Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-04-24
AG RICUL u RAJ.
p q II A II q r q .

The potatoe is unquestionably the most
valuable root cultivated by man. 1t is
grown with little care, yields good crops,
can be grown in almost every variety of
soil, and its nutritive properties are not
exceeded by any other root either for man
or beast. Though it can be cultivated
with little care. and though almost any
soil will produce potatoes, there are few
crops that in both quantity and quality
better repay any extra attention they NAV
receive than this root.
The potatoe, like most other cultivated
plants, delights in strong rich loan, and
other circumstances being equal, such a
soil will usual y produce one-lourth more
than'one very tenacious and heavy, or
very light and sandy. In new settled
districts large crops OF potatoes are grown
in the soils that contain great supplies of
vegetable mould, but experience would
seem to justify the opinion that.in such
soils the quality of the poiatoe is rarely
first rate A grass ley-clover is the best
has been iound, when properly prepar-
ed and MANFRED, to be excellent for this
crop; and if the soil is rather moist than
otherwise, it is considered as increasing
the chances of good yield. Countries
that have naturally a cool moist atmos-
phere are found to produce far better no.
tatoes than those that have drv and high
temperature. Thus Ireland, surrounded
as it is by the ocean, and necessarily of a
low aud equable climate, Is famous for its
potatoes and of this continent, the part
most famed for the quality of this roo, is
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, which
districts are noted for the moisture of the
climate. With any part of the northern
or middle states, however, the fault of not
having good potatoes, or not having them
In sufficient quantity, must be traced 10
the negligence of the farmer, rather than
TO any deficiencies of soil or climate.
The prepa ration OF field for the peta.
toe is simple. If grass ley sufficiently
rich without manuring, rare case with
this crop, the sod may be carefully turned
over, rolled down, and then the surface
earth loosened with fine harrow. in
which the tubers or SETS are to be planted.
III Il requires manuring. let the manure.
and this should be long rather than short.
De evenly spread over The ground; with
the plough make furrow, and into This
let one hand haul the manure 10 the re.
quisile width, while another drops III.
seed potatoes on the manure so placed IN
Lhe furrow. This row is covered by The
plough, and the operation is repeated tlIl
all are planted. Corn on the lev is oen.
orally preferred, and roots well manfred
AFTER the corn. The first in the rotation
may depend on convenience, as the turf
- excellent for either.
A multitude of experiments have been
male and recorded both in England and
the Uqlted States. TO determine the hest
metnod OF planting the seed. whether in
whole tubers or in roots cut into two or
more pieces, called sets. Ths fes.I, If
these experiments have been someybo,
contradictory, yet they seem 10 h,ys a.
tablished the TACT that whole tubers viii
produce rather more potatoes than s.,s
bot not more than sufficient to bal,nce n
extra quantity of seed required wbers
whole potatoes are used. There are ma.
ny farmers who prefer se,s altogether, and
the probability is. that twenty bushels of
large potatoes, cur into sets and planted