Putnam patriot., 1930-05-08
TIM ELY FARM M TOPICS
 by the County Agricultural Agent
Planting Potatoes"

Planting Potatoes"
 Profitable yields are the result of attention to details. A few important i points are:
 Planting at just the correct time. Green Mountains, May 10 to 30i Irish Cobblers. April Co 20
 Using the correct seed pieces, one ounce to two ounces This size or weight Is more important than the number of eyes. provided one good eye is on every seed piece.
 Cut seed is better than whole seed, because it gives large yields.
 The so-called seed end of the potato Is more productive than the stem end. There must be enough plant food and vitality in the seed piece Co maintain the sprout while t bushes It's way up through the soil and until the plant has leaves to maintain itself.
 Careful hand cutting of tubers has given higher yields than machine cut ting. Just how Co cut by hand--be- gin at the stem end. cutting diagonal ly across the potato above the eye, toward the center and towards the stem end. Cutting medium sized po- tat0es into four pieces lengthwise is q quick, efficient method 4 knife firmly fastened In a board. bench or barrel aids fast, accurate cutting of tubers.
 Seed freshly cut and planted out yields previously cut and held seed.
 About sixteen bushels of seed are needed to plant an acre in three foot rows, each piece twelve inches apart.
 The correct depth to plant seed pieces is in light soils three to four inches; in heavy soils two to three inches.
 A full stand of plants is needed in order to obtain the best results. Thorough mixing of the fertilizer in the soil prevents root burning and promotes rapid growth of the plant
 Cultivate Potatoes
 The level or slightly ridged method of cultivation is best adapted to Con. nectieut conditions. Cultivation should be frequent. thorough and shallow. The use of the weeder before the potatoes have come above the ground and for a short period thereafter, will kill thousands of small weeds. Ere quent stirring of the soil with cul- tvator close to the plant and between the rows. at least five to seven times throughout the season will aid mate rially in producing the necessary two hundred bushels per acre. A good system Co follow is to start cuitiva- ton soon after planting by loosening the soil deeply between the rows and ridging it over the planted rows Of potatoes. The shovel tooth eultivator is useful for this purpose or hitler can be used. Ten to twelve days later. use spike tooth harrow or a weeder. Small weeds will be killed and the ridges Ieveled. If once over does not give results repeat the har- rowing. The narrowing lhave teeth slantingl or weeding can be repeated every week or ten days until the potato plants are quite large. Alter the first two or three weddings it Is best to travel only in the direction of the rows. not across.
 Later level cultivation Is obtained hy using five or seven shovel t0oth- ed cultivater every week or after every hard rain, continuing until the potato vines absolutely prevent cul- tivation. Cultivate deep at first. two to three inches. and close to the plants. Each subsequent cultivation should be shallower and farther away from the plants. thus avoiding root injury. With the last two cultivations a little soil should be thrown towards the plants, especially if the weeds have started. This soil will cover and smother the weeds and protect the developing tubers from exposure to light and possible frost before dig ging. Careful weeding and eultivat- ing will eliminate weeds and reduce expensive hand hoeing. If weeds and grass make a start it is advisable to hoe them out before cultivation stops. This material from an article by MT. X. F.. Wilkinson. Extension Vegetable Specialist, Storrs.
 RAYMOND F. WING,
 County Agent