Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-03-05

is put therein. 1t should also be
well mixed with the subsoil.
Various fertilizer formulas may be
used for this purpose. The prin-
cipal thing is to supply the crop
with an adequate amount of rather
quickly available plant food, as the
Irish potato crop should be ready
to dig ordinarily in to 3.5 months
from the time of planting. Hence
the potatoes do not have a long sea-
son in which to gather and store
the plant food necessary to make a
satisfactory crop. Of the fertilizers
commonly used, one containing say 3
per cent nitrogen, 8 per cent phos-
phoric acid and about 3 per cent
potash should prove satisfactory on
our clay or sandy loans. On our
lighter soils 3.5 to 4 per cent nitro
gen. 10 per cent phosphoric acid,
and as much as 4 to per cent pot
ash may often be used Satisfacto-
rily.
AS to the sources from which ma
terials should be obtained opinions
will no doubt differ, but there is lit
tie to choose in this respect save
from the standpoint of economy. L
would personally always use those
carriers of any Of the above essen
tial elements which supply the avail
able plant food in the cheapest form.
The basis of a good fertilizer for
mula may very properly have 1000
pounds of acid phosphate, 500 pounds
of dried blood and 400 pounds of
sulphate of potash. These materials
may of course be mixed together
without danger of unfavorable chem
zeal reaction being developed. A for
mula of this kind may also be al
lowed to stand for some time before
it is distributed on the land. How
ever, the combination of materials
mentioned above is only suggestive.
At least 500 pounds of a standard
formula should be used under Irish
potatoes. Where one is endeavoring
to grow them for commercial pur-
poses probably 1000 pounds can
often be used with advantage. The
truck growers of some sections of
the country use as much as ton
per acre and then grow a second
crop on the land without additional
fertilizer. In the south this might
Of course be sweet potatoes. Where
large amounts of fertilizer are used,
of course, skillful handling of the
crop is essential in order to insure
a profitable return on so large an in
vestment in commercial plant food.
AS to the varieties Of plant opin-
ions will differ. There are two
standard sorts, according to my
point of view, for use in the south.
One is the Bliss, which presumably
is sold at times under other names.
There are the Red and White Bliss.
Personally I prefer the white potato,
though many like the red one. The
next best standard strain, as 1 see
it, is the Irish Cobbler. This is a
white potato of good size and shape
and a favorite wherever it has been
grown. 1t yields well, keeps well,
and ships satisfactorily. Those who
prefer other sorts are welcome to
exercise their fancy and have a per-
feet right to do so, but I am inclined
to think that if we cultivated the
varieties mentioned more extensively
the results in the main would be
found more satisfactory than from
the growth Of a greater number of
varieties. My reason for this state
ment lies in the fact that the mar
ket requires a potato of uniform size,
shape and color, and hence the fewer
the varieties grown the. more nearly
we can hope to attain the end desired.
It appears that Maine or eastern
grown seed would be the best for
this section for spring planting, and
one should take care to see that the
seed have been properly examined,
graded and passed upon before pur-
chasing. We wish to avoid the intro
duction of certain diseases of the po-
tato, and this is the best way to in
sure the attainment of that end.
Potatoes should be cut so as to
leave two eyes to each piece. Per-