Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-03-05
THE IRISH POTATO CROP

What about the Irish potato? Are
you making plans to plant any of
them this spring? If so, what meth
cd of procedure do you expect to
follow? What varieties will you Sc
lect and how will you prepare the
ground to plant and fertilize the
crops These are all leading ques-
tions, because the Irish potato is
bound to become an increasingly i'm
portant crop to our farmers. Every
one should raise some potatoes in
the home garden. There is no bet
ter alI-purpose or general crop to
cultivate.
In the south preference will be
given to the sweet potato over the
Irish potato, but at the season of
the year when this crop is ready for
us the sweet potato can no longer
be obtained, nor will it be available
for eating purposes until at least the
spring crop of Irish potatoes has
been exhausted. The Irish potato
has some advantages to it's credit
which the sweet potato does not pos
sess. It is not as tender nor as
likely to decay on that account as
the sweet potato. 1t can be kept for
a longer period of time and with
less care in reference to methods of
storage. 1t provides a large amount
Of starchy or carbonaceous food
which is essential in our dietary.
One of the ways in which we can
improve the food we use in our homes
is through the more extensive use
of vegetables. For this purpose there
is nothing better than the, Irish po-
tato for, use at all seasons of the
year, but especially during that pc
riod when sweet potatoes are not
available. Moreover, there is a
steadily growing demand for this
crop not only for local consumption
but for shipment into other states.
This demand has been accumulated
quite materially in tho last three or
four years because of the rapid in
crease in urban populations. Anyone,
therefore, growing this crop and
hauling it with a reasonable degree
of skill should be able to find a sat
isfactory local market for any sur
plus which may be offered for sale.
Success with Irish potatoes de-
Ponds very largely on getting them
in the ground at the right time. This
is essentially a cool weather crop.
Most people make the mistake of
planting entirely too late, especially
in the spring of the year. Potatoes
planted late may terminate all right,
but when hot weather comes the
vines dry up, the tubers fail to de-
velop and the crop is counted fail
ure.
Land intended for this crop should
be ployed Immediately. OF course,
do not mean when it is wet, but
just as soon as it is possible to turn
it over satisfactorily. 1t should then
be laid off in rows to 35 feet
apart. I think the narrower rows
are better on average soil because
there is less ground between the rows
to cultivate and keep free of weeds.
1 would then lay off the rows with
big turning plow. If possible, a
bull tongue run behind the plow
would be an advantage, as it loosens
up the land to a good depth and
enables it to store and hold water to
the best advantage. =. In the burrows
thus made there should be incor-
pofated some we'll eomposted mate
rial. This may consist of yard ma
nure, leaves and litter of various
kinds mixed together and broken
down through the medium of a COM
post heap until it is in a relatively
fine condition. If this material is
put in the furrow before the bull
tongue is run through it, it can
then be mixed better with the lower
area of the soil. A little earth may
then be worked into the bottom of
the furrow, which should still, how
ever, have a depth of to 8 inches.
If fertilizer is to be used it should
be scattered over the bottom of the
furrow before Or after the compost