VOL. LXVII
INDIANAPOLIS, FEB. 10, 1912.
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Here is a Very Profitable Crop
Growing Potatoes
NOW    IS A GOOD   TIME TO    STUDY
THIS NEGLECTED CROP.
EXPERIENCE  SHOWS   IT  A   PROFITABLE ONE.
If rightly managed no crop gives
such profitable returns as potatoes.
This vegetable responds more readily to
good treatment than most any other
crop, but if this treatment is faulty, a
failure or some loss will be the result.
The farmers of Maine who use 1200 to
1500 pounds of high graele potato fertilizer for their crops may spend considerable money for their production,
but the average yield they get is 228
bushels per acre.
Over 300 Bushels Per Acre.
Our correspondent, Mr. E. Gregory
of Washington, Ind., said that last year
he raised 45 bushels of potatoes on a
one-eighth of an acre patch. He used
four bushels of seed worth $1.25 per
bushel and gave the patch about as
much work as is required to grow an
acre of corn. He received in return
$35.50 for his work on one-eighth of an
acre, and $22.00 an acre for his work
on the corn, a difference of $13.50 for
the same amount of work. Not all potato growers are this successful, however altho there are very few that tan-
not increase their yield. The average
yield per acre in Ineliana during the
year 1910, while higher than either
Ohio or Illinois, and almost a fourth of
the average for the State of Michigan
during the same year was 105 bushels
per acre. The total acreage of potatoes in Indiana for the year was 92,000
acres and area only a little more than
half of either of the neighboring states
Ohio or Illinois and about a fourth of
the area that was devoted to potatoes
in Michigan. There is no reason why
Indiana could not increase the acreage
of potato land and the average yield as
well, and since it is such a profitable
crop when proper culture ls given, this
should be done.
Required For Big Potato Crops.
One of the first essentials of a good
crop of potatoes is a fertile soil. To
Plant potatoes on a worn out soil devoid
of humus, is a waste of time. It is the
Plan of a great many successful grower* to plant potatoes on sod, perfera-
bly clover sod. Such a soil will contain lots of humus, will be porous and
r"^h- The porous condition will permit air to circulate freely through the
BoiL thus aiding in keeping it warm,
which is a stimulant to rapid growth
and quick maturity. A light sandy
°am is best adapted for the produc-
lon of early potatoes. If the ground
not in a good state of fertility, good
fT.mard manu«-«    «s one of    the best
utilizers.
tfse a Good Fertilizer.
foJ116 potato cr°P elves better returns
tha   'iPP--oations   <"*   a   good   fertilizer
cron  ^  °ther  °f  ""r  nr(ltnar>-  farm
PS-    Stable manure applied Just be
fore the crop is planted will encourage scabe. It is advisable, therefore,
to apply it in the fall and allow it to
become well rotted before planting
time. At the Minnesota Station it was
found that an application of twelve
tons of fairly  well  rotted  manure  per
vator over it before the potatoes are
planted, In order to prevent its coming
in direct contact with the seed.
Soil Management For Potatoes.
The best time to plow the ground for
potatoes depends on the soil, the lay
of the ground and the season.
Special      care      should be      taken
not to plow or work the soil when it is
wet for it will get too hard and packed.    It is necessary  to  get as loose a
Potato Spraying Outfit of the H. L. Hurst Manufacturing Co., of Canton, Ohio.
acre increased the yield of potatoes by
an average of 70.9 bushels. In a test
at Ohio, eight tons of manure increased
the yield 39.3 bushels. Figuring the
yield at 50 cents per bushel the value
of manure in each of these experiments was worth, from $2.50 to $3.00
per ton.
When green manures, (that Is clover
or sod turned under) or barnyard manures are not available
Commeret-ial Fertilizers
Can be used and depended on. In the
eastern states it is useei extensively
with much success. Such fertilizers
have the advantage over stable manures In that they may be applied
when planting is being done, and do
not carry any disease germs, such as,
scab, rot, etc. At the Minnesota Station 575 pounds of commercial fertilizer containing 2 per cent nitrogen, 6
per cent phosphoric acid and 9 per
cent of potash per acre, gave an increased yield of 24 bushels per acre.
At 50 cents per bushel, this made a net
increased  profit of $12.30 per acre.
How to Apply the Fertilizer.
If less than 1,000 pounds per acre
are used It is advisable to apply it
along the line of the row, a furrow being opened and the fertilizer scattered
along by hand or by some sort of a
drill. After this is done it should be
mixed with the soil by running a culti-
seed bed as possible for the tubers. To
get this through, deep cultivation is
necessary. Immediately     after     the
ground is broken it should be well harrowed and dragged. This makes a
mellow, mulch on the surface which
aids in returning the moisture
About Seed Potatoes.
As with all other crops the
selection of seed potatoes is
very important. In this, day of progress one cannot afford to use inferior
seed of any kind. In Colorado, potato
growers have a standard for seed. The
large potatoes are not wanted because
the seed prices are too big and because the cost per acre is too much.
The small potatoes are not wanted because they do not provide food and
moisture enough to start a vigorous
plant and because small potatoes come
in a larger per cent from poor hills.
The favorite size is about 5 to 8 ounces.
The opinion of the North Dakota station differs from this. A few years
ago they tested large and small potatoes for seed, the result being that the
value per acre of the crop from the
large seed potatoes, less the cost of
seed, was about twice as large as was
the value of the crop when small tubers were used for seed.
C. C. Osborn, a successful potato
grower living east of this city says: "1
believe it would be good business policy
tei borrow money if neeel be, tee buy
nood seeel rather than plant eulls.
Planting small potatoes is like trying to
•^et something for nothing. It' a man
plants good seed he has more faith in
his crops and he cultivates and sprays
with more hope and enthusiasm."
Many experiments have proven that
seed potatoes should be cut, if at all,
into pieces about two ounces in size.
Half potatoes on the average give a
slightly larger yield; ami whole potatoes still a little larger crop, but growers seldom care to invest the money-
necessary in using so much seed. At
this rate from 8 to 12 bushels of seed
are required per acre.
Tested in Indiana and Hlinois.
Some of the varieties that have been
tested out by Indiana and Illinois
growers are: Early Six Weeks, and
Early Ohio, for early varieties. Por
late varieties Carman No. 2, and Rural
New Yorker. There may be many-
other varieties that are successfully
grown but more of the above named
varieties are grown than any other in
this state.
As regards planting, the practice of
thicker seeding is becoming popular.
In this connection it is necessary tei
take into consideration the strength
of the land and the size of the tubers.
The Government station recommends
that potatoes be planted in rows from
30 to 36 inches apart, drilling them
from 12 to 15 inches apart in the
rows.
Grows Big Yields WiUi Fertilizers.
One successful potato grower, is a
firm believer in the use of commercial
fertilizer on the crop. He plants his
potatoes eight to ten inches apart anel
the rows three feet apart. He says by
his heavy fertilizing and close drilling
he has grown over 300 bushel per acre
of fine marketable potatoes.
Depth to Plant.
The question of the proper depth to
plant potatoes, while not considered by-
some growers, is a disputed one by
many others. Some have more success in planting only three inches deep
while others plant five or more inches
below the surface. On the experiment
plats carried on at the State Fair
Grounds two years ago by the Indiana
Farmer it was found that deep planting resulted in nearly a total failure.
Shallow planting, although somewhat
better did not give a good stand, nor
was the yield of the average plant up
to the standard. Here again it is a
eiuestion of the kind of soil. In heavy-
retentive loam it is advisable to plant
about three inches deep while if the
soil is of a light sandy nature deeper
planting is best. If there is fear of a
elreiught deeper planting than common
will be found best.
Time to Plant.
The time for planting varies with
climatic conditions and the variety.
For early potatoes the seed should be
planted as early in the spring as the
ground can be worked well. It is better to put the crop in a little late than
to put it in before the soil can be
properly worked. For late varieties,
to be kept over winter, seed should be
planted later so the potatoes could remain in the ground until cold weather
in the fall.    Some say that late plant-