Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-02-05
" Potatoes, which, not fit to dig,
Would turn the stomach of pig"

Which are most profitable for farmers and con-
sumers! What is observed of potatoes is equal
lily true of every other kind of marketable pro-
duce
Perhaps in no part Of the duties of the farmer
has there been 50 much neglect as in selecting
and saving potatoes for seed Any potatoes
have been considered good enough for that pur-
pose, and any mode of preserving or keeping
them has been adopted Now to tits one fact
we trace portion of the evil that has visited us
in the potatoe crop. A greater mistake was new
err committed. To build house with unburnt
bricks we're wisdom compared with it.
By proper management in taking up the pc
tato, tubers Of the finest quality are easily spoil
ed; and on the contrary, by judiciou8 treatment,
even such as are watery may be considerably
improved. 1t is of the highest consequence
that light as we'll as frost should be guarded a.
gainst fer light renders the ubers unwhoc-
some and that in proportion to Its intensity aid
the length of time the tubers are exposed to its
influence.
The stems, and in fact all parts of the potato
plant above ground, are more or less poisonous.
Tubers are occasionally formed along the stem,
but they are, as we all know, green and bad
This is entirely owing to their exposure to light;
for had the stems been laid in the earth, so as
to have covered such stem-tubers from the COM
mencement of their growth, they would have
been just as good as tubers of the underground
formation. Potatoes, even in their dirty state
Il -, |
or, both externally and internally, and proper
tonably impaired in quality, by few days ex-
posture to light, in clear weather, although they
may not be exposed to the SUMS direct rays; but
the effect must be greater when the surface Is
washed and deprived of the partial shade afford
ed by the particles of soil.
The time was when potatoes were in many
instances spread out in the sun, in order to dry
them before storing in the earth No practice
could be worse, for the reasons above stated;
and, moreover, the object in view, that of rem
dering them ultimately drier and better in quail
lily, was not attained, On the contrary, although
deprived of a portion of their moisture in the
first instance, yet this only left room for the abb
sorpton Of moisture contaminated with gases,
generated in the place where they were stored
From this would have it inferred that pota.
toes should never be cleansed or washed before
they are stored; they should be dried with the
dirt remaining upon them, as they were taken
from the ground, but with the least possible ex-
posture to light. Potatoes for seed may remain
50 until it is time to plant them; those intended
for cooking may be taken out and dried several
days before they are wanted for use A writer
in the Reuue H0rticOh, French agricultural
publication, is aware of this fact. He says,
"In unlavorable seasons potatoes are always
found to be watery and without flavor, although
cooked with the greatest care. In this case the
mode of elfecting an amelioraton is easy it
consists in placing them near stove or oven,
for about week previously to their being used
at the end of that time they will be found
moaly and of good flavor" Objects of vast
importance are sometimes attained by very sim
pie means; and that to which the foregoing re-
marks apply, is by no means undeservng con-
sideraiion. At a meeting of farmers in Scot
land they gave clearly the results of their varied
experience and one fact all the speakers SEEM
ed to agree in, which was, that potatoes left in
the ground, where they grew, always produced
healthy crop. Many farmers confirm this
One farmer says he has followed this same plan