The courier-index., 1918-07-05
MUST PLANT LATE
IRISH POTATOES
Potatoes From the Early Crop Can
Not Successfully Be Kept Over
During Hot Summer Months.
j. s. Knox. Horticulturist. Extension
Division, T. of A.


Division, q. of A.
Even though Arkansas has what is
supposed to be the largest Irish potato
crop in its history. it must be remem-
bered that potatoes from the early
crop can not successfully be kept over
the hot months of summer. Every
family must, therefore, plant late
crop for a winter use or take
chance on doing without potatoes be-
cause with the transportation facilities
OF the railroads overburdened there is
doubt whether or not we can get cars
to haul potatoes into our State. We
must not burden our railroads by inn
porting potatoes this year. The late
crop of Irish potatoes is the important
one for the Southern farmer because
potatoes from this crop can be stored
easily over the winter or even until
the spring crop is ready for use. Po-
tatoes from the late crop are also ex-
cellent to use as seed for planting the
early crop. The yield from the late
crop is NOT generally very good yet
1t will require only one-fourth to one
half acre of ground TO produce all Of
the potatoes that the average family
will need
The following suggestions may be
helpful to those who wish to plant a
late crop of potatoes: About two to
three weeks before the potatoes are
to be planted they should be placed in
semi-shady location, piled not more
than four inches deep, then covered
over with straw, leaves or old sacks.
This should be kept moist until the po-
tatoes begin to sprout. AS soon as
the sprouts are one-fourth Of an inch
long it is time to plant the potatoes.
In planting it Is a good idea to cover
the potatoes as soon as possible after
dropping because the extreme heat Of
the summer sun may damage them.
Since the soil is generally rather dry
at planting time for the late crop, il is
considered best to plant the potatoes
little deeaer than is required for the
early crop The deep planting insures
more abundant supply of moisture
for the plants and at the same time
the deeper soil is some cooler than the
surface soil 1t Is true, however, that
even though the seed pieces are plant
ed deep the young potatoes will often
form near the surface of the ground.
Remember that If you step on each
piece OF potato as ii is planted 1t will
be brought in direct contact with the
SOIL thus insuring more moisture for
sprouting. This, of course. is practical
only on a small scale. The planting
should be done from July Is to August
/. However, some prefer to delay
planting until August 10. This may be
all right for certain years, but our
farmers lost several thousand bushels
last fall because of late planting and
early frost The later the crop can
be planted. the better. just SO It has
time TO mature before frost. but it Is
generally considered safer to plant at
the earlier date; We can't afford to
lose our crops this yea because the
South needs them.
Cultivation for the late crop does
not differ from that OF the early plant.
ed crop. The surface of the soil must
be kept well stirred. The cultivation
will keep the soil from becoming ex-
cessively hot beneath the area cult
waited by allowing the air to circulate
more readily between the soil parti.
cles In case of heavy rain cultivate
as soon afterwards as the soil is suf-
ficiently dry. Do not cultivate pota-
toes when the vines are wet. since by
so doing you may spread disease. Some
diseases spread very readily when
moisture is present.
The late blight which often causes
a great loss in this second crop can
be controlled almost completely by the
use OF Bordeaux mixture. The dying
burn or sun-scald, but Bordeaux mix
ture greatly lessons the damage done.
As soon as the crop is mature IL
should be dug and placed in cool
cellar or banked out in the opeA..
Some OF our farmers store the crop in
banks successfully. A well-drained To-
cation should be selected and a slight
mound made. Over this place layer
of dry straw or leaves. Pile the pota.
toes on this in a cone shape, having
some form of yentilator through them.
Next cover these with layer of straw
or leaves; over this put layer of soil
very shallow at first but deeper as the
weather gets cold. Cover so that the
potatoes will not get wet and freeze.
1t is best to place only twenty TO
thirty hnahaIa In a bean