Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1843-04-05

l IfSI a OftttcCo."-hS bNC nav ~ lh't o.
hand for planting potatoes. 4 few plain
directions will moi he aniss.
/. Seed. lthas hecn provcdby the ex-
periencc Of every one. thu, Irish Potatoes,
as far South as Georgia, materially detc.
riora,o after The second or third year nj
most. and some OF The closes, observers
think it moi safe 10 trust 10 seed grown in
the South nj all. Why this is so we can
not explain, further rhan in southern laii-
iutes, the best potatoes cannot be grown.
II cannot be for Tie want Of vegetable, or
| animal matter. ar siimularis, or even
| moisture, bu, the heat Of the sun is too
srea, for them. The iuhcrs grown here
are not 50 large, srnoolh. cry and well fla
| vored "a in the north, aud our Judgment
is decided in purchasing seed from the
nor,h.
.. Time Of Planting. In the South, it
is moi one year IN ten. suitable Tor late
planting. Some put their potatoes in the
ground in autumn, but our experience
teaches the best time is. the iirst dry
/ Weather a!ler the break oil winter ; or III
| other words the bcs, time for planting irish
potatoes, is so soun as the frost is sufficient
ly out OF the ground TO bear working.
Generally IL February. there is a suitable
spell; aud almost always dry weather can
be selected about the FIRST OF March. BY
planting thus early. the potatoes fully ma
lure by tho commencement Of the hot
summer drouih; while II they are put in
late. they rarely support through The hot
parching season.
3. Preparation Of ground. On this
poin,. the theories and practices nrc end
less, and contradictory, and no doubt sue
cess efcuauends plains which appear to
differ very materially. 4 good plan is To
break the ground thoroughly to The depth
Of abou, S inches, and harrow ii ill The
clods are broken rrA tho surface becomes
su,ooth.-Ncxt Ia: out ,ows4 feet apar,
ard drop the potatoes from s TO II inches
asunJcr in the rows. I. manure is 10 be
applied now ia the time. Fresh stable
dung, straw. aud iiiicr Of cvcryk kind may
be applied with profit. If the fnrrow is
completely filed. il will be tho better.
A.. Corer. By running 4 turn plough on
each side of the row. and ihus raise "a ridge
orcr The potarues. lie, them remain thus
ciout ten days. or ill just before the
sprouts ON to the surface, when 4 har-
row should pass across the rows TO draw
down tho ridge n little, and give The young
plants n smooth. light surface, in which 10
make their appearance. This operation
effcciua!ly destroys the young grass which
often in,rulcs itself where it is not desired
and is, perhaps, better than any working
the crop receives.
5. after Culture. The orlholox doc
trine is, lha, Irish potatoes should be work.
ed but once, and tina, about thu time tho
plants arc 6 or 8 inches high. but our be-
belief is. If tho ground can be kept per.
Eectiy free from weeds, and loose, all the
season, The crop will he so much the bet
ter. The practice. however, Of killing the
vines. cnnnot be TOO highly reprchcnded.
Where the dirs, is thrown up. The vines
pu, out new fbres near lhe surface. and
The consequence is there will DO a larger
quantity Of potatoes. hui they will be small,
AMI in peint Of weight there will mol be SO
good a.erop as if the killing had no, been
done.
G. Harvesting. Many persons dig all
tie potatoes as soon as the vines deeper
hnps as early as June or July. but in as
much as the writer has never been success.
ful ia saving potatoes dug in The summer,
he lets them remain in the ground ,ill about
the last Of October, when they are taken
out and PUT 10 the cellar, or 10 heaps oil
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