368 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



TIME FOR PLANTING POTATOES. 



Probably no general crop grown depends more on climatic conditions than 

 does the potato. It is an exotic, and the tuber having been abnormally 

 developed at the expense of the rest of the plant, making it a sensitive and 

 variable organism, it stands to reason that its climatic requirements should 

 be carefully looked after, if we are to grow the crop at its best. It seems, 

 too, if the conditions it needs are not supplied, that the plant will more 

 easily degenerate. Much intelligence and care can well be exercised in 

 selecting a proper soil and in planting so that most favorable weather may 

 be had for the growth of the plant. It is of the last that we wish to speak 

 in particular. 



In last year's bulletin a rainfall and temperature chart for Michigan was 

 given, in which it was pretty conclusively proved that a gain would be 

 made if farmers planted their potatoes earlier or later than they now do. 

 The matter is brought up in this bulletin because the experience with the 

 drouth during the past summer shows that it will bear tjeing emphasized 

 by repetition. A careful re-study of that chart is recommended. The fact 

 will soon be recognized that the largest and best crops of potatoes are 

 raised by very late or by very early planting. In the northern part of the 

 state only a good late crop can be raised, while in many portions of the 

 southern part the early crop does best. The soil largely determines the 

 proper time to plant, as well as the rainfall. If it retains moisture well an 

 early crop may mature, but if late rains must be depended on the late crop 

 is assuredly best. Plant early potatoes as soon as the young plants will be 

 safe from the frost; plant late ones from the first to the tenth of June, or 

 a little later in the north. 



POTATOES FOB NORTHERN MICHIGAN. 



The northern part of Michigan has gained a wide-spread reputation for 

 its potatoes. It is greatly favored in soil and climate, its potatoes excel in 

 quality, and it has good facilities for reaching the large markets, while the 

 never-failing demand among consumers and seedsmen for northern grown 

 seed potatoes makes that region one where potatoes should be one of the 

 main crops. The adaptation of the soil and climate to various fruit crops 

 and potatoes can, we believe, be turned to a good account. 



Under the most unfavorable conditions of cultivation, the average yield 

 per acre of potatoes, as shown by the last census, is several per cent, higher 

 in the counties north of the pine lands than in the well cultivated parts of 

 southern Michigan. 



If the primitive methods used, negligent culture given, and general 

 slackness in growing the crop, were supplanted by systematic and good 

 cultural methods, such as a knowledge of the best varieties, the pi-oper 

 time to j)lant to avoid the drouths, the best culture to give them, improved 

 implements, and the time and place to market the crop, we believe that 

 that country would become a " potato belt " that could hardly be sur- 

 passed. A prosperous future for northern Michigan, as a farming com- 

 munity, can only be assured by growing those crops which are adapted 

 to the region. 



PROPAGATING POTATOES BY CUTTINGS. 



It is not generally known, or at least thought of, that potatoes can easily 

 be grown from cuttings. The matter is of importance only to those who 



