The Newark journal., 1917-05-31
iKEEP EARLY ARKANSAS IRISH
POTATO CROP AT HOME.
How To seve Spring Crop and Pro-
duce Fall Crop.

BY H. F Knapp. District Agent, Exten-
sion Division, Z. of A.
Some means should be taken 70
keep the early Irish potato crop in
Arkansas this year. Our farmers are
making a great mistake in permitting
them to leave the state. There is a
serious shortage in the worlds supply
and the practice we have of shipping
out the early crop in June and by the
middle of July or August 1 receiving
return shipments to supply our needs
may prove disastrous this year be-
cause It will not only be practically
impossible to get Irish potatoes back
into the state, but the price will be
prohibitive.
How To Save Them.
The spring crop of Irish potatoes
can be saved for home use by spread
ing them out on a floor in we'll ven
tilated building, or on the ground IN
der building The latter plan is pre-
ferable if suitable place is at hand.
The potatoes should be spread out
very thin It IS best If they do not
touch each other. After a few days
they should be gone over carefully and
any that have begun to decay should
be picked out If the potatoes are
very wet at digging time, scatter air
slaked lime over them to absorb the
moisture. In this way a home supply
can be kept until December or Jan
uary, after which they will become 50
shriveled and watery that they are
not fit for food, and are not good for
seed.
Plant a Fall Crop.
Most farmers do not attempt to
grow a fall crop of Irish potatoes for
the reason that 1t is so difficult to
get stand that is worth while Some
Arkansas farmers, again, have PROV
en- that It is possible to get a very
good stand for a fall crop. Their meth
cd is as follows:
Select a plat of good ground for
the fall crop and pillow it Immediately
Then pillow and replow it as the sea-
son advances. Get a deep, thoroughly
pulyeriZed seed bed. Do not let any
potatoes should be used for seed. Gull
out the smaller potatoes from the
spring crop and care for them as indi-
Gated About the middle of July plant
them in the seed bed prepared accord
ing to the directions just mentioned
1t will be found that enough moisture
has been conserved by thorough pre-
paration, blowing and narrowing, TO
sprout the potatoes and get a fair
stand 1t cannot be expected that as
good a yield will be obtained in the
fall as with a spring crop, but plenty
can be produced TO supply the needs
of family and provide seed for plant
ing next spring"
Green Seed Potatoes.
Take the seed potatoes cglled
from the spring crop as soon as dug
and bed them out in a dense shade;
under a tree where sunlight trickles
through is a good place. Scatter
enough dirt over them so that about
one-half of the potato is left exposed.
Keep them damp. In two or three
weeks the exposed part of the potato
will turn green. In this condition it
will not rot and is sure To sprout. II
both the land preparation and green
ing methods are carried out good
crop of fall potatoes may be expect
ed unless the fall is extremely dry.
or course, it is to be presumed that
fertilization and good cultivation Will
ho given the prOn "
With the present high price of po-
tatoes. the shortage Of acreage on ac-
count of the cost of seed and the great
demand that will probably Increase
rather than diminish. every farmer
should provide for his own use and
be certain to have his own seed next
spring a fall crop will solve tho
whole problem. Grow for yourself"