The Hope pioneer., 1922-06-08

With the greatly increased acreage
planted to potatoes this year, proper
cultivation Of the crop becomes Of in
creased importance.
AS soon after planting as possible,
the potatoes should be blind cultivated,
the rows may be followed by the
ridges thrown up by the planter. This
cultivation should be deep in order to
loosen up the soil. The field should
then be narrowed crosswise, thus lev
cling down the rows and destroying all
weeds. A weeder or light spike tooth
: harrow may be used about once q
week, or oftener, until the vines are
several inches high. This will keep
down the weeds in the row.
Don't Injure Roots.
Cultivation should then begin and
should be repeated every week or 10
days until the vines are too large. The
cultivation should be deep the first
time, and thorough, after which sur
face cultivation is preferable in order
that the roots may not be injured. If
the potatoes are planted deep enough
Milling may be beneficial, but ordinarily
1t is not the best practice.
1t is important that the potatoes be
dug early in North Dakota so as to
avoid field frost which often causes
a heavy loss to the potato growers of
the state. The delay of a few days in
digging may mean the loss of the en-
tire crop.
AS their skin is very tender when
freshly dug, potatoes should be left to
be in the sun for few hours before
they are picked up. The skins will
thus become more firm and much Of
the dirt will fall off. Growers having
five acres or more can profitably use
an elevator digger. 1t may be possible
to own one in cooperation with several
neighbors.
Grade for Better Price.
In Dormal years or years Of over
production, the sorting and grading of
potatoes is essential in order to secure
the best prices. On glutted market
the standard graded potatoes are al
ed stock is marketed with difficulty.
Even In seasons of high prices, graded
potatoes receive sufficiently higher
price to pay profit above the labor of
grading. The constant marketing of
we'll graded potatoes has the effect of
establishing reputation for that grow.
er or community which results in q
premium being paid for such stock.
When ungraded stock comes on the
large markets, it must be screened,
sorted and graded, especially when po-
tatoes are plentiful. This must be done
where labor and storage room is high
and'the shipper must pay the expenses,
as well as the freight charges on the
dirt and culls. This work could more
proftably be done on the farm and the
culls fed to the stock. The sooner the
farmer markets his products in condi-
tion ready for the consumer that
much sooner he will receive better
prices for it.
There are various grading machines
on the market that sort potatoes into
different grades.
The culls may be disposed of in
various ways, but should not be used
Tor seed.
! Avoid Diseased Stock.
Potato diseases form one Of the ser.
1ous problems in North Dakota. The
growers in this state should profit by
\ the experience Of other communities
where the potato industry has very
= promising future, which was practical
1y ruined because Of failure of the
growers to take the proper precautions
to keep out potato diseases. The south.
ern seed trade is one Of the chief out.
lets for North Dakota potatoes and the
growers in that section find it profit.
able to pay premium for northern
grown stock which they are sure is
free from disease which causes more
damage in the warmer sections.
Hewever, the necessity Of keeping
clean seed for the southern trade Is
not the only reason for keeping dis
eases out Of the fields in North Dako.