The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-01-26
The Practical Farmer.
From the Ncw-England Farmer.

At late Agricultural Exhibition in New
England, Mr.. Williams became entitled to
the Society's premium of $40 for having
raised the greatest quantity of Potatoes, be
ing 6O9l bushels on one acre: "the held is
near the top OF a gentle swell or hill incin-
ing to the South and East; the soil deep
yellow loan, bedded on stratum Of blue
gravel, the hardness Of a well beaten road
The field years ago produced an amount
sufficient to draw the Socety's premium for
the greatest crop of Potatoes = the year fol-
lowing the Socety's premium for the great
est quantity of Spring, Gilman Wheat; since
that period have taken from it from one to
two tons of Hav annually. In the fall of 1924,
the sward was turned under; the following
Spring after spreading on 43 loads OF infer
mented manure from sheep and neat cattle,
it was cross ploughed. then narrowed down,
and furrowed three feet distant and one
large potatoe placed at two feet distance the
other way, and lightly covered; the planting
was finished the middle Of May; wedding
finished the 1st of June; the Cd and last hoe
ing the last Of June; after which the weeds
were pulled as occasion required, TIL the
tops Of the POTATOES covered the ground The
excessive drought the past Summer was un-
doubtedly an injury to the crop, but not to
so preat degree as to other fields planted
the most critical time my vines covered the
ground thereby interposing partial shield
70 the S, orching rays of an almost killing sun
From repeated experiments am confirmed
in the belief that in our mode OF culture
feet by feet is AS good, and probably the
hest distance for Potatoes The kind o
seed used the present season were III par
the Rio de la Plata or Reds, and part Penn
sylvania Blues; their produce side by sid'
was nearly equal. The quantity OF seet
used was so bushels of the finest Potatoes o
the preceding Crop; small unripe seed nev
er should be planted; the Crop was harvest
ed between the 23d aud 29th of October, tn
amount 6091 bushels, many OF which weigh
ed 2lbs. each Before closing this statemen
will give it as my opinion that had / place
the manure in the hills, instead of spreadin
it on and ploughing in the same, | shoul
not have had 500 bushels; and further, ha
there been no drought | should have ha
over 700 bushels from the acre: The va
ue Of the Crop 1852 SO, the entire expens
of ar.aking the field, of the manure, an
spreading on the same, hoeing, harrowin!
and harvesting the Crop, S54 33, leaving
profit OF Se7 SIS"
To Mi Leonard Hill, of East Bridgew;
ter. il the County of Plymouth, the prem
uu OF 800 WAS awarded, for having raise
the greatest quantity OF Flax on halt an acl
beng $40 lbs. MIR. Hills description of h
culture is as follows: I'm Sept. 1928 brol
a piece of ground. being part of my far
whieh before had produced some small Crol
of Hm; it is a level field, and the soil of
CLAY l3am there was by estimatation abo
half AN acre in the piece; in the Spring
1924 it was twice ploughed, and manure
with IS Cart loads of Barn manure, al
planted with Indian Corn, producing abo
IS bushtis In April last it was aga
p,tarhto, narrowed, and cross ploughe
previous to the last ploughing "a Cart loa
of good manure were spread upon 1t, a
tben again Is bushels of dry ashes we
scstte red over it; afterwards it was twi
narrowed; the End day of MAY sowed
necys of clean Flax seed over the piece, a
as soon as dry the seed was beaten off, cle'
ed measured, amounting to "a bushels;
Flax was spread about the middle: of Sc
and rott.d, and then housed AGAIN; IN
tnonth Of November II was dressed out cl.
for ,narker. and weighed; the whole quai
ty taken from 90 rods, was 357lbs. the
pense of cultivation, dressing, &c. was
so cents"