New-York daily tribune., 1844-05-02

Read nj the Amcrcnn Institute and coiapncatei 10 the
New-Yotk Tribune
To keep potatoes good after they are raised,
they ought TO be kept from the sun, light and air;
when raised in the field cover them with straw
or something else until they arc secured for the
winter or sold. Storekeepars ought to have
close bins covered with sUds TO keep tho air out,
and hole in the bottom resembling 4 line-kiln,
to draw them out as they are wanted, and on no
account ought they TO be tramped or bruised;
they are nearly easily injured as sppes, al
though it is not 50 easy to be seen. There are
great many injured and unsound potatoes sold
in New York market, which are injurious to tealth
and ought not to be permitted to enter the city.
Good potatoes arc great blessing 10 man, but
bad are a great evil. As In the seed they ought
to be buried in pits when raised with thre. feet
earth on them, which will keep them from bud
poiatoe will do as we'll as the whole, provided
they are kept from the sun until planted.
To remedy the ev! therefore all must JON in
the undertaking, and II must begin with the hon.
est farmer the baskets must be laid aside and
square boxes provided without covers these box
cs made TO a certain size so as 10 hold from one
to four or more bushels, good measure when
stroked as grain fasten them at the bottom and
corners with tin or hoop iron TO strengthen them,
and nail narrow strip OF hoop iron on the top
edge at the mouth to keep it from wearing; then
in each square near the top make slit sufficient
IL long and wide 10 admit the hand with ease.
which will answer for handle to move 1t by; let
each box htvei its owners name branded on with
hotiron The boatmen, s!orekeepersand all,mu
provide themselves with sufficient number for
ba, ,i,o tI,o
country, and will be brought TO market for sale if
they come into general use. When the potatoes
are raised for immediate sale and near New York,
:hc farmer ought 10 take his boxes into the field
ard there fill them, and place them on his wagon
they sit one on the top OF the other in rows; they
will pack close and The upper ones will be a cover
for the undor ones without inlurlng either; III al.
casts the upper tier must he covered with straw,
hay or something else. They are then brought
to the boat where they are taken on board either
by hand or tackle; they viii stow close and all
the upper tier must be covered. y wagon is un-
loaded in few minutes; no measuring, only
count the boxes and see their size, and you know
the quantity. When the boat comes to New.
York the slorekeeper fixes on The price and kind;
the boxes arc Immediately placed upon his cart,
he takes them home, puts the potatoes carefully
the boxes in the same manner as pals are used
which bring fresh butter 10 market. In this way
the potatoes are never disturbed from the time
they leave the field until! they are in the city with
the buyer In the event of boats bringing pota-
toes a long distance, say from Nova Scotia,
Maine or up the North River where they bring
large quantity, there ought 10 be propc: bnsx
between decks for each kind, with passages 10
of leather six inches in diameter, with wooden
box so fixed at the mouth or entrance as to
throw the potatoes lin. The leader is laic
on board so placed as TO carry the potatoes to
their proper place between decks; portfolios Or
holes in the deck ought to be made il the matches
will not answer.
When the vessel comes to New Nork, open
small hole in the bottom of the bin like lime
kiln or q charcoal box; draw out with wooden
shovel; fill the boxes place them on The deck,
and when the buyer comes they arc ready and
Immediately placed on his wagon Or cart, taken
home, placed carefully away, and the boxes re-
turned in this way the buyer is not detained,
the potatoes being ready filled up and the captain
saves time by getting off sooner. In bringing
potatoes from Ireland they ought never to be put
III small baskets or hampers as they now are,
which Injuries them; the salt air affects and da-
IMAGES the potatoe, and one quarter or more are
lost before they reach our shore. To bring them
safe and good the same preparation ought to be
used as by vessels from distance (already de-
scribed, let the bins be covered SIX or eight
inches deep with sods or earth in the vessel and
under the potatoes; then conduct them by lead
ers through the port holes or otherwise to their
destined place; cover them in like manner with
sods, clay or mould they will arrive here safe if
no sea water reaches them, and will bring l2
cents more per bushel than they might by being
brought in the common way, and the expense of
bringing earth would not be more taan the ham,
pers now in llse-bcsides such earth would bring
a good price for manure, as the soil of England
and Ireland is OF great value to the land about
New-Nork.
To carry all the above plans into effect there
ought TO be a law passed to punish severely any
fraud that might be committed either in nuring
the potatoes or in the size filing al the boxes.
TIE ADVANTAGES AND PROFITS.
One third Of the ground is only cultivated or
disturbcd-two thirds. that is two feet under the
potatoes is not injured. but much enriched; the
crops increase 2O0 bushels per acre; this at 30
cents per bushel will be equal to GO dollars per
acre; $40 loss for extra labor will equal $50 per
acre gained. besides bringing six cents : bushel
more; and suppose 700 bushels 10 an acre ate cents
equal to S42-,herefore the farmer gains S92 per
acre. and the market-boat gains in time over
$3.50 in the year, besides an increase OF business
There are now over 500, coo bushels of potatoes
used in the City annually, one-quarter of which
is lost by being damaged-thereiorc $4,000
bushels AT 80 cents, S31 500 that the farmer
would gain $50 per acre; the boatmen $3.50 per
annum, and the consumer S37 800 per annum;
but the greatest OF ali profits would be to have
good and healthy dish at table. am aware that
have counted the profits fax too low.
cannot in Justice to the public close this
without a few remarks on the difference between
sound and unsound potatoes; when unsound po
taloes arc fed to animals it changes their appear
ance, affects their health and the animal becomes
poor. An instance OF this occurred under
nv own observation not long since: man had
poor potatoes-the hogs refused them unless when
very hungry; he wanted to fat.cn them, and