The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1917-07-11
Grow $4,000 BUSHELS SWEET
POTATOES ON ACRE OF LAND !!

a-o..-. @earei< "A ss,-~
earth and we'll fetted manure mus
be on hand in sufficient quantities tc
fill the pen to the top. ,,.
How the Pen is Built
The potato pen is built 6 feet BY
feet inside measurement, and is 8feet
high. A
The pen is built as each layer is
placed and planted. You can use Ike
inch boards for the ends and sides
leaving 4 ? IL inch space between the
boards fof the potato sprouts to come
through. Start the pen with six
inch layero dirt Then mark off the
plat q foot apart each way, allowing 6
inches of space for dirt all around be-
tween the outer row of potatoes and
the inside OF the pen. Plant pota-
to seed at every cross line or intersec-
ton of the plat, 48 hills to the layer of
dirt: Each cross, line or intersection
represents potato seed. Then put
an inch or two Of well rooted manure
over the potatoes and sprinkle good
with water. Then lay six inches
more Of dirt, mark off as before, plant.
manure and water, again. Repeat this
operation with enough layers to fiji
the pen to the top. To keep the dirt
from falling out of the pen as the
layers are 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, a
"moist tester" This is made of any
piece Of timber about the size Of the
arm, piece Of 4a4 in. by three feet
long, placed SO it viii protrude from
the pen about a foot After the po-
tatoes have been planted three weeks,
loosen the tester, publ out and run
your hand i'll to determine the mois-
ture. By so doing you will know how
much water to use on the pen. After
the tester has been once removed this
can be repeated once or twice a week.
Watch the tester and keep the dirt in
proper condition.
Moisture Conditions Controlled
The pen should be near water
supply so that it can be we'll watered
during dry weather 1t should be wa
tered from the top about twice week
unless rainfall is sufficient. The
moist tester will always enable the
grower to determine the proper mois-
ture conditions. The top layer of dirt
should be sloped gently toward the
center SO the ground will absorb and
not shed rain, but care should be TAX
en- that mud be prevented from form
ing on top and baking to a crust.
When the earth is dry the mound
should be sprinkled on the top and
sides.
The potato vines will grow to the
top and sides of the pen, (the nearest
way to the hght,) emerging through
the crevices and concealing the tim
bers with coat of green. When the
potatoes are matured the pen may
be taken down, the potatoes led
out of the thin covering with a r; kc,
and the material, dirt and manure
saved and used again and again.
Potato pens may be started as early
and asAlate as possible, giving pota-
toes tNEety days to mature, except
the early ones. The usual time of
planting potatoes in the north is from
March to June, but under this method
the potatoes may be planted much
later than is possible under open field
conditions, where the factor of hot
dry weather must always be taken in
to consideration. With irrigation and
every possible condition of good po-
tato growing-moisture, ventilation
and drainage-always under his con-
troll, the grower is practically certain
of his crop. In his experiments Mr..
Hendricks used the Red Early Ohios
for seed, cutting two eyes to a good
sized piece. This year he is expert
menting with other adaptations of his
plan and expects to have some inter-
esting announcements to make by
next November Mr.. Hendricks is
backed in his work by good wife,
and his neighbors Of 20 years stand
ing vouch for his honesty and inte-
gritty.
Amazing Possibilities
The possibilities of this new method
Of raising potatoes, in the saving of
labor and of land, are amazing to con-