Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 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 d
fairly cool moist growing season Tor
its best development. Nearly every
year droughts In one or more sections
of the country are of common occur
renee and the potato crop sdffers. Ac-
cording to the Michigan Farmer, from
which this article is taken, these dry
periods followed by heavy rainfall
were largely responsible for the high
percentage of hollow-hearted potatoes
that were produced last season.
1t was declared, however, that even
in those sections where weather condi-
tions were the most unfavorable last
season, that those growers who were
following the best cultural practices
were producing potatoes of good quail
lty 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 eff
fects of adverse weather conditions.
Growers on Right Road.
No one factor alone will solve the
quality problem, but 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. If it 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
jured. It is, therefore, very important
to prepare the soil so there will be an
abundance of plant food and moisture
in it. One Of the most economical
ways of doing this Is to plant the po-
tatoes on alfalfa, sweet clover or clo-
yer sod that has been top-dressed the
summer or fall previous to planting
with ten or more loads Of stable ma
nure to the acre. The sods and ma
nure when plowed under decompose
and furnish plant food, and the humus
that is formed increases the moisture
holding capacity of the soil. Such soil
lis able to produce good quality crops
even in dry seasons. Potato growers
should pay more attention to the grow
ang of leguminous crops that will bet
ter prepare their soils for potatoes. In
some cases, fresh stable manure APP
piled shortly before planting favors
the development of potato scab.
IIoa If E.ArfiiixAra
Commercial fertilizers are becoming
more generally used by the potato
growers. On good loan soils that are
well supplied with organic matter 16
per cent acid phosphate used at the
rate of 400 to 600 pounds per acre Is
usually beneficial. Generally on the
lighter loan soils that are not SO well
supplied with organic matter COM
plete fertilizer analysis of approx
mately per cent nitrogen, II per
cent phosphoric acid and per cent
potash gives excellent results when
used at the rate Of 400 to 800 pounds
TO the acre. Plant potatoes on soils
that are of loamy type and well
drained. Light sands and heavy clayS
are not suitable for potato production.
Sandy loan, gravelly loan and silt
loans are excellent types.
On fertile, well prepared soil the
yield of good quality potatoes can
generally be increased by closer plant
lngs. Some varieties of potatoes have
tendency to set but few tubers to
the hill and when the hills are far
apart the tubers may grow too large
and rough. The practice of planting
the hills SO by 36 inches apart Is not
generally recommended Planting dis
tance tests that have been conducted
and observations that have been made
In the field show that the best results
are usually secured where the rows
are approximately SO inches apart and
the hills from Is to "a inches apart
In the rows.