Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1918 — HOW TO GROW [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOW TO GROW

IRISH POTATOES.

The culture qf the Irish potato Is familiar to almost everyone who has ever had a garden. In brief, the potatoes should be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in spring, two weeks before the average date of the last killing frost being none too early. The tubers should be cut so that each piece contains from one to two- eyes, and the pieces planted in rows from 24 to 30 inches apart, and from 10 to 15 inches apart In the rows, depending on the variety. Cultivation should be frequent and thorough. It is an excellent idea to work soil up to the plants as they develop, so that there will be plenty of soil to cover the potatoes as they form. * Early potatoes in the central and southern sections of the country will mature In sufficient time for the gardener to grow a crop of sweet corn, late cabbage or turnips on the same ground. It is often possible to plant the second crop between the potato rows before the potatoes are dug. Early potatoes may be used as soon as large enough, an old rule being to begin using them when they are as large as a hen’s egg. The usual method Is to dig them as needed, leaving - the main part of the crop to develop to maturity. In the central portion of the United States the late crop may be planted from June 15 to July 1, but in the northern sections the main crop' Is planted earlier than this,* no attempt being made to produce early and late potatoes, as In many sections the growing season is too short for the production of but one crop. Late potatoes are allowed to grow until they mature or until the frost kills the vines. The cultivation of the late crop “is similar to that employed in the case of the early crop. SWEET POTATOES. The sweet potato thrives best In the southern part of the country, as it is a tropical plant. It cannot be successfully grown in the extreme northern sections of the country. The plants are started in hotbeds by bedding potatoes in sand and allowing them to sprout. The plants are broken off the parent potato as soon as they have formed a few leaves and a root system of their own, and as soon as the ground In the open is well warmed up. This will be one month after the date of the last killing frost. Sweet potatoes are a heat-loving plant, and cannot withstand cool weather. In setting them in the open, the usual method is to throw the soil up in ridges-about 4 feet apart. The plants are set in a row on top of these ridges some 12 or 14 Inches apart Sweet potatoes thrive best in a sandy soil that is well fertilized throughout It is a good plan to open furrows where the row is to be, fill these furrows with manure and turn the soil back on top of the manure. This should be. thoroughly mixed with a shovel plow or cultivator, as too much manure in one spot under the hole will produce a large growth of vines at the expense of the potatoes. Sweet potatoes may be dug at any time after they become large enough to use, "but improve in quality as they approach maturity. They should be dug as soon; as the vines are killed by frost.

SNAP BEANS. Bush and pole beans are among the most valuable and dependable crops of the garden. "When in doubt what to plant—plant Beans thrive be|J in a rather warm sandy loam, but may be grown on almost any kind of soil. For the best results the soil should not be too rich in nitrogenous matter, or the plants will run to foliage and stems at the expense of the crop. Beans will not withstand frost, and the Arst plantings in the spring should not .be made until about two weeks after the average date of the last killing frost. The soil should be .in good condition and the rows should be laid out perfectly straight so as to make cultivation easy. One pint of the seed of most varieties of snap beans Is sufficient for a 100foot row. 1 When the cultivation is to be done by horse, the rows should be from 30 to 36 Inches apart. When hand cultivation Is to be employed, the rows should be from 18 to 24 Inches apart. It requires from 40 to 60 days for snap beans to be ready for use if the weather conditions are favorable. , . Successive plantings of string beans should be made at intervals of. ten days to two weeks throughout the growing season. By following this scheme a constant supply of tender beans will be assured.