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The Commoner
KA.T, 19M
to
New Discovery in Potato Growing
A Missouri Man Claims a Production of 42 Bushels
on a Plot Only Eight Feet Square
By H. M. George, for six years
editor of Tho American Homestead,
a national farm monthly.
Forty-two bushels of potatoes In
tho season of 1916 from a plot ot
ground only eight feet square, or an
equivalent of over 28,000 bushels
to the acre of ground space used,
was the astonishing feat of R. B.
Hendricks, a resident of Kansas City,
Missouri.
This sensational achievement was
made possible by tho use of an en
tirely new and original method
which, when generally introduced,
promises not only to revolutionize
tho potato growing Industry through
out the world but to solve the prob
lem of an unfailing source of cheap
food supply for the nations of the
earth.
The story of Mr. Hendricks' suc
cessful experiments in potato grow
ing, covering a period of three years,
sounds more like a fairy tale than a
recital of facts, yet it is so unique
and interesting that it an once com
pels attention. Expert gardeners
and farmers who have looked into
the plan carefully pronounce it not
only practical but call the originator
the greatest plant wizard of the age,
and declare that he has anything in
plant culture and intensive agricul
ture beaten by a wide margin.
Like all great discoveries, Mr.
Hendricks' method of raising pota
toes is founded, on such simple ele
mental principles that one wonders
"why someone didn't think of it be
fore." He had. often watched the
potato pile in the cellar bin, which
every spring sent out its shoota
through every possible crack and
crevice. Sometimes these sprouts
would crawl out along the floor a dis
tance of seven feet in order to reach
the light. From this beginning he
conceived the idea that if this pile
was removed out into tho open and
given soil and fertilizer, with proper
conditions of light and moisture,
that the potatoes would grow and
reproduce their kind.
Discovers a New Method
Three years ago he built what he
called a "potato pen," which was
nothing more or less than a huge
potato hill, the sides of which were
supported by a loosely constructed
enclosure, built after the fashion ot
an old rail fence. Within this en
closure, only 8 by 8 feet in size, he
planted his potatoes in thin layers of
dirt and manure, piling one layer on
another until the pen was eight feet
high. The "potato pen" became a
mound of green. He had found that
his potatoes not only grew better
than they did in the cellar but that
at digging time he was able to har
vest 40 bushels of as fine potatoes
as are grown anywhere.. The fol
lowing year -he secured 32 bushels
in the same size pen, and last year
the astonishing total of 42 bushels.
Up to this time Mr. Hendricks has
conducted his experiments unknown
to but a few of his most intimate
associates, but owing to the present
food shortage, and the nation-wide
campaign to speed up food produc
tion, he decided to give up his dis
covery for the free use of people
everywhere.
The details of the construction
am "innagement of these "potato
Pens." as described by Mr. Hend
ricks, outlino a plan by which any
one having access to a plot of ground
no larger than a flower-bed can raise
all the potatoes needed for an aver
age family for a whole year. The
potato pens may be built eight feet
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FIGURE 1 END ELEVATION
watered from tho top about twico a
week anless rainfall is sufficient.
Tho "moist tester" will always en
ablo tho growjr to dotcrmino tho
proper moisturo conditions. Tho lop
layer of dirt should bo sloped gontly
toward tho center so tho ground will
absorb and not shed rain, but caro
should bo taken that mua bo nrn.
vonted from forming on top and
umuB io a cruBt. When tho cartn
is dry tho mound should be sprinkled
on tho top and sides.
Tho potato vines will grow to tho
top and sides of tho pen, (tho
nearest Way to tho llehn. emorirlnp
through tho crevices and concealing
tho timbers with a coat of green.
When tho potatoes aro matured tho
pen may bo taken down, tho pota
toes rolled out of tho thin covering
with a rake, and tho material, dirt
and manure saved and used again
and again.
Potato pens may be started as
early and as late as possible, giving
potatoes ninety days to mature, ex
cept the early ones. The usual time
of planting potatoes in the north is
wide by any length, just so they are
built strong enough to keep the sides
from spreading. Most any kind of
good stout material can be used. If
light lumber or boards are used the
pen may be braced through the cen
ter with wires. Rich earth and well
rotted manure must be on hand in
sufficient quantities to fill the pen to
tho top.
How Pen is Built
The potato pen, as illustrated. Is
built 6 feet by 8 feet, inside meas
urement, and is 6 feet high.
Figure 1 shows the end elevation
oIjx. completed pen. Figure 2 .shows
the plan of planting. The pen is
built as each layer is placed and
planted. You can use 1x6 inch
boards for the ends and sides, leav
ing a 2 -inch space between the
boards for the potato sprouts to
come through. Start the pen with
a six inch layer of dirt. Then mark
off the plat a foot apart each way,
allowing six inches of space for dirt
all around between the outer row of
potatoes and the inside of the pen.
Plant a potato seed at every cross
lino nr Inf oraot inn nf thfk nlfif. 4R
hills to the layer of dirt. Each
large dot as shown in Figure 2 rep
resents a potato seed. Then put an
inch or two of well rotted manure
over the potatoes and sprinkle good
with water. Then lay six inches more
f dirt, mark off as before, plant,
manure and water again. Repeat this
operation with enough layers to fill
the pen to the top. To keep the
dirt from falling out of the pen as
the layers are piacea, araw up uiu
straw or hay against the cracks or
crevices.
As the pen rises, place on the
fourth layer of dirt in the center of
ono side, about two feet above the
ground, a "moist tester," as shown
in Figure 2. This is made of any
piece of timber about the size of the
arm, a piece of 4x4-in. by 3 feet
long, placed so it will protrude from
the pen about a foot. After the po
tatoes have been planted three weeks
loosen the tester, pull out and run
your hand in to determine tho mois
ture. By so doing you will know
how much water to use on the pen.
After the tester has been once re
moved this can be repeated once or
twfee a week. Watch the testei -and
keep the dirt in proper condition.
Moisture Conditions Controlled
The pen should be near a water
,. I- i,o it nan he well watered
dTrfngdry weathlr. It should be I
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FIGURE 2 LAYER PLAN
Showing plat an laid on top of dirt,
with "moist tester" in position. Largo
dots on cross lines indlcato how po
tato seed is placed.
from March to June, bat under till'
method the potatoes may s planted
msch lator than is omI1 ma4r
open field conditions, whore th
factor of hot, dry weather must al
wy b taken into consideration,
with Irrigation and ovory possible
condition of good potato growing
moisture, ventilation and drainage
always undor his control, the
grower Is practically certain of his
crop. In his experiments Mr. Hend
ricks used tho Red River Early
Ohlos for seed, cutting two cyca to
a good-sized plcco. This year he Is
experimenting with other adaptations
of his plan and oxpects to havo somo
uiujuaunB announcements to make
by next November. Mr. Hendricks
is backed in hia wnrk liv u vnnA wir.
and hla neighbors of twonty years'
auinuing voucn ror his honesty and
iuiugjiiy.
Amazing Pofwlbilitlc
The possibilities of this new
method of raising potatoes, in tho
saving of labcr and of land, aro
amazing to contemplate. Whon out
side conditions aro unfavorable the
production can be carried on success
fully undor glass and shipping from
warmer climes mado unnecessary.
With such a cheap sourco of food
supply within reach of all tho people
of tho earth tho spectro of famino
and tho day of high-priced foods
will become a thing of tho past.
FOR miSLY SUNDAY
"Tho devil of booze is a fright
fully active agent and wo are all
with Billy Sunday in his hotshot fir
ing at tho saloons. Three-quarters
of tho Catholic children -who stay
away from mass on Sunday
during tho winter months, givo as a
reason that they havo no shoes. In
tho majority of these cases, the prlco
of the shoes has been handed over
tho bar by bibulous fathers who in
the end make their children pay tho
drink bill in suffering and neglect ot
school and mass." Brooklyn Tablet
and Catholic Citizen. .
IN WYOMING
THE MIDWEST LIFE INSURANCE COM
PANY OP LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, has been
licensed to transact business In Wyoming. This
company was "founded In 1906. For nine years
It confined its operations to its home state, be
coming a substantially established concern be
fore branching out. In 1915 it entered Kansas
and now in 1917 it is entering Wyoming.
As Agency Supervisor, it has selected E. W.
Justice of Cheyenne. He was with the company
for seven years in Nebraska. For four years
he has lived in Wyoming and represented an
other life insurance company. He comes back
again to THE MIDWEST LIFE and will have
full charge of the development of Wyoming.
Anyone wishing to sell insurance for this com
pany can write the Home Office or Mr. B. W.
Justice, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
THE MIDWEST LIFE
of LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
N. Z. SNELI, President.
GaMramteed Oeetlife
:.