The Irish Potato Crop 243 



There are numerous fertilizer mixtures sold as special 

 potato fertilizers which differ very little in their composi- 

 tion from the specials made by the same manufacturers 

 for other crops. The chief manurial demands of the 

 Irish potato crop are for phosphoric acid and potash, 

 and with a clover sod plowed under the grower will have 

 nearly or quite enough nitrogen for the crop. But it may 

 be well to use for starting the crop a small percentage of 

 the readily available nitrate of soda to nourish the growth 

 till the organic nitrogen comes into use with the warm 

 weather. We would, therefore, with such a crop prepare 

 a mixture somewhat after the following: 



Acid Phosphate 1500 pounds 



Nitrate of Soda 100 pounds 



Sulphate of Potash 400 pounds 



We name the sulphate of potash here instead of the 

 muriate used in the production of the early southern crop, 

 because in that crop the mealy quality of the potatoes is 

 of less importance than it is with the crop that is to be 

 kept for winter use, and the muriate is generally a little 

 cheaper. 



But where high quality for winter table use is to be 

 desired, the sulphate should always be used, as experi- 

 ments have repeatedly shown that a far drier and more 

 starchy potato is produced through the use of the sulphate 

 than of the muriate. The early crop from the South is 

 mainly consumed in an immature state as "new potatoes," 

 and such are not expected to have the dry and starchy 

 character demanded in the winter supply of fully matured 

 tubers. 



