Sharp County record., 1917-06-08
KEEP EARLY ARKANSAS IRISH
POTATO CROP AT HOME.
How To Save Spring Crop and Pro.
duce Fall Crop.
BY H. F. Kapp, District Agent, Exten-
sion Division. u. of A.


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 rs 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 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 we'll ven
tllated 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 If 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 home supply
can be kept until December or Jan
uary, after which they will become 20
shriveled and watery that they are
not ht for food, and are not good for
seed
Plant a Fall Crsp.
Most farmers do not attempt 10
grow fall crop Of Irish potatoes for
the reason that It Is 30 difficult to
got stand that Is worth while. Some
Arkansas farmers, again, have prov
on that It ia possible to get very
good stand for fall crop. Their meth
cd is az follows:
Select plat Of good ground for
the fall crop and plow II Immediately
Then plow and replow II ne the sea.
son advances Get o deep, thoroughly
pulverized seed bed, DO not lot any
weeds grow on the plat, Only mature
potatoes should be used for seed, Gull
out the smaller potatoes from thu
spring crop and care for them W. indi-
Gated About The middle Of July plant
them In tho seed bed prepared accord
lng TO the directions just mentioned,
tt will be found that enough moisture
has been conserved by thorough pre-.
paration, blowing and narrowing, TO
sprout tho potatoes and got fair
stand II cannot be expected that as
good a yield will be obtained IN tho
fall "a with o spring crop, but plenty
can be produced TO supply the needs
Of n family and provide seed for plant.
lng next spring"
Green Seed Potatoes.
"Take the seed potatoes oulled
from the spring crop M soon M dug
and bed them out In n dense shade;
under lroo where sunlight trickes
through Ia n good place Scatter
enough dirt over them 80 that about
one.halt Of the potato Ia left exposed,
Keep them damp, IN two or three
weeks The exposed part Of the potato
will turn green. IN this condition It
Will not rot and Is sure 10 Hprout II
both tho land preparation and green.
Ing methods aro carried ont u good
crop OF fall potatoes may be expect.
cd unless tho fall Ia extremely dry,
or course, II Ia TO be presumed that
fertilization and good cultivation will
bo given Tho crop"
with tho present high price Of 20.
tatoea, the shortage OF acreage on 40,
count OF The cost Of seed aud The great
demand that will probably increase
rather than dlminish, every farmer
should provide for his own uue and
he certain 10 have his own aoed next
spring, A fall crop will solve thu
whole problem drow for Yourself