Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-01-18
How to Grow Early Potatoes.

So many people have sought infor-
nation about the growing of early
potatoes that / would thank you to
publish the following which is all l
know about it:
Potatoes Should be planted in as
rich land as you have and land that
is well supplied with hu:nus. Plow it
deep once or twice and then harrow
it, leaving the field level for the
planting. Lay off rows four inches
deep, thirty-three inches apart and
drop your potatoes sixteen inches in
the drill. The guano should be put in
the drill and not less than 1900
pounds to the acre of a grade at least
1855. Better 1000 pounds per acre.
This looks like a big lot but the pota-
to needs the quantity to grow quick.
1t will leave a large portion in the
ground for the second crop to be
grown on the same land. After the
potatoes are dropped, put two fur
rows on them and clean out the mid
dies. These burrows should remain
there until the potato is about ready
to come through the four inch level,
which is made by dragging down the
field with an irontooth harrow. In
other words, you start with your
land level and when your potato
comes through, the land should be
level as it was when you began plant
ing.
Great care should be taken in cut
ting the potato. Cut them only as you
are ready to put them in the ground.
The quicker it is put in. the ground
after it is cut the better. A small po-
tato, say less than the size of a hens
egg, should not be cut at all. A po-
tato as large as a hens egg or a lit
tie larger, cut in half. One just a lit
tie larger may be quartered and the
large potato cut each eye singly with
as much of the mother potato to each
piece as possible. Cut the potato from
bud to stem. The stem is not an eye,
as some people suppose. The plant
feeds from the mother potato all
through it's life and when the mother
potato dies, the plant dies. You will
have ample opportunity to observe
this fact. If, next spring you walk
through the field and find a plant with
the blight, pull it up and you will find
the mother potato is decayed and
gone. On the other hand when your
well grown plant has produced a fine
hill of ripe potatoes, you will OBJ
serve the mother potato still there,
sound, but of course, it's substance
has been spent in feeding the brood.
Work your fields level. Not with a
pillow but with a five hoe harrow. At
first go close to the potato. A little
later when the spuds begin to form,
not so close. There is danger of bruis-
ing the tender spud and thereby in
juring it. At the last working put a
slight hill to the plant, not a great
big hill, just enough dirt to cover the
tubers we'll and keep them from x
posure. Potatoes grow near the sur
face. Most of them are formed only
about two inches from the top of the
soil. This is a fact that has not al
ways been understood. They are new
er hoed by hand. Frequent cultivation
is necessary after each rain. The OBJ
ject is to keep the land we'll open and
light, as close to the plant as possible
without injury to the tubers.
If you are planting for the North
ern markets, plant only the Irish
Cobler. The Edgefeld Produce Ex-
change has ordered a car for the
planters, but if you wish to plant and
did not get your order in this car,
you can get the seed through a local
dealer. For the home market and
your own use, the Red Bliss is as
good as any. Some people prefer
them. Plant them early. Get them in
the ground as soon after the goth of
January as the weather will admit.
Your chances for growing a good
crop will be better if planted early.
There will probably be fifty acres or
more planted in the Edgefeld sec
ton. Forty barrels to the acre is a
fair crop and ought to be realized
under favorable conditions.
G. w. M. TAYLOR.