Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-05-11

grown, II IS DeSt 10 CULTIVATE TWO KINDS
one kind for the table, and one kind for
farm stock. Should the Rohans contin.
ne to maintain the extraordinary higt
character which they have hitherto had,
should decidedly recommend then
for STOCK and the mercer for the
TABLE.
So1L.-So far as my experience goes
potatoes flourish on every kind of soil ia
this vicinity, except a stiff clay. Al
often as have planted on a sIlR clay,
have lostmy labor and almost all OF my
seed. Therefore, for the last two yeari
have avoided planting in clay entirely :
And, in case there happen to be any
small patches of clay, on my potato ground
plant them with some Of the ROYAI
WHITE BEAN.
PREPARArioN-I select clover Sod
Early in the month Of April, haul on and
spread twenty loads of long manure to
the acre. Plough under the manure deep
and clean, lying the GurrOw, slice over
fiat. Roll il down and harrow il with the
furrow. On or before the FIRST Of May;
work it with the cultivator til the surface
is finally pulveIlzed, and mellow. If you
intend to plant mercer potatoes, mark out
the rows shallow, with one horse hlough
three feet and half apart. But if you
intend 10 plant the Rohan, let your
rows be full 8 feet and half apart.
PLANTING.--Cut your mercers to
three or four eyes, and your ROhans to
only one or two. Drop your MERGERS
one foot apart in the row, and the RO-
hans full three and half feet apart in the
row, with only two eyes in a hill
Then cover the seed with the plough or
hoe
AFTER CULTURE.-As soon as the poa
toes come up two or three inches high,
run the cultiVatOr once or twice between
the rows, and give them dressing with
the hoe. so as TO stir the earth next 10 the
shoots, destroying the young weeds, and
earlh;ng up the young plants only trfle.
Then, before potatoes, are in blossom,
and before the young tubnrs begin to be
formed in the hill, go through, twice in
the row, with a one horse plough and
turn the earth towards the potatoes; and
then follow with the hoe, TO complete the
earthing up, TO put the tops in the proper
position, and 10 destroy the remainder of
the weeds. After this it is very improper
to he moving the soil around the hills, be-
cause, to disturb the young tubors after
they are set and before they have come
to maturity, is very injurious to the ir
growth.
HARvEsTINe.-Never commence har-
vesting your potatoes till they have come
to full maturity, or I'll the frost has killed
the tops down. While tops are green,
the ,u6ors are growing and improveing:
therefore, unless you wish to harvest your
potatoes for purpose of making room for
a wheat crop, let them remain in the
ground as long as they continue TO grow.
In digging them, use either the plough
or polatoe hook. As soon as they are
out of the ground, let them be picked up.
Never permit them to remain out in the
sun or air longer than you can possibly
help. | am well aware that this direction
is at once in opposition to the rule Of
many farmers, which is 10 allow their pO-
tatoes to remain out in the sun, drying
as they can, and yet have them picked up
on the same day they are dug, in order
that as much of the earth as possible may
cleave off from them. This is very bad
management for potatoes designed for la
Bile use; because it renders them strong,
or acrid in taste,
Every attentive observer has noticed,
that that part Of the potato which happens
10 be uncovered in the hill, changes its
color TO a dark green. This portion is
very much injured in taste; in fact i is
unfit for use, because it has imbibed, from
the atmosphere, deletereops qualities
AS soon as potatoes are dug and exposed
to the light and air, this change begins.
Every attentive observer has also noticed
that potatoes are of the best flavor and
quality after they havs come to maturity
and while they are yet in the ground
The longer they are dug and exposed to
light and air, the more Of this high favor
is gone, till its wholly lost aud they be-
come unpalatable and unwholesome. TO-
tatoes that remain in the earth where taey
grew, all winter, are in excellent conol'
lion for the table in the spring. In Vle"'
therefore, of all these facts, let US pre-
scribe rule in harvesting the potatoes
which will Iiend to perPetnaie through the
whole season, these excellent qualities
As soo,r then as practicable afler digging
remove reT the potatoes designed for the Ia
Nc 70 dark bin in the cellar. After de-
nosilinp thus the whole crop, or as many
$ are designed for the table, cover them,
over with earth or sand, and they will re-.
tain their excellent qualities TIL they be-
gid to sPrOul IN the spring, and require
10 be rsmoved. When shipped for sea,
they ought 10 be put into casks and coV-
cred with sand.
Where potatoes are EJiled for hCgathe