Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1917-08-02
SECOND CROP OF
IRISH POTATOES
How 10 Handle Potatoes In Order
to Get High Yields
per Acre
CULTIVATE The SOIL WELL
A Soil That Has the Power TO Held
Much Moisture Is Better for Pota-
toes Than othsrs-Potato Bug, an
Hnemy, Dan Be Defeated.

toes IMAM Othors-Potato BUG, an
Hnemy, Dan Be Defeated.
SeO0nd-Ogop potatoes do not make
their best growth until the cooler
weather OF fall several weeks before
frost. In the vicinity of Knoxville, Au-
gust frst is about the right time for
planting second-crop potatoes. For the
/ southwestern half Of Tennessee and
Dor the vicinity of Chattanooga, the
date may be twelve days later. On
the Cumberland Plateau and for high
East Tennessee counties, johnson and
Carter, only the spring planted crop 10
grown
Amount Of Seed Needed.
Plant in rows 80 to SO inches apart
and IL to Ia inches apart in the row.
Planting at these distances will re-
quire from 10 to IL bushels Of seed for
an acre. In good potato soils, those Of
medium texture, plant about four to
five inches deep. In heavier soils,
plant three to four inches. To prevent
the furrow from drying out, as well 90
the seed. at the time Of planting open
only one furTow at time and plant it
and close It before planting the second
furrow. This should be done espe-
cially when early crop potatoes are
used for seed. Drop the seed so that
it lies with the cut surface pressed
slightly into the soil. Cover with q
shovel pillow run on each side of the
furrow
In dry weather, seed will lie in the
ground several weeks before coming
thru the surface. Seed from first crop
potatoes will frequently lie in the
ground from five to six weeks before
the plants break thru the surface.
When the rows are visible, cultivate
at once, throwing the soil up well over
the rows. To kill weeds and break up
the surface crust, the rows should be
cross-cultivated with q light scratch
harrow, or weeder This should be
done several times, as often as the ap
pearance of the soil shows the neces-
sity of it. Don't give the weeds
chance to grow, or the soil to dry out
below the surface mulch. When the
rows become visible again, cultivation
should follow the rows again. The
ave-tooth pillow cultivator and 14-tooth
harrow may be used for this. At least
three cultjvators with the rows should
be given the crop. Use the five-tooth
pillow or other cultivator with the wide
teeth attached and work as close to
the plants AZ possible without injur-
ing the roots, throwing the soil well
up aboat the plants. II cultivation IL
done on small areas with hand hoe,
pull the soil up about the plant with
the hoe at this time. A swo-horse rid.
ing cultivator will save labor and do
more efficient work than any other
kind of cultivator. Three or four
weeks before the tubers will be ready
70 dig the rows should be swept by
running bull tongue or q special po-
tato sweep between the rows whteA
throws the soil in ridges up about the
plants.
XIII The Potato Bug.
The Colorado potato beetle Is the
worst enemy Of the potato, and II al
lowed to go unchecked may strip the
foliage from the plants. As soon as
first signs of the beetle are noticed,
spray with arsenate Of lead at the rate
of I've pounds to fifty gallons of wa
ter. Where a sprayer is not available.
make a mixture of one-half powdered
lead arsenate and one-half air-slsked
lime or sifted wood ashes or road dust.
This may then be applied by shaking
1t tAss Q cloth bag onto the plants,
prsfesebfy when they are wet with
rain or dew.-C e. Brshm. Division of
Extension, University of Tennessee.
Knoxville.