Bureau op Ageicultube 517 



far as I ean find out by observation, the general practice is to cut 

 the seed potatoes rather too small, and then plant them by ma- 

 chinery. We have tivo types of planters. The potatoes are planted 

 two or three inches deep with a planter, and the disk covers throw 

 the dirt up in large ridges. The seed is dropped about 14 inches 

 apart in the drill and the rows are two to three feet apart, perhaps 30 

 inches. Then about two or three days after the potatoes are planted, 

 the ridges are rolled; some harrow and some roll. Then when the 

 potatoes show up green, they are cultivated with a two horse culti- 

 vator. They are cultivated three or four times and then they are 

 laid by on a ridge. I find there is a difference of opinion as to the 

 best method of laying by potatoes. We have an idea that ridging 

 them is best. Others say level cultivation is best. One of our 

 growers, who raises more potatoes to the acre than any other man, 

 use^ level cultivation. The second crop needs very little attention 

 after they are laid by. 



Sometimes the potato beetles get bad, but the second crop pota- 

 toes do not need much spraying. The first crop needs Paris Green 

 in large quantities. This is another question we shall experiment 

 upon — whether dust or liquid sprays are best. In Jefferson County 

 we have been using dust machines altogether. 



The first crop potatoes, in order to get them on the market 

 early and get a high price, are not allowed to ripen. Sometimes in 

 the fall, also, they do not ripen them, and some growers have an 

 idea that the immature seed gives the best results. This is another 

 question we shall try out with experiments. 



They use large quantities of fertilizers in Jefferson County; 

 from 600 to 1,000 pounds of the 3-8-6 composition, per acre. We 

 shall experiment to find whether the potatoes need potash or not. 



As to the type of land. It is a common idea that potatoes can 

 only be grown on a sandy loam. I believed that until I went to 

 Jefferson County. We have three types of soil there. We have the 

 crawfish or white soil and have gotten good crops from this type of 

 land. We have the rich soil around St. Matthews and Buechel, which 

 gives splendid results. Then we have some poor land around Louis- 

 ville, which has also given good crops. I believe Kentucky should 

 be a better potato raising state than it is. Kentucky should be a 

 fruit produce state. We have the markets on all sides. Our main 

 crop is always shipped. 



Now, as to diseases : I do not believe we need to deal very 

 much with diseases because in Jefferson County we do not have any 

 serious diseases that I have been able to discover. We have scab 

 which is found everywhere, and is one of the easiest diseases to 

 control and to prevent by the use of a pound of formaldehyde in 

 thirty gallons of water, soaking the seed for two hours. Some of the 

 growers using suitable apparatus, can soak 100 bushels in a day. 



