Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-08-20
THE AROOSTOOk PO-
TATO CROP FOR 1920

Sprout-The Maine Agricul"
tural Experiment Stations
Tests, Beginning with Re-
ports of Poor Stands Last
June.
Orono, Me- Aug. 1s-Thc following
vas issued this afternoon from the
once Of Director Charles d. Woods,
Of the Maine Agricultural experiment,
station at the University OF Maine:
Beginning with the middle OF June
both the Maine Agricultural Expert
ment Station and the State Depart.
ment OF Agriculture began receiving
reports from potato growers OF slow
termination. resulting IN imperfect
stands. The first week In July the
Director and Pathologis. OF the Etn-
ton and the Chief Of the Bureau Of
Inspections Of the State Department
visited the fields from which com
plants had been received. These
same persons spent the FIRST week IN
August visiting potato reIds in Aroos-
took county and the Pathologist OF
the Station IN order 20 make q com
parative study OF field conditions, ex-
tended his trip into the Provinces OF
New Brunswick and Prince Edward
Island. The following is brief sum
mary Of the many observations made.
In two or three Instances tho stand
was so poor az to be an almost crop
failure. All OF the plants were de-
layed in breaking through the ground
and even in August some plants we're
just appearing. One feiC in pari.cu-
lar looked as badly from the crop OUT
look as the worst "borsx Heid" IN
1919. But other than the few and
dwarfed plants there wss no re-
semblance to the borax troubles Of q
year ago. Other than these very bad
stands most Of the trouble where any
existed. involved less thnn ntth o.
the crop. and in most zelda the stand
seemed at the second visit 30 be about
az good as usual. Under ordinary
conditions OF planting by machinery.
actual counts OF commercial fields
year after year would show TINT d 80
per cent stand is NOT uncommon. A
s. per cent stand would bo considered
az practically perfect by most grow
ers.
No evidence OF injury similar 20
the borax trouble in 1919 wes found.
/: In 1919 hundreds Of growers had a
trouble that was alike and general
and could be directly traced to the
/ fertilizer used. In 1920. although
fertilizer seemed TO be involved in
some instances. there wcre NUMEROUS
7 nj D,A
considered by itscir While there H.
particularly in the southern part OF
Aroostook county. quite a reduction in
the number OF plants and which, must
result in reduced yields. there 10 no
one cause for the decreased stands.
Much planting was done during rr4
VAS followed by dry, hot weather
Shallow planting is prhctieed every
where. Tho dry weather and dry soil
prevented tho Immediate disboiying
and distribution by waller Of tho fer
tilizer The hot sun heated the plant
ed seed 40 that II WINS weakened. Tho
high price OF both seed nrd tnbIe
stock resulted in selling eiosrr than
was wise. An unusual amount Of
"culls" was used for seed. In many
y
planting after being cut. %ith tho
shortage Of labor tho picker type Of
planters that can bc handled by one
man were used moro than usual Tho
chance for misses Cue to failure Of
tho machine ere greater with the
picker machines unless they nre kept
in good repair. Also thcro IL more
risk Of injury TO tho gccd piece. In
| 1920 more potash was obtainable than
in preceding yenrs. And instead OF
running from 10 per cent 20 asi,
most OF the fertilizers carried to 10
| per cent. Using q ton TO tho ecre Of
a fertilizer carrying per cent potash
means tho application OF about $50
! pounds Of murinte Of high grade.
And in cnse Of low grndc goods still
larger amounts OF alknilne salts arc
included. This mems about n table
spoon Of cnustic material per plant.
None Of the types OF plants are able
to mix large quantities OF fertilizer
any too well with tho soil. Some Of
| them, even when handled in the best
way. mix fertilizer nnd soil but little.
During the war much OF the fertilizer
| carried little or no potash. And
growers became careless in applca-