Belt Valley times., 1925-02-12
Sound Potatoes
Are Profitable
Climate Is One of Most I'm
portant Factors in Grow
ing Good Crop.


Climate Is one OF the most impor-
tant factors In growing good crop Of
potatoes This vegetable demands a
fairly cool moist growing season for
It's best development. Nearly. every
year dr0ughts In one or more sections
or the country are OF common occur
renee and the potato crop suffers Ac-
cording to the Michigan Farmer, from.
which this article is taken. these dry
periods followed BY heavy raInfnIl
we're largely responsible for the high
percentage Of hollow-hearted potatoes
that were produced last season.
II was declared. however, that even
In those sections where weather condI-
tions we're the most unfavorabIe last
season. that those growers who were
following the best cultural practices
were producing potatoes OF good quail
lfy and relatively free from hollow
heart. The grower has no control over
climate, but he does have control over
such factors as soil. seed. planting and
spraying. all OF which can be used to
good advantage In overcoming the ef-
fects Of adverse weather conditions.
Growers on Right Road.
No one factor alone will solve the
quality problem, but a combination OF
all the good cultural practices will put
the grower on the right road to quality
production.
The soil furnishes food and water
to the plants II II Is lacking at any
time during the growing season In
available plant food and moisture the
development OF the plants Is checked
and the quality OF the tubers is In
Ihred. 1t Is, therefore. very important
% prepare the soil so there will be an
abundance of plant food and moisture
n It. One Of the most economical
Ways Of doing this Is 10 plant the po-
atOes on alfalfa, sweet clover or clo-
'er sod that has been top-dressed the
ummer or fall previous to planting
vlth ten or more loads Of stable ina
Iure to the acre. The sods and ma
ure when plowed under decompOse
nd furnish plant food. and the humus
hat Is formed increases the moisture !
Gliding capacity OF the soil. Such soil !
J able TO produce good quality crops G
ven in dry seasons. Potato growers '
hould pay more attention to the grow .
lg Of legumInous crops that will bet t
sr prepare their soils for potatoes. In b
1me cases. fresh stable manure ap- (
led shortly before planting favors e
he development OF potato scab. a
tlaa af Ear4Ilixera n
Commercial fertilizers are becoming a
ore generally used by the potato Il
overs On good loan soils that are a
ell supplied with organic matter 10 n
II cent acid phosphate used at the q
te of 400 to coo pounds per acre Is S,
mally beneficial. Generally on the 2
inter lOam soils that are not so well X
pplied with organic matter a COM u
etc fertilizer analysis Of approxl- m
ltely per cent nitrogen, u per a
Mt phosphorfc acid and per cent 81
fash gives excellent results when Sc
ed at the rate Of 400 to 800 pounds W
the acre. Plant potatoes on soils dl
1t are OF a lOamy type and we'll "
aimed. Light sands and heavy clays al
NOT suitable Tor potato prouuctlol' ~
ndy loan, gravelly loan and slit OF
ms are excellent types. ia
On fertile. well prepared soil the m
Id Of good quality potatoes can 70
lerally he Increased ny closer plant fr,
s. Some varieties OF potatoes have at
tendency 10 set but few tubers to be
hin and when the hills are far OF
trt the tubers may grow too large To-
! rough. The practice OF planting ms
!. hills a6 by 80 inches apart is moi dli
Ieraiiy recommended. Planting dis
ce tests that have been conducted
observations that have been made
the field show that the best results
usually secured where the rows s'
approximately 80 inches apart and Sc
hills from IS to "a inches apart an
he rows ~