Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-06-08

Potatoes.
Benjamin Lyman, Of Columbia. Copnec,;c,,
III communication to the Massachusetts pIov.
H'an' 'hlnks that many farmers use TOO much
Seed IN the raising Of potatoes. About forty.
ilVe ,., years ago he obtained two bushels Of The
hIdney potato. cut them very small. put from
."o 10 'hree eyes IN bill; and thus planted a.
oou' quarter OF an acre. The ground was
very rich, having had corn on the ground the
year previous. There were one hundred and
ll'y-sN bushels of potatoes dug from the niece.
molhe SIX Or eight years ago, in the time of the
Roman lever he had one potato about the size
ot a hen egg, from which he planted Two hills
ana had one peck. From one more obop, tho
S'ze OF goose egg, planted in hills, he had one
ouSne' ana halt. The second year. from one
peck OF lhe seed of the first mentioned po,a.
toes, no had sixteen bushels, many of which
would weigh from two to three pounds aniara.
Mr.. Buckminster, the editor of the pIowoon
III reference to the subject Of Mr. Lyman's
communication, makes some Judcous remarks,
which follow: ''''''' no
"coS'S more 10 set an acre of potatoes--or
as we say lor the seed potatoes. than for onv
Seeu'uS on the farm. peck Of seed corn is
""se quah1l'y Tor an acre; but we use from 10
'on 10 twenty bushels of potato bulbs As pri.
1o' "oW are--say sixty cents per bushel, the
80 VI ouloS Tor an acre cannot be less than six
uo"afS--hore than twenty times as much ne
'ne peck OF seed corn. This, together. with
'le Iact mat potato tops are good for NOTHING
IIg" ''o 'oo's are permitted to rpen, must be
Lu,y ,h" considered by such as grow more potatoes
'ha9 enough for family use.
Farmers are learning that potatoes do not
eaVe lhe soil richer than they found il; thouob !,
NE contrary IN former times was generally sun.
'oSed' And on many farms, corn is found 10 !,
% cheoPer Tor iauening all kinds of animals :,
nan potatoes are. Corn can be kept over from u
,e'f 70 year, but potatoes cannot With all .
neSo disadvantages the potato is a popular os. " u
u,Gn'' ana lew are wiIIingto dine withouti. y
Iolatocs flourish best in new ground and in ~
ew countries. Probably we cannot exnect at
mem to grow here in future as thrifty rs when u
ne soil was now. In England the COMPLAINS al
'ne falling off and blasting of the poratoJ y
roP III some OF the counties are of long stand. ~
z. Sc
For potatoes the soil should be deem and
lould be PIowcd deep; loi in New England "'
10y arc more apt to suffer from dry weather 20 ="
IAN almost any crop. Green sward lard Is ~
ST Tor lhem when the season is not too drv. "
u. VI dfy summers green sward is DRYER than
" mat was TILED the previous year--hat is. u
hoh III PIowed but short time before plant. 9'''
<. ore
We have found, practice. that green sword Gu
rned up IN October Of heprevious year, with IS; pr
'ood coating of grass, and we'll narrowed down Jus
Panlhg Tune, make good soil for potato .o'
oP II does not lie so heavy as old ground. !"
Il II does not dry up like fresh green sward. 'll.
Il potatoes oI good sizo are wanted, there .'uy
QUA not be large quantity Of lubcrs planted P"s
" h'''' one good potato is enough when the =
IS are three feet apart There chasbeenson,o "'o
oo' among farmers wheherlhe small and nm. Pu'
~ Po'a'o's are not better than the full grown " ~
.S lor planting. Aud some farm rs oclnoIly '''c
Sc la'o potatoes and dig them before thew aro @ t'S
g Tor the next planting. For there il n risk l%e'
y ce'orofo'lon when the small potatoes are :" ,V
.lormly saved for future crop. y
Many farmers havo been in the practice or 1re o'
V'NS me ground fiat, making up no hills for "'o'
P"u''ooS' But we cannot approve of this. S'o I
. 'ubnrs need loose mould around them. and ="
II never suffer as corn does, by being buried DC
P' The earth between the rows NAV be- stir. SPG1'
as oeh as you please while tho plants are T.'u i,
It, but when tho blossoms appear, the plow ulSc u
the hoe should be kept away. 50 Il
'aS'er IN each hiII--say half spoonful. is soV'
ufe to help the potato as any crop we have s's''
''er aud ashes mixed together are food for ,',"c "
No's as we'll as corn. They both tend to III C. 9
the earth moist and plaster is always !, . :,
ld IN tho vines. shal
s To bn,n monuros ,ho,, ,,.L... calic
he shoyelGI in ,ho I'M " 'o' " DC put in fc
ps dries up, and invites worms to como and %
III themselves. And while there they some. 'io nl
IS stay and take breakfast ir not dinner. on ouuc
potato roots. The quality of the potato is pass pass
'r there is less danger of rot, and there is u.",'
iaoor IN spreading the manure over the y .
'e ground than in placing it in each hill. s,,,l o1,E
Iand too, is left better Tor the succeeding : ''ll l
Telegraph. 'ney