The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-04-12
\ 9My CUE TJEia A Hao
Culiurc and PrrSeryalion Of Potatoes.

Culture and Preservation OF Potatoes.
Having the present year, notwithstanding
the droaght, succeeded in growing and preser-
wing fine and he aithy crop ofpotatSes. have
decided TO furnish an account of the circum-
stances under which they were produced, and
my opinion relative thereto, for insertion IN
your journal. should you deem it worthy of
place therein.
About t he first of May planted FIVE acres
IN the following manner:-rhe soil was dry
rnicaceous, sandy loan, grad ally rolling, with
southren exposure; the seed used. was both
VIII tie and purple MERGERS, principally large
ones. cut INTO three pieces, and rolled in gyp-
sum, and allowed TO lie but few hours after
cutting. The field was an old sward, prine.
pally of moss and garlcs; the manure applied
was entirely from the yards, made from the
COW and horse stables and the siyes, about
tW eni y-fve two horse loads per acre, spread
broadside before the plow-the land having
been heavily lined several years previous
The planting process commenced with the
lil!age, by dropping the pieces f the tnbers
(prepared above,) about one foot apart in the
bottom of every furrow, which was FIVE inches
il depih ana len wide. strewng them with ash
es and fine charcoal. about twenty bushels per
The plowing performed in The
u,ual manner, in lands of the twenty five yl rds
each.
immediately after planting, the ground was
thoroughly rolled After it had lain few
days it received repeated harrowings, length
wise Of the furrows. in the warm part of the
day, which continued un.il the tops were three
iuches in height, after which they remained
without t!iago until some eight inches high,
when the cultivator was passed through, be
tween the rows, and The weeds. if any, reno
we'd. They then received light top-dressing
of gypsum, after which they remained unfouch-
ed until fl for harvest, which was done
saon ihe skins of the new tubers were
firmly set. but before all The tops were entirely
dead. We began to dig a bout the FIR ST of Sep.
ember, before the autuInnal rains commenced
The were placed in cool, dark ce llar ard
spread on the ground floor about eighteen in.
ches thick, where they remained for two
mouths, when they were assorted and placed in
b ms about four feet deep, there to remain until
marketed in the spring. They have SO far
kept perfectly, there being no visible traces of
disease in the entire crop.
The yield was about $50 bushels per acre,
which vas mech greater product han anti
cipaied, on account Of the excessive drought.
The whole expe of the iillage of this crop
did not exceed fou: cent per bushel. indepen-
dent OF the planting and harvesting, which
cost not less than Ten cents per bushe!, making
the aggregate cost of producing The Eve acres
(includng The seed. so bushels at so cents per
bushel.> S239. Potatoes of the quality of mine |
are worth eighty cents per bushei in Phil |
ldelpha ket which would make the
value OF the crop S56l Truly, this is not 50
lucrative some ofthe miners in California
lave represented the raising of gold 10 be; nev-
er;heess. l think the MERGERS. well roasted,
sci quite W ell well upon an empty stom
ach as gold ore, and Judging from the effect
reduced upon the morals and customs of the |
nations in which the precious metals are most
lbundant, much prefer being cIassed with the
than the miners.
JOHN WILKINSON.