WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

February 18, 1887

 

POTATO CULTURE

A Paper Read Before the Farmer’s Institute

 

            The first thing to be considered is the land on which the potato is to be planted.  Experience has shown that new land which has raised but one crop of grain is by all means the best, providing the land was thoroughly … and cleared of grubs; if not it would be better to take off two crops before planting to potatoes.  In case the farmer must depend upon old land to raise a crop of potatoes, he should turn under a crop of clover in the month of August, ploughing rather deep and endeavoring to turn the clover all under, ploughing again in the spring but not deep enough to turn up the turned clover.  This method insures mellow land well fertilized, and with proper cultivation one should get a good crop. Potatoes should not be planted too often on the same piece of land.  Experience has shown that we do not get a large yield and the quality is greatly inferior.  At least three years should intervene between crops.  Land that is a little rolling in my opinion has preferable to low land, as potatoes planted on low ground do not get sufficient air and in consequence are more liable to blight than those planted on higher ground. Agricultural writers claim that blight is caused by an insect that attacks the tops of the vines and works down to the potato, its ravages being much increased by wet followed by warm sultry weather.  Hence the importance of the vines getting the benefit of any air that may be stirring.  Next in importance is selecting and preparing the seed.  Use good sized and well-shaped potatoes, cut so as to leave two to four eyes in each piece; if seed is cut in small pieces it is liable to rot in case of wet, cold weather after planting.  A good-sized piece is necessary to properly nourish the germ.  Farmers should avoid cutting large quantities of seed and putting in bags or piles, for they will heat very quickly and destroy or weaken the germ.  If circumstances compel the use of small potatoes for seed, I would recommend planting them whole after clipping the seed end.  I would also recommend sprinkling the cut seed with land plaster as it prevents loss of moisture and acts as a fertilizer.  Extra care is necessary in selecting seed this year on account of the second growth formed on our last crop.  The leading varieties now in the market are the Burbank, Early Rose, Beauty of Hebron, Dunmore, and Peerless.  I would advise planting the Early Rose and Beauty of Hebron for the fall market, but avoid planting what are called the late Hebron which is a large, coarse, deep-eyed potato with a yellow coat inside, they do not cook well and are not wanted in the market.  For the winter and spring market plant Burbank, Dunmore and Peerless. In consequence of the largely increased competition of Michigan, Utah, and Colorado our market at St. Louis, Kansas City and other southern points is cut off, the quality of our potatoes this year being inferior to those grown in other states.  Unless farmers and dealers take all possible pains to put our potatoes on the market in the best condition, “Waupaca county potatoes” will never again have their former good reputation.  Large quantities of land in Michigan from which the timber has been cut, is being broken up and planted to potatoes.  This land is a sandy loam and produces large crops of a superior quality.  We must expect to meet this competition every year, hence the necessity of improving the quality of our potatoes.  Look at the market report in any Chicago paper, and you will see Michigan potatoes quoted several cents higher than ours.  It is very important that potatoes should be put in the cellar dry and bright, in order to have them come out with a good color.  Farmers should not dig when the ground is wet and weather damp and cloudy; digging in the first half of the day and drawing in the afternoon unless the sun is too hot, is in my opinion the better way.  A bright, clean appearance aid to sell the potato in all markets.  Care should be used to keep cellars dark; strong light injures the appearance also the quality. Cellars should be aired frequently as possible, and kept as cool as they can be and not chill the potatoes.  Avoid bruising or peeling when storing in cellars, a smooth plank with strips on the sides is a good arrangement to slide down baskets or boxes into the cellar – spouting them into the bins is not a good practice.  If all farmers would sell a part of their crop in the fall and put the balance on the market during the winter as the demand requires, it would be much better for growers and dealers.  Potatoes cannot be stored in Chicago or Milwaukee without going to heavy expense and the tendency in all markets is to buy only as required for immediate use.  It is not best to attempt to push our crop into the market too fast at any time of the year, for heavy shipments break down the price and injures the farmer and dealer.  As Michigan can ship her crop to Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis and all southern points at much less cost for freight, than Waupaca county crop can be moved, the great importance of securing more railroads is readily seen.  We can never hope to get as good rates of freight as the Michigan producer with but one railroad leading to our principal markets.

                                                                                                                        A.M. Penney