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THE RURAL WORLD.

SUCCESS WITH EARLY POTATOES. The Becond year we ever put out potatoes of our own we practiced the methoda given below, and they proved so successful that we still are handling this crop the same way. The ground was thoroughly stirred to a good depth early in the spring. However, we now do the stirring late in the fall, a thin surface dressing of manure first being given so it may be turned under and enrich the soil. In either case a thorough harrowing after the ploughing will crush the clods and mellow the ground for making an ideal seed bed. We marked the rows off with a stirring plough making the furrows from eight to ten inches deep the potatoes were sliced into pieces containing just two "eyes" each; two of these pieces were dropped on each hill, they being about sixteen or eighteen inches apart in the row. If they are put closer together only one piece should be dropped; if farther apart three pieces will be required to the hill. The potatoes were cuvered by hand with a hoe. We do not approve of the method employed by most farmers in covering with the plough as it covers some of the potatoes too deep others will have scarcely any covering at all. Where they are so deep, rot is apt to take place beforo they can sprout, while the shallow planted ones ofen secure insufficient moisture to induce germination. We covered to a depth of about two inches just after dropping the potatoes. As soon as the plants began to burst through the ground the spike-tooth harrow was run over the patch which covered the small weeds, partly filled the furrows and gave the potatoes another covering of about two inches thus putting them at the correct depth for heavy production. In two or three days the patch was given another thorough harrowing to level the furrows, keep down the weeds an drag the fine, fresh soil in around the plants. We often give a cross-harrowing also, and while this may appear to the novice as detrimental at the time, it ia surprising how quickly the vines straighten and continue a vigorous growth. The harrowing was followed by a deep cultivation, close to the rows, which loosened the soil for root penetration in securing nourishment for the young and rapidly growing plants. The next cultivation was not so deep and the shovels were held a little farther away from the vines, to prevent damaging the roots that had begun to reach out fcr sustenance.

A3 the thud ploughing the potatoes were laid by, the shovels being kept well away from the row and allowed to throw the dirt up against the vinces thus forming a watershed for any heavy rains that might fall, and furnishing plenty of room for the storage of the developing tubers. Close ploughing is to be carefully avoided at this stage of growth, very little, if any, being done after the potatoes begin to bloom. ROTTEN VERSUS GREEN MANURE. Most people have an idea that rotted manure is a much more valuable fertiliser than manure fresh from the barns or yards. This idea prevails because of the heavy, compact nature of the rotted manure. The value of manure is determined by the amount of various elements of fertility contained therein. These elements are mainly nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. They are usually figured at 15c., 6c. and sc. per pound respectively. On this basis a ton of fresh barnyard manure is worth 1.98 dollars. A ton of rotted manure is worth 2.04 dollars or only 6c. more. When the fact is considered that it takes nearly two tons of fresh barnyard manure to make one ton of rotted manurre owing to the loss from evaporation and leaching, it can be seen that much of the fertilising matter originally contained is lost in the rotting process. In Bulletin No. 122, the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station reports some interesting observations on the expeirmental use of fresh and rotted manure. Both were used on the corn and wheat crops, in comparison with unmatured land. The yieldof corn on unmanured land was 38.1 bushels per acre. On land dressed with rotted manure, a yield of 65.1 bushels were secured; and where fresh manure was applied, the yield was 0.7 bushels per acre. The increased yield of corn from the use of rotted manure was 27.6 bushels, and from the use of fresh manure 32.6 bushels, an increase of 5 bushels per acre in favour of the fresh manure. On the wheat crop the effect was similar though not so marked. 'On the wheat crop the effect was similar, though not so marked. On the unmanured land, the wheat yielded 16.1 bushels per acre; where rotted manure was used 19.1 bushels; and on the land dressed with fresh manure 19.7 bushels per acre were secured. The increase in favour of the fresh manure is only 0.6 bushels per acre on the wheat crop.

Value of Green Manure.—While the increased returns are comparatively small in both cases, it illustrates the fact that fresh manure is at lease as good as the rotted manure and for some crops even better. The prevention of loss by leaching and in the rotting process should be kept in mind, nad the saving in labour by applying manure freh from the barns, is worthy of consideration. It should not be understood that the coarse, fresh barnyard manure is adapted to all crops. It would not be suitable for certain forma of garden and vegetable crops; and even for the small grains, on light soil, it probablv would not give as good results as ; the rotted manure. Where manure is applied as it should be, however, on the grass land or just ahead of the corn crop in rotation, the coarse, fresh manure is

and the effect of the acids developed in the process of deompoaition, aid greatly in liberating plant food and result in greater crop yields.

Objections. —Some objections may be made on the score that weed seeds or possibly plant diseases are spread with the unrotted manure. Where applied as suggested above, however, at the proper place in rotation, niether the weeds nor the plant disease resulting therefrom will be a serious consideration.

The late winter and early spring offer many opportunities for getting manure on the land. These should be taken advantage of, though one should avoid driving .over the land when it is very wet. The good effect of the manure may be entirely off set by handling of the land. —■ Andrew Boss.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19120831.2.5

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 496, 31 August 1912, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,106

THE RURAL WORLD. King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 496, 31 August 1912, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD. King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 496, 31 August 1912, Page 3

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