Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-31
SOME POTATO CROWNS
This II the Equivalent Of Over - 900
Bushels 70 the Acre Of Ground
space Used.

Nby M. d0OTB0s IOT Slx years eOltOr
Of The American Homestead, q national
farm monthly.
Forty-two bushels Of potatoes in the
season Of 1915 from plot Of ground only
eight feet square, or an equivalent Of
over 5000 bushels to the acre Of ground
space used. was the astonishing feat Of
r. f. Hendricks, a resident Of Kansas
City. Missouri.
This sensational achievement was made
possible by the use Of an entirely new
and original method which, when gen.
orally introduced, promises not only to
revolutionize the potato growing industry
throughout the world but to solve the
problem OF an unfailing source Of cheap
food supply for the nations OF the earth.
The story of Mr. Hendricks's successful
experiments in potato growing. covering
a period Of three years. sounds more like
| fairy tale than a recital Of facts. yet II
Is so unique and interesting that It at
once compels ;ttention. Expert gardeners
and farmers who have looked into the
plan carefully pronounce 1t not only
practical but call the originator the
greatest plant wizard Of the age, and
declare that he has anything in plant
| culture and intensive agriculture beaten
by wide margin.
| Like all great discoveries, Mr.. Hem
dnckss method Of raising potatoes is
! founded on such simple elemental prin-
ciples that ore wonders why someone
didn't think Of It before" He had often
watched the potato pile in the cellar bin.
| which every spring sent out its shoots
through every possible crack and crevice.
Sometimes these sprouts would crawl out
along the floor distance of seven feet
| In order to reach the light. From this
beginning he conceived the idea that II
this pile was removed out into the open
and given soil and fertilizer. with proper
conditions Of light and moisture. that the
potatoes would grow and reproduce their
kind.
DISCOVERS NEW METHOD
Three years ago ne built what he called
a potato pen," which was nothing more
or less than huge potato hill. the sides
of which were supported by a loosely con-
structed enclosure. built after the fashion
OF an old rail fence. Within this enclo-
sure. only SIS feet in size. he planted his
potatoes in thin layers Of dirt and manure
piling one layer on another until the pen
was eight feet high. The potato pen"
became mound Of green. He had found
that his potatoes not only grew better
than they did in the cellar but that at
digging time he was able to harvest 10
bushels Of as fine potatoes as are grown
anywhere. The following year he secured
e bushels in the same size pen. and last
year the astonishing total of e bushels.
! Up to this time Mr. Hendricks has
conducted his experiments unknown to
but q few Of his most intimate associates.
but owing to the present food shortage.
and the nationwide campaign to speed
up food production, he decided to give
up his discovery for the free use Of peo-
pie everywhere.
The details Of the construction and
management OF these potato pens as
described by Mr.. Hendricks, outline a plan
by which anyone having access to a plot
of ground no larger than a flower-bed can
raise all the potatoes needed for an aver
age family for a whole year. The potato
pens may be built eight feet wide by any
length. Just so they are built strong
enough to keep the sides from spreading.
Most any kind OF good stout material can
be used. If light lumber or boards are
used the pen may be braced through the
center with wires. Rich earth and we'll
rotted manure must be on hand in sum-
cient quantities to fill the pen to the
top.
HOW PEN Is BUILT.
The potato pen is built 6xS feet, inside
measurement. and Is feet high
The pen Is built as each layer is placed
and planted. You can use Ike inch boards
for the ends and sides. leaving 2 IL
inch space between the boards for the
potato sprouts to come through. Start
the pen with six inch layer Of dirt
Then mark or the pla. foot apart each
way, allowing six inches Of space fol
dirt all around between the outer row OF
potatoes and the inside Of the pen. Plant
a potato seed at every Cross line or inter
section Of the plat. hills to the layer Of
dirt. Then put an inch or two of vel
rotted manure over the potatoes and
sprinkle good with water. Then lay SIX
inches more Of dirt. mark of as before
plant. manure and water again. Repeal
this operation with enough layers to Al
the pen to the top. To keep the dirt from
falling out Of the pen as the layers arr
placed. draw up old straw or hay against
the cracks or crevices.
AS the pen rises. place on the fourth
layer Of dirt in the center Of one side
about two feet above the ground. ''mois
tester" This Is made Of any piece Of
timber about the size Of the arm. piec.
Of 4x4-inch by 8 feet long. placed 30 4
will protrude from the pen about foot
After the potatoes have been planted
three weeks loosen the tester. pull ou
and run your hand in to determine tn.
moisture BY so doing you will know how
much water to use on tho pen. After tn,
tester has been once removed this can b,
repeated once or twice q week. Watcl
the lester and KEEP the dirt In proper con
dition.
: The pen should be near q water suppl,
80 that It can be well watered durini
dry weather. 1t should be watered from
: the top about twice q week unless rain
fall Is sufiicient. The moist tester will
always enable the grower to determine
the proper moisture conditions. The tot
layer Of dirt should be sloped gently to-
ward the center 30 the ground will alb
sorb and not shed rain. but care shoult
be taken that mud be prevented from
forming ON top and baking TO rust
, When the earth IL dry the mound should
, be sprinkled on the top and sides.
The potato vines will grow to the tor
, and sides of the pen. Uhe nearest way te
, the lighO. emerging through the crevicei
, and concealing the timbers with coat OF
green. When the potatoes are matured
, the pen may be taken down. tho pota
toes rolled out of the thin covering with
y rake. and the material. dirt and manure
saved and used again and again.
Potato pens may be started as early
and as late as possible. giving potatoes
50 days to mature. except the early ones
The usual time Of planting potatoes in tn,
north Is from March to June, but undel
this method the potatoes may be planted
much later than Is possible under oper
held conditions where the factor of hot
dry weather must always be taken into
, consideration. With irrigation and ever,
possible condition OF good potato CROWN