Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1924-03-21


sUG0Es1IONs FOR POTATO
SUCCA8S IN THE
San LUIS VALLEY
The following concrete statements
are complied from the practical ex-
perience Of commercial potato grow
ers as given by them at the confer
ence Of potato growers held In the
shipping districts Of San Luis valley
by the Denver & Rio Grande West
ern system under the general super
vision Of the three County Extension
Agents In this great mountain val
ley. February 18th to 23rd inclusive.
The writer deems these well worth
while and SO urges the press OF the
valley to publish same first week
in March. so those not able to be
present at the potato conferences
can learn something Of what was
said.
W. r. OLlN.
Supervisor OF Agriculture.
!. Careful systematic seed selec-
tion is all important In maintaining
quality In potatoes. Planting for
seed your screenings from your
market stock will. 10 the long run.
bring you loss in lower yield and in
ferior market stock. Remember"
says DR.. Sandstein. "whatsoever ye
SOW. that shall ye also reap" Plant
for seed the type and character OF
potato you desire to market.
2. We find river bottom loan
soils. which are quite porous and
friabfe. are well adapted to Russet
Burbanks: the heavier soils of Con-
ejos county produce a good quality |
of Peach Blows with good yields:
the sandy loan mesa soils In the
floor OF the valley give good results
with Brown Beauties. Therefore
We should hold to these types OF
late potatoes to the exclusion of all
others. The altitude and climate
OF our valley is not favorable for
profitable production Of EARLY po.
tatoes. We cannot hope to get the
same on the market before the
middle of late August. when prices
for early potatoes are on a toboggan
slide DOWNWARD. We take 4
GAMBLERS CHANCE WHENEVER
WE GROW THEM.
NJ A<S k>oO
after such crops as alfalfa. swee,
clover and peas. We must have vege-
table mold or humus In our soils
for potato crop success. We should
not grow potatoes on same field
oftner than years and years IL
still better. Therefore We believe
We should have some type Of live
stock on our farms to furnish ma
nure and keep up good soil fer
tility.
I. Diversity the farm crop. Prac-
tice that crop rotation best suited
to your farm. soil and markets.
Twenty-Five to forty acres In pOta-
toes every year on . iso acre farm |
Is better than SO to rs acres grown
ALTERNATE years. The grower
maintaining = rotation Of crops can
more effectively keep out fungus and |
other plant diseases that prey upon
potatoes. Desirable spring wheat.
oats and barley has been grown In |
this valley In the past with sstis-
factory Yields. Sweet clover literal
~ Grows Wild and makes pasture
for all types Of live stock.
s. Practice sesaias 10 market
that type and grade ot potatoes you
yourself would desire for table use
In your own home. when We send
culls and Oft grade potatoes to mar
ket they bring " aothinG aud they
cut down the price that would other
wise he paid for good market stock.
Supervisor y. =. McCune. In charge
Of Federal and State Inspection In
Colorado. told Of an Instance where
$3.50 worth Of low grade potatoes
In car lot Of otherwise good mar
ket tubers caused the grower . cut
OF sl03.60 on 4 given car. This
practice turns what mikht have been
q PROFIT into a most SERIOUS
LOSS.
s. Use clean new bags for con-
tsiners. The appearance Of the
package goes a long way In selling