The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-03-02

quality of the crop. For this reason
the best practice Is to apply barnyar,
manure to corn or grass the year be
fore potatoes are grown. II 1t is con
sidered necessary to apply 1t directly
to the potato crop 1t should first b'
well rOtted.
II for several years before potatoe!
are planted the land has been properl!
manured with farm manure, or will
green crops ployed under, commercial
fertilizers can be advantageously use(
ON most soils. Generally complete
fertilizer should be used-i. e., one
one which contins nitrogen, phospho:'
ic acid and potash. The farmer is JUS
titled in supplying all three of these
fertilizing ingredients. unless by pre-
vious tests he has learned that on his
soil q certain one Of them can be safe
ly omitted.
OF heterogeneous fertilizers, one oi
the best for potatoes Is the quick act
ing nitrate of soda. OF phosphate fer.
tilizers, superphosphate is preferred
Among potash fertilizers the sulphatee
of potash has been found to afford q
better quality OF potato than KANT and
muriate of potash. Ashes, are eXten-
sively and effectively used to supply
potash to potatoes.
Since the proper position of fertil-
izers with reference to the seed pieces
doubtless depends on the character Of
the season, soil and manure, no gen
|eral rule can now be given further
than to caution the reader against ap-
plying the fertilizer in immediate con
tct with the seed pieces.
The following are some of the most
widely grow nvarieties: (Early) early
Ohio, Early Rose, Beauty of Hebron,
and Triumph. MEDIUM and late.) Bur
bank. Rural New Yorker No. 2, Empire
State, Mammoth Pearl, white Star,
and Dakota Red.
These are standard varieties, and
though not necessarily the best, they
see into have given good satisfaction.
The rows should be laid of fas close
together as practicable without inter-
fering with horse cultivation. General.
ly the seed pieces should be dropped
In burrows made in the level field and
not in ridges. However, low ridges are
advantageous for an early crop and on
poorly drained land. In covering the
seed pieces whether they are planted
flat or in ridges. it Is we'll to leave a
small. sharp ridge marking !he line
of the row. In some localities however,
where excessive moisture Is not feare ed
the opening burrows are only partially
filled after planting, leaving depres-
sion along the row to be filled by the
use Of the smoothing harrow or other
horse implement. In planting late in
the season this course Is sometimes
advisable.
"The pieces may be dropped by hand
In the open furIow, or potato planter
may be used, dropping and covering
the seed pieces at one operation. There
are several potato planters that do
their work very satisfactorily, but
their cost restricts their use to those
planting large acreage or to cases
where several farmers can uss the one
machine. This more extended use is
perhaps more desirable, since they
save a considerable amount Of labor
and enable the potato grower tc take
full advantage of even a brief period
o. favorable weather at planting time
regardless of the scarcity of labor.
There Is not sufficient evidence now
available to determine whether ttere
is any difference In yield due to tn cut
surface of the set bein gplaced upward
or downward when planted. Probably
there Is no loss in letin gthe seed
pieces fall as they will fro mthe plan
ter Or the hand.
In preparation of the ground and
in planting, the earth along the line of
the row should be compactel as lit
tle as possible consistent with thor
ough work, and hence the team should
be made to walk between the rows
whenever possible instead of along
the drill. There is simple potato
ccverer constructed something in the
manner Of triangular snow plcw,
wit hthe wide end forward and por-
ton OF the point or apex cut away SO
rs to leave a narrow opening at the
rear. No special implement, however,
Is required for this purpose.
Each community is the best Judge
OF the propc ftime 70: planting. Where
potatoes are grown for the early mar
kat the aim Is to plant as early as pos
s.ble, without subjecting the young
/ ANTS to severe cold. The crop should
be planted at such date as to bring
the stage OF growth during which the
tubers are rapidly developing at a
time when there Is ordinary and acu-
rate supply Of moisture. The month
when dry weather Is most certain var
les with localities, an deach potato
grower should so time his planting as
to be least affected by drought.
Where the growing season is long the
crop that is to be stored over winter
should be planted very late, so that it
may remain in the ground until cool
weather. On the other hand, where the
season is short, late varieties should
be planted in time to ripen before the
advent Of frost.
"The roots of young potato plant
grow. not directly from the seed piece
but from the underground joints or
nodes of the stem. From these under
ground nodes also grow the stems
which bear the tubera at their extrem-
eties. Hence the seed pieces should be
planted deep enough in the soil to
permit several of these joints to form
below the surface, so as to afford
room for nample supply of roots and
tuber-bearing stems to grow.
MANY experiments have been made
to ascertain the best depth for plant
ing. The rsult with some exceptions,
favor planting not less than 4 inches