The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-12-02
The POTATO and
ITS SOIL NEEDS
Well Prepared Soil of
Right Kind Will Pro-
duce a Profit
PREVENT BAKING

The potato is probably as cosmo-
politan in its soil requirements as
any of our crops and is widely grown
throughout the United States; never
theless it succeeds much better on
certain soils than on others. This
is we'll shown by the behavior of po-
tatoes on the Caribou loan soil in
Aroostook county, Me-, as compared
with the Washburn loan soil of the
SINE district.
The Caribou loan soil is described
by the Bureau of Soils as hazel
brown silly loan with a plenteous
admixture of small fragments Of de-
composing rocks which have been
disintegrated by the flow of water
or by the action Of frost from the
calcareous shale rock beneath. It
was originally covered with hard
wood timber, such as maple, oak, and
beech.
Typical Washburn loan soil is
black in color and generally occurs
in the lower portions or depressions
in, the field. This type of soil was
originally covered with soft woods,
such as cedar, pine, and spruce. 1t
is deficient in potash and seems to be
very generally. infested with the or
ganisms of common scab. Where Of
equal, fertility, larger and better
crops Of potatoes are always OBJ
tanned from the Caribou loan type
Of soil; in fact, II the Washburn
loan soil was segregated instead Of
being interspersed with the Caribou
loan 1t is doubtful whether any
grower would attempt to produce
potatoes on it.
Many similar comparisons might
be made between other types Of soil
occurring in the .potato-producing
areas Of the north and west. Ger
tain types of soil are prominently
suited to the production Of potatoes
provided the necessary fertility is
maintained. Generally speaking, po-
tatoes succeed best on gravelly or
sandy loan soil which is naturally
we'll supplied with moisture. Loose
shifting sand and heavy clay loan or
gumbo soils are unsuited to the crop
as are also thin soils underlain with
a cold impervious subsoil.
Crop Rotation
The crops which may be grown
in rotation with potatoes in the re-
gion- under discussion afford consid-
cradle latitude in the establishment
of definite rotation. In Che strict
ly northern areas, as, for example,
the New England States and the
northern portions of New York,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Min
nesota, q 3 to year rotation is gen.
orally practiced, in which the clovers
play an important role. In g.
year rotation grain crop follows the
potato crop, clover and grass seed
being sown with the grains The next
year the first cutting Of clover is
made into hay, while the second
growth is turned under in the late
summer or early autumn in order to
insure the decomposition Of the sod
and to expose the upturned soil to
the action of the elements during the
winter. When longer rotation is
practiced, it usually involves the re-
tention of the land for hay produc-
ton for one or two years, or the land
may be pastured for a year or two.
Occasionally grower is found who
prefers to follow the grass crop with
corn and the next year with pota-
toes.
When alfalfa is grown, it is. desir-
able to practice a longer rotation,
as it takes two years to get an al
falfa crop we'll established. Where
sufficient land is available it is Gus
tomary to keep it in alfalfa from
three to five years. In one instance
q very successful potato grower sows
a mixture of clover and alfalfa seed
in a Swear rotation Of potatoes,
wheat and clover, and alfalfa for
hay.
Every potato grower should study
the best crop rotation for |
his own particular conditions, and |