The Brinkley argus. (Brinkley, Ark.) 1883-current, 1917-06-01

By H. F. Kapp, District Agent, Exten-
sion Division, u of A.
Some means should be taken to
keep the early Irish potato crop in
Arkansas this year. Our farmers are
making great mistake in permitting
them to leave the state. There is
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 well ven
tilated building, or on the ground un-
der building The latter plan is pre-
ferable if suitable place is at hand
The potatoes should be spread out
very thin. 1t is best IL they do not
touch each other After few days
they should be gone over carefully and
any that have begun to decay should
be picked out. II 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 Fall Crop.
Most farmers do not attempt to
grow 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 1t is possible to get very
good stand for fall crop Their meth
cd is as follows:
Select plat of good ground for
the fall crop and pillow 1t Immediately.
Then pillow and replow 1t as the sea-
son advances. Get a deep, thoroughly
pulverized seed bed. Do not let any
weeds grow on the plat. Only mature
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.
It will be found that enough moisture
has been conserved by thorough pre-
p~ation, blowing and narrowing, to
sprout the potatoes and get 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 culled
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
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 il
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, /
OF course, it is to be presumed that
and good cultivation will
be given the crop"
with the present high price of po
.atoes. 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
,pring. A fall crop will solve the
whole problem. Grow for yourself"