Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-04-25
AGRICULTU RAL.
THE PorATo.--condnued.

The crop of the potato, like all others
subjected TO fed culture, varies much Ia
producnveness. la England, the aver
u ge, under their eenmtn system OF hrm-
ing, is stated to BE- from 200 10 $50 bush
els per acre, or from SIX 10 eight tons
Thirty two bushels of 70 lbs. each are
calculated as ton, but heaped measure
will sometimes weigh more In the
United States, the average crop cannot be
stated higher than from ITS to 200 BUSH
els per acre; a deficiency owing to ou-
little msnuring, late planting, and imper-
feet cultivation. Perhaps a majority Of
our farmers do not finish the field planting
of potatoes until the month Of June, wEile
in England and Ireland, March and April
are the months of planting. The coBse-
quence is, that many of our potatoes do not
get ripe-the tops. while in full vigor, are
killed by the frost, and watery, imperfect,
and indigestible roots are the result. That
this country is admirably adapted TO the
growth and perfection OF the potato, is evil
dent from the heavy crops that have been
produced, where proper care has been gr-
en- to the cultivation. The heaviest crops
on record are those grown by Gen. ar
nun, of Vermont, (see Genesee Farm er'
vol. S, page t9 and l4l,) which on cf re-
fui estimate and average of five pieces Nas
1900 bushels; and he gives 1t as h 5 o.
pinion, that in good soils, and WITH his
mode of culture, from 800 to 1000 bushels
per acre may be safely calculated upon
From 500 to roo bushels per acre have
been, not unfrequently, grown BY others,
as the records of our agricultural societies
can testify. Gen. Barnum's mode afte! a
thorough preparation of his lagd, is to
plant 10 drills at the distance Of q inches,
and the sets in the drills 10 inc les apart.
The earth is hilled around the bants but
once during the season, as theT is much
danger of disturbing the youngtubers, or
causing the formation of late 1ew Ones
But the great secret of his eros consists III
bringing rich fresh earth, thescrapings OF
bitches or streets, earth froY barn yards,
or mould from swamps, andputting this
earth for top dressing onthe plants
This is effected by the aid q horse and
cart, the horse travelling bet teen the rows.
| There is an opinion ven prevalent a
mong farmers, ian erroneoYone, we think
that where tubers or sets . different vari-
cites are planted indiscTiw nately, or even
near each other in the sad e field, the pro-
duct will be Of mixed daracter-a sim
| gle root combining the Jolors and.quali-
ties of the variety plaJ fed; or in other
words, the new root ISL genuine hybrid.
Such an effect is hysylogicaily impossi-
Bile. The roots Of plant are not the
seeds; and it is thssi alone that can feel
the influence of ,he fe undating pollen dis
tributed by the f(sers Apple bios
SONS, impregnated they usually are by
the pollen from otf r blossoms, produce
fruit proper to the Fee; yet the seeds, il
sown, will rarely pbduce trees resembling
the parent !; and 10 man would suppose,
that because iheS apple seeds produced
. plants dissimilarb the parent tree, a sprour
. that should spriE up from root, as is
, sometimes the Fl should be SO likewise.
! The fact is. thdpropa CATION of the potato
by the tubers "a by the seeds, is an ope.
ration as disiidt as the growth Of the mul
berry from cJfngs and from the seeds. =
, The ROOT. orIhe cutting. vii invariably
/ produce. The lame variety. but the seed:
viii no, vii 5certainiy. ualess The posi-.
!. biIi,y 81 lee Jdatlon from other varieties is
carefully ghaiei against
There also another point onwhich
! avrirnl,urts are; somewhat at variance
f and that the propriety of cutting The
STEM Of potato before the root arrive.
az matoty. Gen. Barnum maintains,
= thar 4 1sarly frost which nips the tops 8
: drsifoyflhr vine. does not prevent the
! ero vi # The potsio. and thai such q no.
T ION q ht to be exploded. .OnIhe conlra.
: 'fy, Il fthis time il has not attained rs full
|. |sTowf and weight, i grows more rapid