Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-07-13
AOrtrnItmraI.
Killing Potatoes.

several years ago,we made an expert
ment 10 ascertain whether billing potatoes
whsTof any advantage. We left two rows
with the ground level I; those on each side
hiiled in the usual mode. % Az harvest time,
IL was found, by careful, measurement that
the two rows left level yielded most-how
much most, we have forgotten. Since that
time, we never chill up" potatoes, unless
the grounds too wet, and we wan, 10 turn
of the waier.s An inch or two Of earih
over the iubers will keep the sun from in
juring them, aud tina, is all that is needed.
We see some one, who signs IAN Old Far
mer," gives the resuh'of an experiment Of
this nature In the ~ E. Farmer. lie left
two rows in the piece untitled, OF only gave
a little earth at the first hoeing. At harvest,
he measured.ihe proddct Of The two unhiII-
ed rows, as well us that Of two rows on
each side, and the untitled rows gave five
pecks more (and larger pota,oes) than eli.
Their two Of tho other rows. lie argues
tand reasonably that by hillmg We deprive
the crop Of the benefits OF moisture. lie
says potatoes need a mellow soil; but this
cannot be well secured Big increasing the
size Of the hill after planting. A CORES.
pondcnt Of the London Gardeners Chroni.
Gle says, "Moulding up potatoes rctards the
formation Of the iubers." The editor of
that publication doubts the conclusion Of
his correspondent, and says, Potatoes are
stunted and swollen branches proceeding
from the side Of the main STEMS which
alone rise into the air, cloth themselves
with leayes. and SO convey thcis food 20
their underground progeny.
Now, the quantity Of lateral branches will
be in proportion 10 the qoantiiy Gf earth
through which the stem passes !; lubers are
lateral, branches, aud therefore the quantity
Of tubers will be regulated by the same cause.
Moulding up is a conlrivance 10 increase
the quantity Of earth through which the
main stems have TO pass, and should, there
fore. according to the theory, be benef.
ciaI operation"
Now we do not understand how il is that
POTATOES are siunted and swollen branch
esq &c. We believe that potatoes pro-
coed from a class Of roots or stems entirely
different from others, and designed pariicu-
larly aud exclusively for the production Of
tubers In the next place, we see The ed.
itor contends that as moulding up" in-
creases the number Of lateral branches, the
quantity Of potatoes would also he increased
by The same means. Our experience Ia,
laugh, Us a somewha, differen, conclusion,
We admit that the large suan,i,y of earth
through which the main STEM pssses has
tendency 10 increase the number Of lateral
branches; but we have NOT found mi, in.
crease of branche, or roots accompsnied by
a corresponding increase m The weigh, or
Weld Of potatoes. In other words. we have
found ear,b;pg or "mouldinU" nm 10 increase
the number Of .roaia,. and , hs' W anmhas- ~
iubers, but not the yield either inweigh,
or measure. because they were "small pola-
toes" We have also noticed that those
varieties which throw out great number
Of lateral branches. produce many iubers
in number but few in the aggregate weight.
The editor speaks Of potatoes being pro-
duced in the dark. which formed all over