Delaware State journal, advertiser and star. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1832-1833, 1833-07-19
From the New England Farmer.1
POTATOES AND INDIAN CORN.

j
POTATOES AND INDIAN CORN.
MEssRs. Ep1ToRs:
Sir,-I here send you the result of
several experiments, which have made.
Several years ago, planted blue pota-
toes late in the season, and as all Of those
which / considered large enough for
seed had been culled out, l planted small
ones not more than an inch and a quarter
in diamater. When dug them, they
were as large as any raised. Last
sprint planted two rows, side by side,
Of the red potatoes, one row Of the lar
gest size, the other the smallest, which
[ think proper to plant, perhaps not one
third OF the weight of the large ones.
When dug them, l could not tell which
were the largest. So concluded, the
reason why small potatoes yield small
ones, is owing to putting too much seed
in the hills; as small potato has as ma
ny sprouts as large one. But this
have proved, that the same results do
not always arise from the same expert
ments in different kinds of potatoes.
For several years past we have planted
early whites, and early red eyes, side by
side. If the whites were hilled after the.
blow, they uniformly produce a large
number of small potatoes, and but few
of good size; while killing had no ef-
feet on the red eyes.
l made an experiment in planting In
dian corn few years ago, for my own
satisfaction. planted the hills three
and half feet apart on one end of a
piece of land, and four feet on the othcr,
with the same kind and quality of ma
nure; about half the length of the rows.
was on stiff heavy soil; the other half a.
light loamy soil; without weighing. Il
could not tell which gave the best pro-.
. duct.
Note By The Editor Of The Me,o England
} Farmer BY some experiments made by
J. Whitlaw, Esq. which are given sn
/ detail in the Nc,0 England Farmer. VOL
i. page 50, and vol. iv. page 8l4, that
gentleman ascertained that large potatoes
when cut into quarters will proeFucs
more, other things being equal, thaa
when planted whole. Other culrivators
assert that the best way is to plant po-
tatoes of at least middling size, cutting
of, and applying to other uses the but
and top ends of each potato. planting the
middle pieces cut into quarters. The
reason of this proceeding, rs that the
shoots or eyes from the middle part of a
potato are commonly larger and strong
er than those of either end, and if the
whole of large potato is planted,
there are usually too many shoots in a
hill, and those shoots are too near each
other to afford so great product as
they would if deposited in the soil at dua
0 distances.
: Mr.. Knight the celebrated English
r horticulturist, has found, that, ''for a. late
crop, seed potatoes may be usedy be-
. Cause plants of the late varieties always
: acquire considerable age before they
e begin to generate ,u5ers, young pota-
e toes; but for an early crop, he recon-
: mends the largest tubes seed POTATOES
Il to be planted; and he has fouad that
: these not only afford very strong plants
K but also, such as readily recover when
Is injured by frost; for being fed by a copil
;" GUS reservoir beneath the soil, a repro.
st duction of vigorous items and fohages
sr takes place, when those first E,roduc ed
in are destroyed by frost or other causeI"'
er Hor Irons iv. D. 49,.