American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-06-03
POTATO.

The potato is perhaps the BEST cscuieh' roo'
known. As an arice oil food, II Is agreeable 10 the
palate easy Of digestion, and preserves hsaih. IL
% appcabe TO various useful purposes Of life, some
ofwhich are known, some speculative, and some
yerv probably to be hereafter discovered. With
reasonable attention to its safe keeping its proper
ties may be preserved for year, or until the new
crop can be brought forward to supply the place Of
the od-thus rendering the potato never failing
source of human sustenance. We incline to the
opinion. that, by destroying the negotiating quail y
and taking measures TO exclude the air from pota-
toes they could be preserved much longer than one
year. and would operate as powerful antlscoroutic
in long sea voyages.
We differ. in some respects, from /" A Farmer,
IN an article in the Niddlstown Sentinel which We
give underneath. l. is not iinmateria whether the
planting be effected month later or earlier than
the first of May. The time must be varied accor
ding TO the state Of the weather. but this VIII never
require very long delay after the proper season
and il will never he necessary to commence II ear
lier The size OF the potato used of planting is
not very material provided 1t be not very small !;
for, 10 this latter it may not have sufficient
body to yield strong productive plant. II is "a
mistake, n economical agriculture. to plant very
large potato without cutting it. In choosing po,a-
toes for seed, the proper consideration IS the mum
Der Of eyes. A potato or a part OF potato hav-
ing one sound eye. is sufficient but as II may be
difficult TO Judge of The soundness. and as il may be
lisblr to accidental injury the most prudent course
j. 10 take care that each Of the potatoes or cuts be
provided with two or three eyes; should II have
more than three, and they all grow. viii inJure
the crop In using large potatoes the produce will
be equally great by cuttag cut the eyes, leaving q
small part Of The potato attached to each the
mander, which VIII often exceed half the whole
NAV be gwen as food TO the cattle The shoots
which grow on the potatoes in spring, II carefully
ds,ached anG planted, will produce as ce,taln, and
generally sarier crop, than can be had from the
potato itself As TO potato, OF peculiar shape or
name. being SUPERIOR TO oihets, we doubt, though
Sc ~l no, positively deny the fact
Potatoes are known to degenerate, and. aiter a
few yesrs successive planting 10 become less yalua
bic in quality than when first used. THIS can BIZ
prevented, for long time, by change Of seed, BY
procuring other potatoes, which may be mad in eS
charge from another aruer but from coniie uous
soil. Tn. certain remedy, however is 10 save the
seed which is contained in the balls that grow on
the potato tops stalks. The seed should be sown
In the spring . rich ted in the kitchen garden
the plants when about two or three inches high, be
irsnsplanied and placed at proper distance for
growing, and he produce be preserved 10 be plant
ed in the succeeding season for general use By
this course the larmer who attends 10 proper cul
tlyation. and manurng (if necessary Of his land,
will never want good potatoes the apparent variety
viii b. great, that he will be al loss Tor names
10 distinguish them, and this variety will appear,
sllhouGh the seed had all been taken f,om single
BALL In wsrm or mild climates nature scatiers the
seed and supplies the necessary succession OF new
plants. thus providing am2ly agans, degs Grafton
Be, 10 cold climates the seed which scatter:
IN autumn, will perish during the nclemency %
winter. Less than an ounce Of seed annually saved
wl! be sufficient tor the isrmer, who looks no Tar
lhe q. Rras
and experience the side OF planting in drills
ID preference 10 any Other mode. The season for
planting rlust depend on circumstances as climate
SOL sc. this is matter COT the farmers study nc
Seasra! rule ean prevail. Globe s Emerald