The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-04-27

POTATO FACTS FOR 1917
Present unusual high prices for po-
tatoes will lead 20 the planting OF
fields TO this crop that have never
grown them and perhaps where they
are wholly unsulted. A suitable we'll
prepared seed bed, an abundance of
available plantfood, strong cIesn seed,
shallow cultivation, and spraying are
the five cardinal principles necessary
for n potato crop. Last year a num-
Der of potato men Of Van Buren, coun-
~, Michigan. grew approximately 200
bushels to the acre by paying attention
to the above factors while the state
average was less than one-haff this.
A rich well-draiYied sandy loan. well
supplied with humus and properly bal
anced plantf00d, Is the best potato
soil. However, 1t is possible TO grow
profitable crops of potatoes on heavier
soils II they are first brought to high
stage of fertility and are made friable
by the use of organic matter. Since
this cannot be done this year growers
must make the best use possible of
rotted manure supplemented by fer
tilizers.
Intensive methods make it possible
to grow crops yielding from $50 to
400 bushels per acre and to decrease
the cost Of raising each bushel The
big expense in potato-growing comes
in the preparation of the land and the
attention given the crop throughout
the season. 1t costs no more to pre-
pare ground, cultivate, and spray a
300-bushel crop than it does q 49,
bushel crop. Harvesting will cost
more, but the big overhead expenses
are practically the same. Obviously
the thing to do is to insure larger
yields by supplying an abundance of
available plantfood that will give the
crop good start and force 1t to early
maturity.
Potatoes Lazy Feeders.
Potatoes are short rooted and COM
paratively lazy feeders. They do not
reach out far for their food. Conse-
Quently plenty of well rotted manure
and commercial fertilizers should be
thoroughly worked into the soil so the
plants will have plenty of plantfood
near at hand all through the growing
period. This is the practice of the
successful potato growers of Van
Buren, county, Michigan. Since pros
poets for a fairly remunerative price
for potatoes is so bright, in many in
stances, it will pay this year TO side
dress the growing crop once or twice
during cultivation with fertilizers, es-
pecially if the ground is not ideally
rich potato land.
The potato takes up fairly large
amount of nitrogen, moderate
amount of phOsphoric acid and large
supply Of potash; hence, o fertilizer
supplying to 5 per cent ammonia,
6 to 8 per cent phosphoric acid and
under normal conditions 5 to 8 per
cent potash is about right for loan
Soils On sandy soils use more am
mOnia, on clay use more phoSphoric
acid and less potash, and on muck use
1 per cent of ammonia, 10 to II per
cent phosphoric acid, and s to 10 per
cent potash when the latter can be
obtained. If you cannot get all the
potash recommended or desired in the
fertilizers this year use it anyway as
good results have beer secured where
low analysis of potash was used.
Methods of Application.
AT least One-half of the ammonia
of the complete fertilizer used should
be in quickly available form in order
10 give the young potatoes an early,
vigorous start. The other half should
be in more slowly available form so
as to furnish continuous supply as
it is needed by the growing crop. The
phosphoric acid should be readily
available so that when the time comes
for the setting and filing of the pota-
tees, there may be as large a number
Of potatoes as possible and the pota-
toes may ripen uniformly. IL apply
ing the fertilizer, 1t has been found
that quantities varying from 500 to
1.SOO pounds per acre have given eX-
cellent results. In Maine, where about
100000 bushels are produced an
nually the application of fertilizer Or
the good soil of that state varies from
1000 to 2.400 pounds per acre.
Apply fertilizer in the row up TO
the capacity of the fertilizer attach
ment of the planter. Any amount in
excess Of this should be drille d in
with a wheat drill before planting, or
applied with lime and fertilizer dis
tributor and we'll mixed with tile soil.
This distributes the p,antfood through
out the soil where the tiny potato roots
may find it early in their gro With. The
tubers form on separate ROOTS which
cluster under the plant, while the feed
ing roots stretch off into the soil in
search of available plantfood. Con,
trary to common belief, the general
distribution Of fertilizer between the
rows OF potatoes does not tend TO
spread the growing tubers, but tends
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