Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-05-07
POTATO GROWINGR RULES FOR NEVADA

Ill .EoSS lnEee Ieet apart ana ABOUT
fifteen inces apart in the row. With
two ounce seed pieces. the distance
apart in the row may be eighteen
inches.
The amount Of seed required per
acre with different sized seed pieces
is shown In the following table:
Weight Pounds of seed Is inches
ounces between the hills
10 720
Is 1O1S
20 144O
In o parts of Nevada the late po-
tatoes are planted between May 1 and
20, usually about four or five inches
deep. on land spaded or plowcd ut
least eight inches deep before May 1.
On small tracts a commo method of
planting is to pillow shallow and drop
the seed in every third furrow.
A large number Of the home potato
patches, however, will be too small
for the use of the plow in which cases
the planting may be done with the
use OF the shovel or hoe. On the
small tracts, il is advisable to mark
out the land in checks so that the
hills CO potatoes will be uniformly
spaced.
The potato rows should be hilied up
with good deep burrows between them
SO that when a~rrigated the water will
supply the keep feeding roots but will
soon come in contact with the tubers.
A too common error with the potato
grower is the use of shallow burrows
for carrying the water.
The chief danger is in saturating
the ground around the tubers causing
the soil to become hard and compact,
Il very undesirable condition for the
development of 4 good hill of uni
portant to use light i%rrigations 10
deep burrows.
In the irrigation experiment with
potatoes conducted at the experiment
station the results of the test for the
first three years. favor the three-inch
irrigations as compared with six and
nine-inch applications.
Tho most practical results were OBJ.
tanned with the six three-inch irriga-
tons or Il total Of eighteen inches OF
water given when the plants showed
IL tendency to wilt.
In the irrigation of potatoes, the
best results were obtained when the
first irrigation was withheld until the
plants turned n darker green color.
but had not wilted. This condition
permitted the greatest possible root
development to supply the necessary
food for a maximum crop.
Early irrigation before the plants
showed n need of water, greatly re-
tarded the proper development of roo
system and resulted in n decreased
yield of potatoes.
After irrigation had started. ii was
wound very essential never to allow
the plants to suffer for lack of water
during the growing season. Where
any plants wilted slightly after irri-
cation commenced, the growth of the
plant was greatly checked, and the
yield and quality of tubers were scri-
ously affected.
The potato crop should Level be IT,
rigatcd by means of flooding or SUR
face sprinkling since both methods
cause the soil to pack around the tub
ers and prevent the ground from rc.
ceiving sufficient water for the need
Of the plants.
All water applied to the potato crop
should be run in small streams
through deep burrows made between
the rows of potatoes.
Cultivation should be given after
each irrigation until the plants are so
large as to be injured by the horse ol
cultiyator. Cultivation is just as I'M
portant as irrigation for success in po.
tato culture, since ii thoroughly acr-
ates the soil. keeps down the weeds.
helps to retain moisture in the soil
and maintains n good deep furrow
for irrigation.
The soil should be kept in Il moist
condition until the potatoes are fully
grown. In most OF the potato districts
of Nevada, irrigation will generally
cease from August 10 to 81. varying
with the season and time Of planting.
Practically all cultivation on the
homo potato patches will be given
with Il hoe. Even the weeds are not
present to any great extent. cultiya-
ton with the hoe is still very import
ant in order 10 keep the soil in n
loose mellow condition around the
tubers. The most important reminder
for the potato grower is TO eradicate
all weeds while still small.
II weeds are allowed to grow for
several weeks, they are not only re.
moved by the hoe with considerable
difficult, but they also drain the soil
Of moisture and plant food which