Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-19

The subject or W pOtdtOeS HAS
been discussed in a previous article.
The subject Of diseases and enemies
is a very broad me-, and no attempt
will be made to cover it entirely. 1t is
fortunate that in the Red River Valley
as yet we are not subject to a great
many Of the diseases that are disas-
trous in a other potato sections.
However,. the increased interest in the
subject Of potato diseases indicates
that this subject should be given care
full consideration.
Seed Potatoes Must he Free From
Diseases.
The market for seed potatoes from
the Red River Valley has already as.
sumed large proportions. h demand
is due to the fact that good potatoes
are grown here, and so far they have
been exceptionally free from diseases.
If this reputation Is maintained. 1t
will be because due precautions are
taken to prevent any increase in dis
eases, which may affect the seed.
Many other sections of the United
States have gained great regulations
for producing potatoes. only to lose
them because Of carelessness on the
part of the growers in allowing their
stock to become diseased and run out.
While our seed is yet relatively free
from diseases, and the soil not badly
contaminated. is the time to consider
these things.
Strong, Healthy Seed Essential.
While not yet given the same
amount Of consideration, it is just as
essential to select strong seed of all
kinds for planting, as it is to insist on
having we'll bred and we'll fed breed
ing stock for u farms. 1t is also Just
as essential in maintaining the
strength and excellence Of the pota-
toe by providing abundant inc suit
able plant food, and a clean soil in
which the potato a grow. as 1t Is to
have good feed, shelter and care for
live stock. When we come to realize
hat u farm crops are capable Of
methods as are employed with live
stock, we will secure greater profits
from the growing of these crops
Healthy Seed on Good Soil.
In this connection, 1 do not believe
that there could be a stronger argu-
ment presented than to give you the
letter from E. c. Schroeder. Moorhead,
Minnesota. This letter is published in
a report on Potato Demonstrations
carried on in Clay county Minnesota.
by Mr.. P. E. Clement, former county
agent, who is now assistant state lead
err for the Better Farming association
of North Dakota Mr.. Schroeder has
learned to take advantage Of the fact
that potatoes need breeding, feeding
and cultivation. Many will be %surpris-
ed to earn that Mr.. Schroeder used
manure hauled directly from his COW
barns. and applied to the ground be-
fore the potatoes were planted.
Mr.. schroeder's letter is as follows:
Dear Sir;I have your letter of
the 18th asking for results and .ex-
narjanrQS with mor,1r{nu rro,,~l Fo~
potatoes.
Il planted 100 acres Of potatoes
last year. Eighty acres of this ground
was clover sod and not MANFRED;
seventy acres was oat stubble ground
and well MANFRED, and ten acres was
barley stubble ground and not ma
nured.
THE clover ground was plowed late
in August and early September, and
double disked and double narrowed
in the spring before planting. and
averaged 145 bushels per acre of
smooth. uniform potatoes.
The we'll MANFRED oat stubble
ground was manured in the fall and
winter with a very rich grade OF
but liquid manure as well.) The ma
nure was thoroughly disked in before
plowing. h plowed and disked
again. and narrowed and planted. This
field made as much as 289 bushels ne,
acre where not injured by heavy rain.
fall, but averaged slightly better thar
go bushels per acre Of very large
choice potatoes.
The barley stubble ground, no,
MANFRED, was also plowed in the
SPRING and also disked and narrowed
before planting, but only yielded ar
average of u bushels per acre o,
small or medium, smooth potatoes.
1t is my ambition to raise as man,
potatoes on eighty acres of well ma,
nured and well prepared ground, as
at one time used to harvest from 800
acres of grain-poor. stubble ground
1 used to plant from 24O to 800 acre;
annually. but was getting only an ay
erage of from IS to 80 bushels Of DO