Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1903 — FERTILIZING FOR POTATOES. [ARTICLE]

FERTILIZING FOR POTATOES.

Without doubt some of the failures in potato crop growing are due to a wrong system of fertilizing the soil. While as a rule potash Is desirable in considerable quantities, as are nitrogen and phosphoric acid, the fact remains that it is infpossible to overdo the introduction of nitrogen in the soil, as many have found when they attempt to raise potatoes on soil that had been in crimson clover or other legumes. It must not be understood that this is the rule where legumes are grown, for, on the contrary, comparatively few soils have all the nitogen supply they can carry to advantage, but it is well in fertilizing soils that have had the benefit of several legumes to pay more attention to the application of potash and phosphoric acid when fertilizing for potatoes, than to a fertilizer containing much nitrogen. The effeot of too much nitrogen in the soil is to induce a growth of vines at the expense of the tubers. —Indianapolis News. PLANTING CUCUMBERS. The latter part of May or in Jiine cucumbers for pickling may be planted. A dozen vines will give a large supply, provided the young cucumbers are picked off as soon as they are large enough. For small pickles they should not be allowed to grow over two inches long. It frequently happens that the vines cease to bear profusely, but that is usually due to allowing some of the cucumbers to mature. As soon as the plant accomplishes its object of producing seed it will cease to bear cucumbers. It is important, therefore, not to allow a single cucumber to ma-, ture. The vines must be carefully watched for the striped beetle, which should be destroyed by picking from the vines, as the beetles are ■ proof against the ordinary insecticides, and some remedies are as injurious to the plants as to the beetles.

GROWING PUMPKINS. Growing a lot of pumpkins in a field of corn is an old practice, but it is doubtful if pumpkins sq grown ace as profitable as when grown as a separate crop from corn.- Thee pumpkins will prevent the proper cultivation of corn, as working the corn destroys the pumpkin vines, the result being that late weeds get a chance to grow and mature. It is urged in defense of growing pumpkins in the corn field that they do not interfere with cultivation until the corn is “laid by,” but much depends on the land, rainfall and thoroughness of cultivation. Corn should never be "laid by” as long as weeds and grass can have an opportunity to grow, cultivation being given if it is possible for a horse to along the rows. There are few mor striking facts than the growing importance of the Puget Sound customs districts. In the past year all the customs districts of the United States showed a decline of exports of grain and grain products except the Pacific coast porta, the shipments from Puget Sound porta lncreaaIng 45 per cent