The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1922-09-07

N0UkcO DELI
With the greatly Increased acreage
planted to potatoes this year, proper
cultivation Of the crop becomes OF in
creased Importance.
Al soon after planting as possible,
~ potatoes should be blind cultivated,
de 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
Nesk. 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
tace 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
It IL not the best practice.
It is important that the potatoes be
Dug early in North Dakota so as to
avoid field frost which often causes
q heavy loss to the potato growers Of
the state. The delay Of 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
de dirt will fall off. Growers having
IN elevator digger. 1t may be possible
b own one In cooperation with several
aeighbors.
Grade for Better Price.
In normal years or. years Of over
production, the sorting and grading of
Dotatoes is essential in order to secure
die best prices. On glutted market
The standard graded potatoes are al
ways the first to be sold. The ungrad-
ID stock is marketed with difficulty.
Even in seasons Of high prices, graded
potatoes receive sufficiently higher
price to pay a profit above the labor of
grading. The constant marketing of
well graded potatoes has the effect of
establishing reputation for that grow
Or or community which results in a
premium heing paid for such stock.
When ungraded stock comes on the
large markets, it must be screened,
sorted and graded, especially when po-
tntoes 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
1lrt and culls. This work could more
probably be done on the farm and the
sulls fed to the stock. The sooner the
hrmer markets his products in condi-
don ready for the consumer, that
much sooner he will receive better
prices for it.
There are various grading machines
% the market that sort potatoes into
Inherent 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.
Ious problems in North Dakota. The
growers in this state should profit by
HE experience of other communities
where the potato industry has a verv
promising future, which was practical
y ruined because Of failure Of the
growers to take the proper precautions
% keep out potato diseases. The south
m seed trade is one of the chief out
tets for North Dakota potatoes and tho
growers In that section find 1t profit
able to pay a premium for northern
grown stock which they are sure is
nee from disease which causes more
+, aamage in the warmer sections. t'@
However, the necessity of keepinr
dean seed for the southern trade n
not the only reason for keeping dis
Eases out Of the fields in North bako-
"a. Diseases will reduce the Yield Of
potatoes and will to very serious ex-
tent injure their appearance, and re-
auce their market value as table stock.
experience has shown that diseases