Rural Scuuul LiiAflet. . 1007 



GROWING POTATOES 

 J. L. Stone 



Potatoes will grow on a variety of soils but they thrive best in a 

 deep, rich, mellow loam. Avoid clay and sand, though good potatoes 

 may be grown on sand if it can be made rich enough and does not get 

 too dry. Land for potatoes should be plowed deeply, but in case of 

 land that has had only shallow tillage in the past, it is not safe to turn 

 up more than about one inch of " new dirt " at a time. 



An inverted clover sod is excellent, as is also a corn stubble that was 

 heavily manured for the corn crop. It is best to manure heavily the 

 previous crop, but it is better to apply manure directly to the potato 

 crop than to plant on an insufficiently manured soil. Plowing 

 should be done as soon after oat-sowing as the conditions of soil will, 

 permit. Then the soil should be harrowed to make a deep, mellow 

 seed bed. 



Unless the land is abundantly fertile it is well to use commercial 

 fertilizers on the potato crop. On the sandy soil of Long Island and 

 New Jersey a ton per acre of a fertilizer containing 4% nitrogen, 8% 

 phosphoric acid, and 10% potash is frequently applied. On the richer, 

 loamy soils of New York 125 to 200 pounds of the following may be 

 applied on the quarter acre: 



20 lbs. nitrate of soda 

 30 lbs. dried blood 

 120 lbs. dissolved rock 

 30 lbs. muriate of potash 



This will produce a fertilizer containing 3^% nitrogen, 8^% phos- 

 phoric acid, and 7^% potash. 



If fertilizer is used it must not be allowed to come in direct contact 

 with the seed, especially with the cut surfaces, or it may injure vitality. 

 Many potato planters have fertilizer distributers. If a planter is not 

 used, scatter the fertilizer along the open furrows and mix it with the 

 soil. 



If there is potato-planting machinery on the farm that the boy can 

 handle himself, he may use it if he desires, planting his crop in the usual 

 way practiced on the farm. Remember that most machines do not 

 plant deeply enough; so " set it down." In good, mellow soil potatoes 

 should be planted four or five inches deep; but in heavy soil three inches 

 may be sufficient. If planting machinery is not at hand, then the land 

 should be furrowed deeply, making the rows about three feet apart. 



