The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1918-01-26
A candy, WELL DRAINED, MOIST
URE RETENTivE SOIL is
BEST FOR POTATOES.
TREAT FOR SCAB DISEASE
All ssed Should Be Treated For Scab
Whether the Disease Is Wis
ibie Or Not.

will be substantially increased the
coming year. In view of the high cost
of seed, fertilizer, and labor. 1t VIII
be we'll for the potato grower to put
forth extra effort to produce a good
crop so as to realize reasonable re-
turn on his efforts as we'll as supply
the country with much needed FOOD.
The potato makes very acceptable
substitute for wheat Most everybody
likes il. Grow and eat more potatoes
and save the wheat.
To make satisfactory crop OF irish
potatoes in this section IL is necessary
TO plant the seed early in the season
40 as to harvest the crop before hot
weather comes The higher prices
usually received for the very early po-
tatoes encourage early planting OF
carly varieties. Special risks are Of
ten taken TO reach the early market.
When To Plant.
Owing to the irregularity of the sea
son and the variations in soil types in
Louisiana. NO definite dates for plant
ing can be given. Beginners should
consult their farm demonstration
agent and experienced growers in
their vicinity. Late January or early
February tthis latitude, Baton Rouge)
for carly varieties would be about AN
average time. giving Triumph pota-
toes. say. for late April and early May
harvsstiug. Northward and southwark
In the state planting would be made
later and earlier, as the case may be.
under normal conditions.
Varieties.
The Red Triumph is the variety
most popular for early planting. II 10
q round, red potato, that is very early
and meets the market demands. As
must be expected. the Triumph is
low yieldsr. Il frequently sells for
premium in competition with white
varieties.
Another variety rapidly growing in
popularity Is the Irish Cobbler. This
u An early white potato.
A late white potato known as the
White Star is frequently planted in
the southern portion of the state. The
Burbank and Peerless are also grown
for late harvest.
Source Of Seed.
Quantities Of Triumph seed come
from the Red River valley in Minneso-
tn. Much Maine-grown stock finds its
way into Southern seed channels.
Growers must be cautious about pur-
chasing their seed stock See that the
tubers are free from diseases. This
caution applies especially to the
Maine grown stock.
Home-g grown seed from the fail har-
vest h also used. AS rule It is quite
free of scab and other diseases, and
very desirable. The crop from this
seed ts usually a little later than from
Northern grown seed. but the yield is
frequently greater.
Quantity Of Seed.
Fertility Of soil and other conditions
have a direct bearing on the size Of
the seed piece to plant. A plant IN
poor soil will need much more nour-
Ishment from the mother seedpiece
than one starting in a rich soil where
Daant food Ia abundant. Eight, ten.
and twelve bushels Of seed per acre
ara commonly used under average
conditions when paintings are made
On 8 IL or foot ridges. and the seed
pieces are dropped about IL INCHES
Apart Sugar planters frequently plant
On IL to foot ridges and put corn
n the furrow before the potatoes are
harvested.
Treat WIN Formaldehyde.
Potato scsb Is usually found on seed
potato stock. Our plant disease spe-
eialist advises the treatment Of seed
potatoes with formaldehyde whether
any scab 10 visible or not, as a small
amount OF the disease is liable to be
overlooked. Therefore. soak the seed
potatoes for two hours in q solution
made by mixing one pint Of CONNER
sial formalydehyde with thirty gallons
Of water Growers should not neglect
this. For particulars send for Exten-
sion Circular No. s on potato scab.
Fertilizers.
Early Irish potatoes require sandy.
welLdrained and mOistureretentive
soil They should not be planted on
cold. poorly drained. heavy land.
It is difficult to state what fertiliz-
o. should be used for potatoes as con.
Ntions are 50 variable. Each grower