The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-10
AGRICULTURAL.
From the New England Farmer.
THE POTATO.

L HE fO1 4 ~.
The exten, TO which this crop is grown
throughout New England, marks it as one
of the most important, and as one 10 which
much attention should be given. Sometimes
ii yields pentifiIy, and is profitable; but
often, especially in the vicinity Of Boston,
and on those lands that have long been un-
Ter cultivation, II does but poorly. Is this
the resul, of causes beyond our powe! to
remedy Or is it owing 10 want Of skill
in the cultivation The climate here, we
know, is not as good as it is farther north
md east, for producing good potatoes. But
The trouble is not all in the Climate for one
man here will have quite good potatoes on
one part of The farm, and poor ones upon n.
no,hcr part. This may be owing TO differ
ence Of manures, time OF planting. mode of
treating, or the like so far as such are the
causes of difference, they are under our
control. Generally, in this vicinity, we get
our best crops and our best potatoes, from
lands that have not been cultivated before
such lands as we change from natural
pastures TO tillage or, our reclaimed mead
ow or swamp lands. The excellence here
is owing TO the fact that the lands are netc.
But such lands can only rarely be hOd on
the farm. We want potatoes. and We mus,
cultivate them, for the most part. upon
grounds that have long been in iiliage.-
And what are our best processes?
We meant 10 have answered this question
deliberately, but we are tied by slight sick
less 10 the house, and have moi our refer
eucc books within reach. We can only
give general directions.
The manure, especially barn manure,
should never be put in the hill, in any con-
siderable quantity but it should be spread
and narrowed or plowed in. 1t is common.
very common, 10 put all the manure in the
hill but this is unwise, excepting i'll few
wet spots Of heavy soil. A little plaster,
lire, ashes, or other concentrated manure,
MAJ be put in the hill, perhaps-but gener-
ally these would be as well spread broadcast.
Such we give as The general inference from
our reading upon the subject. Our prac
tee has been different. and our success uery
small Potatoes have been our poorest
crop.
State OF The Ground. The soil should in
some way be made light, if this be possible.
We DO 10; suppose that it needs 10 be
much puverized, but it must be quite
pervious 10 the air. Straw or other coarse
manure, is serviceablc in effecting this end.
Place for the Seed.-The natural surface
of the field is as low as the seed should ev
er be put. No furrow should be opened TO
receive the seed but it should lie at the
surface or higher. Having loose earth un-
der ii, the crop will be better. This we
learn, not from reading alone, for the expe-
rience of last year did all that one years
experience could do, 10 proue that this is
the best wey. Our own course this year
will be to back-furrow into ridges, and plant
on the ridge.
Position of the Seed.-Suppose you had
long potato sent you from abroad, and that
you had never seen one before. You wish
10 plant it-how will you place itl Upon
examining ii, you will see at once that the
most of the eyes are at the small end, and
that the eyes generally are set 10 shoot up
in the direction of the small end. You will
at once say that the potato should be set on
end-the large end dopn-and that the
small end should be Just even, or nearly e.
ven. with the surface of the ground. This
IL The trse 'Cay to plant. Try it, with few
Il east.
Seed Whole.-In our paper of Dec. Z,
we gave the results of various experiments
which We made last season. Those exper.
Iments proved that it is more profitable TO
plant the seed whole. than to cut. The ex.
periments also proved that it is profitable TO
roll the seed in plaster. We found. too.
That small seed though whole, is less profit.
able than large.
adaptation of kind 10 the SOil.-Our rea.
ders Eiay remember the opinion expressed
last year by Hon. Mr. Plunkelt, of Pittsfeld,
Thai the round and oblong round potatoes
are much better suited 10 dry lands than the
kidney shaped and fiat. We believe there
is good ground for this opinion-for the
,ong,fed' which is aR oblong round, con-
llhuss 10 preserve its producliyeuess and its
Gooo qualities, on some dry farms, where
me Chenangoes ami other flat potatoes de.
lenorate rapidly; Will, on some moist. and