Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-03-16
The cultivation Of the Potato.

EDS. CULTIvAToR-My own experiments o
eight years, with the potato, have very much
encouraged me to continue the alternate culture
Of seed and its seedlings, with careful selec'
lions.
The process does materially improve the po.
tatoe in nrV and excellent rarieiies-!n health
and productiveness. AT the same Time, much
depends for success, upon proper situation and
preparation of soil, manner Of cultivation, time
Of planting, lifting and good storage.
Good upland soil, deep thorough powing,
early panting-with well cultivated approved
Seeding varieties, in shallow drills, early weed
ing, light hiling, early lifting, and dry airy
storage, does more for the redemption Of the
potato from disease, than all the nostrums the
world can devise.
Potato seed, though itproduces generally diff
lorent varieties in its seedlings, will not be like
ly to produce varieties or qualities, with which
it has no connexiSn. If new and choice va
ricles be expected from sowing the seed, care
should be taken to obtain seed from good va.
ristes, or in the immediate neighborhood of the
same.
Seed from the balls, will transmit from dis
eascd stock, in some degree, that disease to it'
seedlings-to some varieties more than others.
Somo have gathered balls from any where
without regard to the character Of the stock
planted tho seed, and finding in the seedng
disease and inferior specimens, abandoned a
once the experiment, and in their Judgment
Seeding potatoes are no better than old ones.
The same laws that govern the apple, peacf
and strawberry, in their culture for new anC
choice varieties, govern also, the potato. If I
new choice Seeding apple, pear, or strawberry
be desirable, why not new and excellent pota
tol But neither is to be obtained without the
use of their seed, and may be, not without {
series Of experiments, with careful selections.
Potato seed, from properly selected, well cul
tivatcd seedlings, combining through tho seeC
The best varieties at home and from abroad, is
among the most valuable seeds to be found in
market,
Potato seed may be sown like the tomato
early in hot bed for an early crop; or like cab
bage, in a rich bed in a warm place, and trans
planted; or with a seed planter in the fields,
with great profit; or broadcast, on rich fine soil,
and lightly narrowed in, with no other cultiya-
ton, and the crop of young seedlings, the very
best, for planting the next season.
Early sowing this seed and early lifting, gives
the potato tendency to early rpenng. Lifting
the potato before it has perfected its growth, it is
found dryer in ncooking, will keep better through
the winter, vegetale earlier in the spring, and
become more hardy in its constitution.
Medium sized potatoes cook better, Of finer
quality aad flavor, will plant more ground by
the bushel, and are more exempt from disease.
Nipping off the weeds, just boow their roots,
soon as their appearance, is better remedy for
the potato disease than ripping The zines.
My crop of the last season, combining all my
best varieties through the seed from homo and
abroad, is good. Exempt from the prevalent
disease, productive, and developing, from the
seeds obtained notlong since from different parts
Of the world, viz; Prussia, England, South
America, Mockinaw, and other places, varieties
promising valuable acquisition TO the potato
market. The crop of about 400 bushels,
shows distinctly in itshealhy and strong foliage,
loaded with balls, is strongly marked aud dis.
lipcl varieties, and The increase of new varieties
of fine appearance, the behelits of the progress
slve alternate culture. N. S. SMITH.
Buffalo, Jan. 4, 40. '..'.A