320 



THE ILLmOIS FAKMEK. 



Nov 



the dry period during August and Septem 

 ber, througli the basin of Egypt was most 

 disastrous. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michi- 

 gan and Northern Indiana can usually sup- 

 ply any deficiency in our markets. Of the 

 crop in those States we know little, but pre- 

 sume they are not over abundant. At this 

 season of the year potatoes are generally 

 sold in the Chicago market at 16 and 20 cts., 

 but this year the range ie 85 to 40 cts., thus 

 showing that the supply is not large. When 

 the crop is good farmers within teaming 

 distance of Chicago usually market largo 

 quantities of potatoes directly from the field, 

 and those are either stored or shipped south. 

 Last year the crop at the south part of 

 the State was unusually good, and of course 

 no demand from that c^uarter — not even the 

 usual supply of seed potatoes. 



SOIL AND CULTURE. 



A deep, rich, loamy soil is the best for the 

 po!atoe ; hence all of our dark colored prai- 

 rie soils are adapted to it; especially those of 

 the northern and central part of the State, 

 and the 3Iississippi and Ohio river bottoms; 

 though on these latter the product is coarse, 

 watery and will not keep well, soon becom- 

 ing tough, leathery and unpalatable. South 

 of Pana and Neoga, on the light colored 

 clay soil of Egypt, the potatoe, at best, is 

 but an indifiereut grower, and usually of poor 

 quality. In that part of the state the sea- 

 son is favorable to this crop, when cultiva- 

 ted in the usual mode and planted at the 

 usual season. There the growing season is 

 during the spring and autumn rains, the 

 summer being subject to long continued 

 drouths. Added to this is the well estab- 

 lished fact that often planting the seed 

 grown on the same farm year after year, the 

 crop deteriorates and seed must again come 

 from the north; in fact, it is well settled that 

 it is not safe to plant the second time from 

 home grown seed. This peculiarity cannot 

 well be avoided ; and hence, for all time, 

 large quantities of potatoe§^must come from 

 the north for seed— on an average a full re-" 



newal every second year, an amount equal 

 to half the seed used. We say this is what 

 will be found profitable, but we do not sup. 

 pose that it will be so generally observed as 

 its profit demands. 



This is no idle theory, but a well settled 

 principle, and those who observe it can 

 groi7 fair crops of very good quality. 



In that part of the state two seasons are 

 fixed upon for planting, one early and one 

 late. The early planting is ripe in July, 

 while the other is dependent on the rains 

 of the last of September and first of Octo- 

 ber ; of course, this planting is a mere lot- 

 tery, while the first planting is much more 

 certain, and in this it is found the earlier 

 the better. In all cases sod land that has 

 had one crop of small grain taken from it 

 should be selected, for such a soil is more 

 retentive of moisture than old land, whose 

 texture is wanting in the decaying roots of 

 the grasses. 



We would recommend that the land for 

 the "next year's crop, in that part of the 

 State be plowed before winter ; by throwing 

 it into narrow lands the water will drain ofF 

 and it will be in good condition to plant very 

 early. It need not be plowed again in the 

 spring. In planting, mark out the rows 

 with a shovel plow, two and a half feet 

 apart, and four or five inches deep ; in these 

 drop the seed, one to two eyes on a piece, 

 and the pieces about ten inches apart in the 

 drills, cover with a shovel plow, and harrow 

 and roll the ground ; the rolling is valuable 

 to crush the lumps that would otherwise pre- 

 vent the sun from having its full eflFect on 

 the soil. Of the after culture we will not 

 speak at this time, as the object of the pres- 

 ent writing is to^call the attention of far- 

 mers more immediately to the selection of 

 soil, and to the value of autumn plowing of 

 the ground. 



As the potatoe rot is not common to that 

 part of the State, we will pass it over for the 

 present, and turn our attention to errors 

 common at the north. And here we mus^ 



