POTATO GROWING 



Geokge H. Hyde 

 Farmers' Institute Lecturer 



Four leading factors essential to a successful potato crop are: 

 Good seed, soil adapted to potato raising, thorough cultivation 

 and generous spraying. 



We will take up this most important subject to the farmers 

 of the State of jSTew York under the above headings. 



SEED SELECTION AND TREATMENT 



I will not discuss pedigreed jDOtato seed, although I believe it is 

 essential to the best success in potato growing. Few farmers are, 

 so situated that they can give the time necessary to carry on a 

 thorough system of breeding. I would advise farmers, where 

 possible, to obtain such seed even at what may seem an exorbi- 

 tant price. All potato growers can improve their seed by careful 

 selection of sound, mature, medium-sized tubers. In cutting seed 

 my practice has been to quarter the potato, being careful to have 

 at least two thrifty eyes in each quarter. If there is any indica- 

 tion of scab, treat the seed with formalin dip. That of United 

 States standard of purity (40 per cent.) may be obtained at al- 

 most any drug store. One pint is added to a l)arrel containing 

 thirty gallons of water. The tubers in sacks, cut or uncut, are 

 immersed in this solution for two hours when they are removed 

 and are then ready to plant or cut. 



PKEPARATION OF SOIL AND FERTILIZERS 



The ideal soil for potatoes is a clay loam with a clover sod, 

 but wo do not all have that. Very often a timothy sod which 

 has been well exhausted of its humus is used. Under these condi- 

 tions T advise pLtwiiig uiidei- twelve to fifteen loads of average 

 barn manure to the acre, plowing not less than six inches deep, 

 imme<liat(']y fo]](»\ving the plow with roller and then harrow; 

 this treatment conserves moisture. After thoroughly fitting the 



[1704] 



