The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1917-01-25
SMITH ON spuos
oakes Man Tells in Farmers Short
Course How to Grow Successfully

oakes Man Tells in Farmers Short
Course How to Grow Successfully
G. D. Smith was on the program at
Glendale in the Farmers Short
Course, his subject being "The Rails
ing and Marketing of Potatoes" The
Glendale Leader gives the gist of
his remarks as follows:
Mr.. Smith is, as he said, potato
crank, and has had many years ex-
perience with this crop. His talk was
especially timely, for the potato as a
crop is receiving great impetus all
over the state.
Mr.. Smith considers the po:aio one
of the best paying crops that can be
planted. He recommended the rails
ing of the Early Ohio variety exclus-
lively, for the reason that this par-
ticular variety, on account of it's char
acteristics, is in great demand in the
south for seed. Better prices are OBJ
tanned, he said, if nothing but one
variety is grown, using as an Illus
tration the shipping of different kinds
of cattle, which would command a
lower price on the market than would
be true if but one kind were shipped.
In this case, he said, it would be COM
paratively simple to sort the animals,
while the sorting of potatoes would
be impracticable. He gave some data
showing the value of potato crop
as compared to wheat, which showed
most favorably for the potato. He
stated further that when the market
price of potatoes was low, they could
be used as feed for hogs, for which
purpose they are excellent.
But, he continued, care must be
taken in the selection of seed, and he
recommended that seed be secured
from a potato grower who was grow
ing pure bred tubers. He did not rec
ommend the use of small potatoes for
seed, as this practice. if adhered to,
would have tendency 70 lower the
grade of the product. He also said
that the seed end of the potato should
not be used for seed, as it would pro-
duce small, weak plant
In planting the potato, the soil
should be plowed at least seven
inches deep in the fall, then covered
with manure. This soil should then
be we'll disced, in the spring. His ex-
perience has been that it does not do
to manure the stubble and then turn
it under. A planter should be used,
and the seed planted four or five
inches deep. The field should then be
dragged with drag having long teeth
every week until th,s plants show,
! when they should be cultivated, and
all weeds removed. On being asked
as to how soon potatoes should be
planted, Mr.. Smith said Just as soon
as possible, about May first. Hills
should be spaced about fourteen or
sixteen inches apart, and rows about
three and half feet apart. About
ten bushels should be planted to the
acre. Seed should be treated, his
method being to fill sloping wagon
box with seed and then pour the solu-
tion over the seed. catching the solu.
ton in barrel. This method he has
found to be excellent. He further ad.
vised that seed should not be cut and
left for any length of time. but should
be cut only as fast as used.
In his talk Mr.. Smith stated that
potatoes should be dug as soon as
riDe, and this work should not be nut
OFF pending the completion of other
work, any more than the harvest Of
any other crop. After being dug the
tubers should be piled around hol4
low crate, covered with five or siN
inches of straw and couple of inches
OF dirt. This will give them a chance
to sweat. and will prevent freezing.
Before marketing the potatoes should
be sorted. and only those above GER
tain size shipped