Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-05-07
(ey Dean Charles S. knlaht)


conditions during the past winter and
early spring. this country may expert
ence a considerable shortage during
the coming season OF many staple
foods. Considerable winter wheat has
been seriously injured by drought and
winter killing. and n large acreage Of
spring vegetables in eastern and
southeastern state has been damaged
by the frost.
1t is therefore the duty of the citi-
ger II this country to do everything
in their power to increase the local
production of food sturs and Offset
these shortages.
|, The potato occupies an important
place In the diet Of GU rentire popula-
ton. 1t is not a difficult crop to grow
under irrigation. and requires much
less attention than Il variety of vege-
tables planted in the same area. 1t
will thus be possible for n large num-
Der Of people in Nevada who cannot
devote the time required of a yege-
table garden, to plant small tracts of
potatoes. By following the instruc-
tons included in this article the crop
will be grown with the least possible
amount of labor and ut tho. end OF
the season the family will have on
hand Il years supply of potatoes.
The potato requires Il fertile mellow
coil nttltnr n SANDY mr. ninN- lnon, x.all
supplied with organic matter. The
cultivation is easier on ito sandy
loans, and the danger of over-irriga-
tion is less, although when properI!'
handled. the clay loans produce
equally well. Soils rich in humus
or vegetable matter are especially
we'll suited to potato culture.
No other staple crop grown in Ne
vada is so we'll adopted to old alfalfa
land.
The ground should be cleaned of all
rubbish such as rocks, bricks, boards,
chips. and weeds, for IL turned under
by the pillow or spade, they will pre-
vent the seed bed from packing sufl-
ciently for the uniform and rapid GER
mination of the seed after planting.
The ground should be plowed or
spaded at least eight inches deep as
soon as possible, care being taken
not to work the ground when too
wet. which is indicated by the soil
sticking to the shovel or pillow in
turning.
The same day the ground is plowed
or spaded it should be narrowed or
raked, and a coarse dirt mulch left on
the surface. This coarse dirt mulch
prevents rapid evaporation, and after
a rain is easily renewed. If Il fine dirt
mulch is made after spading or plow-
ing, Il heavy rain will pack the sur
face to such IN extent that q new
mulch is difficult to prepare.
The ground should remain in this
condition from one to three inches
until planting time to furnish n firm
seed bed for uniform termination OF
the seed, and rapid development of
'ic SOuuB plulitS'
This year the entire country is ex-
%pcricncing Il considerable shortage in
potato seed, thus. all available pota-
toes will be planted, regardless of var
icty. The experiment station has
tested a number OF varieties during
the past four years. ranking in yield
ing power in the order named: Great
Divide, Burbank, Early Ohio, Peerless,
Early Russell, Irish Cobbler, Carman
No. 3. Early Red. Melted Gem, Rural
New Yorker, Gold Coin. Great Di-
vide and Burbank varieties i showed
the highest average yield for the four
year period.
These varieties have been grown in
Nevada for many years and indicate
the value Of well selected homegrown
seed as compared with that introduced
from the other state. The Peerless
and Melted Gem varieties are grown
to some extent in tho potato districts
of Nevada. The present high price OF
seed and the shortage of potatoes is
the important difficulty confronting
the Nevada potato grower this spring,
An important factor is tho treat,
ment is recommended: All seed pota.
toes should be soaked in Il solution of
mercury bicllloride corrosive subj,
mate) four ounces in thirty gallons OF
water for one and one.half hours. For.
malin treatment will not kill Rhizoc'
tonia as completely as mercury bi
chloride.
The solution should be placed in Il
wooden barrel or tank. IL corrodcs
metal. 1t should be poured out and
made up fresh after 1t has been used
to disinfcct four lots OF potatoes. II
is poison to ent but not TO touch
Treated potatoes should not DO eaten
or fed. After the potatoes have been
treated, they should be stored In new
sacks which have been similarly dis
infected in the solution. Another i'm
porlant factor Is the cutting Of the
large potatoes into small pieces Ia
increase the acreage to the greatest
possible extent.
The potatoes should not be cut in
pieces less than m INT In size, and
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