The Newark journal. (Newark, Ark.) 1901-1959, 1917-08-30
KEEP EARLY ARKANSAS IRISH
POTATO CROP AT HOME.
How To Save Spring Crop and Pro
duce Fall Crop.
by Fl. F, Kapp, District Agent, Exten-
eiar D;yfeior TT IF

ny Fl. 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 a great mistake in permitting
them to leave the state. There is a
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 l receiving
return shipments to supply our needs
may prove disastrous this year be
cause 1t will not only be practically
impossible to get Irish potatoes back
into the state. but the price will be
prohihitiye.
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 a well ven-
tffated building, or on the ground I'M.
der.a building. The latter plan is pre-
ferahle il suitable place is at hand.
The potatoes should be spread out
very thin. 1t is best If they do not
touch each other. After a few daya
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
uapfHture. In this way a home supply
Gan be kept until December or JAN
fary, after which they will become 50
Ishrfveled and watery that they are
not fit for food, and are not good for
Maed.
Plant Fall Crop.
"Most farmers do not attempt TO
grow tan crop of Irish potatoes for
the reason that It 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 a fall crop. Their meth
cd is as follows
'Eeleet plat of good ground for
the fall crop and plow 1t Immediately.
Then pillow and replow it as the sea-
son advances. Get deep, thoroughly
pulxerized seed bed. Do not let any
weeds grow on the plat. Only mature
potatoes should be used for seed. Gull
gut the smaller potatoes from the
spring crop and care for them as indt
Gated. About the middle of July plant
them IN the seed bed prepared accord
ing to the directions just mentioned.
II viii be found that enough moisture
pas been conserved by thorough pre-
paration, blowing and narrowing, to
sprout the potatoes and get a fair
stand. It cannot be expected that as
good q yield will be obtained in the
tail as with o 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 q tree where sunlight trickles
through Is q good place. Scatter
enough dirt over them so that about
one-half 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
win not rot and IS sure TO sprout. II
both the land preparation and greek
ing methods are carried out q good
crop OF fall potatoes may be expect
ed unless the fall is extremely dry
OF course, 1t is to be presumed tkat
fertilization and good cultivation win
be given the crop"