Sharp County record., 1918-03-15
GROW MORE POTATOES.
BY J.. S. Knox, Horttcuiturlst, Agri
cultural Extension Division, Uniyer-
sity Of arkansas.


cultural Extension Division, UniYer
sity Of arkansas.
No other vegetable is OF so great
importance TO the world at the pres
ent time as is the Irish potato. That
the United States ana her allies will
need a larger amount Of these this
year than ever before is the opinion OF
those who are in position to know.
Arkansas can help wonderfully in the
production Of this extra amount OF
potatoes IL every farmer whether ten
ant or land owner, will plant from
one-half to one acre OF potatoes this
spring.
The Importance OF GOOD seed can
not be Over-estimated. No matter
what the soil may be, or how ideal the
climate, rainfall or cultivation, we
cannot hope FOR a maximum yield
from poor seed Te you have a supply
OF home grown potatoes from your
fall crop that ara In good condition
plant these, All potatoes Wneth-
or or not disease can be seen on them
should be disinfectd before planting,
This Ia done by soaking the potatoes
for two hours in solution made BY
mixing one pint Of 40 per cent formal
dehyde with 30 gallons Of water The
treatment should be made lust before
the potatoes are to be cut for plant
ing.
The question OF fertilizers Is one
which Is not given enough considera
ton BY the average grower. In he
potato section OF the United States
especially IN he trucking sections
along the Atlantic coast, the farmers
uss from 1000 to 1000 pounds Of com
mercial fertilizer per acre. The
root system or The potato Is
relatively small thus making It neces.
sary 10 have an abundance OF availa-
bic plant food for its use. If as high
as 900 TO 1000 pounds OF fertilizer is
to be used per acre, lt Is considered
best 10 broadcast the greater part Of
lt, reserving 300 10 400 pounds 10 ap.
ply In The drill with The potatoes,
being sure to MIX his with HE soil
before the potatoes are planted,
lt is best 10 use at least medium
sized potatoes for planting and .hese
should be cut INTO small pieces, A
medium sized potato VIII usually
make rom three TO four pieces urge
enough 10 plant, and IL possible each
piece should have wo eyes or sec
lions from which sprouts win come.
The small potatoes do not furnish
sufficient plant food 10 nouri7h the
young plants until they can ret hold
on The soil, consequently weak plants
arc produced. For The spring plant
Ing a depth Of about three inches Is
eonaidered sufficient 10 plant but for
he fall rron from 0our 10 atx inches
ia not 100 ieep 10 plant because at
that Tine 10 Ia often the cnse that we
have 10 get down deeper 10 got suf-
Acient moisture Tor Tho potato 10
7brout
it paws 10 keep The soil clean dur.
ins The growing period " The potato.
n Ia doubted r ever a deeper rultiYs-
lion han two or three inches Ia nee.
asaary THIS should. however be done
at east once every Two woeks, or,
In eaBe ~ raina. as loon ihereafter
na the aoll VIII permit Along With
me cultivation ahoud come the spray.
Ina NJ tho vines 10 control bugs and
blight The spraying geema 10 Seep
Ina leaves In far better condition. and
ia actual tests where bugs or bltsht
lad been seen. he Weld af potatoes
praved was hettsr thnn Iboae IN.
nraved
The Red Bliss or Miss Triumph Ia
me NJ me very best early uaristiAa
far ms 10 grow Earlv ohio ana friah
Uabber ars also GOOD. The early ma.
0uring varieties like the above are
considered hest for he South becauae
hey mature hstors Tho excessive heat
of summer and are likely IN Keep bet
Isr than tho other varieties which ma.
lire later Plant patch n botatoes
and help your unels Sam 10 win Tho
war. II YOU VIII have geed potntoes
10 sell write 10 the nlxtenalon Dlw
ion, old state ttouse, Little Roeh
ArBn telling ma how many buahela
YOU have what varieties and price
per bushel The marketing man win
adyertise them for YOU frev of charRe
md onn doubtless lnd a buyer