieties recommended are: Early
Ohio, Bliss Triumph, Irish Cobbler,
Burbank, Burbank Russet, Green
Mountain, Rural New Yorker, and
King. Detailed descriptions of these
vorieties may be found in Minnesota
Special Bulletin No. 5.
Seed Should be Treated
All seed should be treated to pre-
vent such diseases as common scab
rosette, and so on. The seed pota.
toes should be soaked for an hour
} and a half in solution of four oun.
} ces of corrosive sublimate (poison)
dissolved in five gallons of hot water
and afterward diluted with Is gal
Ions Of water. If corrosive subj.
mate cannot be had, one pint of for
maldehyde (40 per cent? in thirty
gallons of water may be used. Ir
; this solution the Seed should b@
| soaked TWO hours. The seed should
be dried after soaking or else plant
, ed Immediately. Minnesota Expert
ment Station Bulletin No. 1853 give:
, further information as to treatment
How to Cut the Seed
The seed piece should be uniform
and blocky in shape, about one ounce
in weight. If seed are very scarce
the pieces may be cut to one-haH
? ounce. The first piece is taken from
r the stem end by a cut DIAGONAL.
across the potato. Finally, the seet
: end is divided. The number of pie
ces to the potato depends upon thu
size and variety of the potato. Al
, eight-ounce Early Ohio will have
, from twelve to fifteen eyes, and il
small pieces are taken nearly a:
many pieces may be taken. A Rura
7 New Yorker or Green Mountain 20
tato will cut from eight to twelve
pieces. With care in cutting thu
, cost of seeding may be material,
! reduced.
When to Cut the Seed
Seed potatoes should be cut not
more than day or two before plant
ing. Much damage may be prevent
ed if the pieces are spread out in {
thin layer on a disinfected floor oil
canvas in order to dry slightly. or
the cut surfaces. Slightly dried pie
l ces are more readily worked through
the planter. 49,.
How Much to Plant.
Twelve bushels of the early varie
ties and ten bus hels of the late will
be required to the acre, if one-ounct
pieces are planted in rows three feet
, apart, the early varieties being
placed fifteen, inches apart in thu
! rows and the late eighteen inches a
parts ;: