The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-01-03
Agriculture
(Irish Potatoes Continued)
(By ]. f. C'Brien)

N1Aa'h
Planting
Open the burrows three inches
deep and three feet apart. Plant the
seed potatoes in the furrow 10 inches
apart and with the eyes uppermost.
Cover three inches deep. This will
leave the ground level again.
Cultivation
AS soon as the plants begin to
break through the ground, so that the
rows car be seen, mould the potatoes.
If more fertilizer is to be given it
should be applied in the centers first.
Then run a toothed cultivator be-
tween the rows to mix the fertilizer
and mellow the soil before moulding
or ridging up as it is sometimes called
This moulding can be done with any
suitable implement hat will throw
the soil right and left, covering the
tops completely over with 2 inches
of fine soil. In a few days they will
be up again, and when they are six
inches high give a second moulding,
taking care not to break or cover
stalks. 1t is now time to begin spray
ing and there is no use planting and
c%ultivating potatoes unless you spray
them. G.. w. Carpenter formerly
plant p~athologist of the Hawaii Agri.
cultural Experiment Station, and an
acknowledged expert, who made an
exhaustive study of potato diseases
in the Kula and Makawao districts,
put the results of his experiments in
to a bulletin entitled Potato Dis
eases in Hawaii and their control"
copies of which will be sent free to
rarcon infnrnCtnd II iC nrnf1ISn-
ly illustrated and every grower should
have a copy.
It is therefore unnecessary for us
to describe the various diseases and
pests and the remedies to be applied
for they are all in this bulletin. We
first begin spraying with the Bordeau
$3.50 formula, and if leaf eating in
sects are in evidence we add arsen-
lte of lead to the Bordeau mixture,
pounds to so gallons. The plants
list now be kept coated with the
rdeaux Arsenate spray until the
potatoes are harvested, about once a
week will be right, and to get the best
results the mixture must be properly
made and thoroughly applied, so that
every leaf, stem and stalk is covered,
top, bottom and sides. A third mould
ing should be given before the plants
get too large. These mouldings
lengthen the stem, keep down weeds,
provide additional food to the plants,
and make a good seed bed in which
the young tubers can grow.
Irrigation
If irrigation is practised it must be
very carefully attended to as long
periods of wet drought have a disas-
trous effect on the crop. A long dry
period followed by soaking will make
the tubers lumpy or crooked.
Harvesting
Do not dig until thoroughly matured
Just the dying of the leaves is not
sufficient. The new potatoes begin
to form 9bout the time the flowers
appear, and will continue to grow un'
til the tops are dead and dry. I'm
ripe potatoes will rot quicker. Great
care should be taken not to bruise OF
iniure the tubers in digging or by
rough handling. A bruised potato
will rot and start others also. Let
the potatoes dry tho1 oughly before
gathering but not too long in a strong
sun for that will cause u burn.
Storing
Potatoes should be stored in a dark
cool. well ventilated cellar or cave
The best temperature is between 30
and 81 degrees fahrenheit. AS such
a temperature is impossible in Ha
wall except in cold storage, it is bet
fer to market the crop as soon as pos
sible. The necessary seed may be
kent by the greening process. Irish
notatOes may be kept quite a while
even in a warm climate by storing
them in a fine and dry sand, but this
is not always obtainable. The method
is as follows for those who wish to try
il Spread a couple inches of fine dry
and on the floor, board Dr. cement
floor preferred. Then spread a layer
If potatoes with none touching the
other. Next another layer of sand
hen a layer of potatoes. Boards
must be placed in a position to keeI
The sand from falling down.
Selecting the Seed
The seed should always be selected
in the field and never from the har
vested crop. When the plants are in
heir prime get a lot of short pieces
of lath or sticks, walk down the rows
md mark the best looking plants. Al
jigging time the tuberss from the
,narked plants should be kept separ
ATE and all with the greatest number
IF tubers, smooth and free from dis
cases should be selected. Be always
On the watch for something unusual
from one plant may come a new dis
,se resisting a heavy yielding vari
v Grading and Marketing