Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-10-02
AGRICULTURE.
FROM THE NATIONAL INrEL1IeE

TIE Potatoe.-This valuable root is
native of America. Whether it was
here before the flood or not is of no con-
sequence to us. 1t is here now, and our
duty Is to make the most we can of it.
is curious enough to see the people on
the Potomac importing potatoes from
New-England or Nova Scotia, and some
times from Ireland, when they might
Just as well be exporting them for little
more than half the price. la this re-
spect they are almost as wise as some of
our wine drinkers, who rather than miss
their favorte beverage will run the
rick OF the Plague, the Gout, and an
Algerine war--whiIe, at the same time,
they might obtain spruce beer of the
very first quality from their own coun-
try for less than half the price, without
any of the above risks. The run for
foreign articles, SO prevalent in our
country, often makes me think that if po-
tatoes were brought from the moon at
$40 per bushel, they would find purcha-
Sers. However, as there are some few
among us who wish to raise potatoes,
and don't know how, will give them
the following directions, which may
serve until they get better. 1t is suppo-
sed that the farmer has already some
knowledge Of the nature and strength of
soils, SO as to know the quantity and
quality OF the manure requisite to get a
crop. | have seen 1000 bushels of COW
manure put on an acre of poor land,
which has brought, and ought to bring
200 bushels of potatoes. No doubt but
plaster would answer good purpose
on sandy or gravelly soil. The ground
ought to be ploughed eight inches deep,
and well narrowed. The easiest method
Of planting is with the plough, in rows
three feet apart-the seeds containing
one eye, or two at the most, ought to be
eight inches apart if they arc allowed
any chance to groW-each seed should
weigh the third of an ounce avordupois.
At this rate an acre will require about
Is bushels of seed. l prefer planting
in the increase Of the moon, though the
difference may not be much--the prac-
tice of changing the seed seems to be
useless--when people have got good
kind, | would advise them to keep it.
L have seen potatoes raised for twenty
years on one plantation without changing
the seed (any farther than from one field
to another and back AGAIN. without any
visible alteration.
AS to planting, if the ground be rich
enough without manure, the furrow for
fh nanI h.,, A
deep, otherwise it ought to be 6. In dry
sandy land, put the seed under the MA
nure-if otherwise, put it on the top.
The seed and manure being put in the
furrow, they can be covered with the
plough-no matter how deep. About
six or seven days after planting, go over
the field with horse and light harrow,
by this means the rows will be nearly
ievelled without stirring the seed, if the
person at the harrow knows how to ma
mage it. When the plants have risen
about inches above the ground, the
horse and plough may be sent through
them to plough the earth from the rows
about 4 inches deep, leaving the row 8
inches wide with the plant in the middle
Off When they have got up to 6
inches, small portion of earth may be
ploughed up to them, taking care not to
cover the plants. About this time the
cut worm is likely to become trouble
some-in order to prevent this, you may
watch your opportunity for calm morn
ing, between day break and sunrise,
when the firing three or four charges of
gunpowder over each acre will affect
them very seriously; the dose may be
repeated as occasion requires-this is
much easier than pouring arsenic down
their threats.
When the plants have got 10 or IL
inches high, the last ploughing may take
place, when the burrows must be COM
pletely cleared up-the hoe must now
(for the first and last time follow, to rec
tify what the plough has missed; the
rows when finished ought to be at least
IL inches higher than the burrows. 1t is
now that the plant begins to be of use !;
the tender leaves make excellent greens.
I have often wondered to see people
running ready to break their necks, over
hill and dale, among briers and rattle
snakes, to gather wild herbs (and per-
haps poisonous ones too) when they had
plenty of good wholesome potatoe tops
close by the door. But now comes the
potatoe in bloom. How beautiful If
you have bees, the blossoms should not
be molested until the apples appear; if
not, they may be pulled off with about