Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-03-17
MARCU cONTINI

Early Potat0es.-The earlier YOU get
your potatoes into the market, the better
will they pay; therefore, so soon as the
frost is out of the ground, and the earth in
a condition to be ploughed and put in fine
order, get it ready, and plant your pota-
| toes.
Soils, 3r-GraSs-sward, Uorer-leys,aad
ne,e ground, are said to be the soils and
places best adapted to the growth of pota-
toes. Light, loamy soils, well filed with
vegetable matter, certainly grow the meal
lest and best favored roots,-though for
quantity, Judging from our ownexperience,
| stiff clays well worked, well mamred and
well cultivated, viii contend with the best
ofthem.
Hyou desire to grow large quantity,
there is no crop that is cultivated to which
more food must be given than the potatoc
1t Is greedy, coarse and voracious feeder
Its manure, be that what it may, must be
ample in quantity, rich in quality, and cal
culated from Its nature, to carry on, from
beginning to end, continuous supply Of
Pabulum. There must be no balk in the
qualification of the appetite Of the potatoc,
Whenever It's hunger and thirst may be
whetted into keenness, there must be no
lacking in themeans ofindulgence:-ieast-
| ing one part olite existence, and starving
| at another does not suit the habrudes, and
propensities of this most excellent root
privations suit not its taste or its nature
every check upon itsindulgence, paralyzes
its energies, and despoils ii of its proper
| tons.
Manure tor an acre oflaad.-1. Twenty
doublc-horse-cart loads of stable and barn
yard manure, 10 of each, 10 bushels of
ashes, and / bushcl ofplaster mixed well
together: 2. The same number of loads
| of barn-yard manure and marsh mud-salt
marsh the bcst-(equal quantities of cach:)
3. 10 bushels of bone-dust, and 10 bushels
Of ashes, and 10 loads Of mould of any kind,
mixed intimately: A. 10 loads of marsh
mud, 5 loads Of stable manure, so bushels
OF mari, and | bushel of plaster, mixed to-
gether. 5. 400 lbs. of Guano, 10 loads of
woods mould, and l bushel of plaster,
mixed together, would each make an cx-
celent dressing for an acre of potatoes.
Preparation Of tie ground.-We hold
that much depends upon the manner in
which the ground is prepared. Deep
ploughing, and perfect pulverization are
essentials to success; 50 much so, that
wewould invariably use the sub-soil plough
as an adjunct to the other in order that
the bed of the potatoe should not only be
deep and well pulvcrized, but dry, in or
der that its roofs may not be unfriendly
acted upon BY excess of moisture. If the
ground selected bca grass-sward, or clover
ley, the roller should precede the harrow,
to compress the furrow slices,which should
be turned fiat, and 10 avoid the disturbance
of the sods, the harrow should be run
lengthwise the furrows, to be followed by
the roller.
Laying oW tie ro,cs.-Lay off the rows
from y TO feet apart. The latter dis
tancc we prefer, as it allows US more room
to work the potatoes, and more ample
space for the circulation of light and air,
considerations Of moment in the growth of
this plant.
DepM othet tarow-The flrrow should
be 6 inches deep, to allow ample space for
deposiung the manure, inserting the sets
and covering.
Manaring and PlantiRg.-Strew the
manure 2 or 3 inches in depth, in the bot
tom of the rows, place the setts 10 inches
| apart npon the top of the manure, eyes
| uppermost, and cover either with the
plough, or hoe, as may best suit your con
vemencc.
Preparation Of tie setts.-We have al
ways been in the habit ofseIecting the best
potatoes we could find, large in size, and
Of changing our seed every second year.
And to so cut the sets, as to have at least
two eyes to each As we cut them we
rubbed the cut part either in plaster, or
ashes, so as to dry the wound, and prevent
bleeding, as we considered all escape Of
the juice, or water, as depressing the vigor
ofthe set, and retarding termination. Af-
terpreparing the setts thus, we spread them
out on some dry place, where wepermitted
them to remain : week before planting
them. When thus dried, they are not so
liable to rot in the ground and come up
more regularly.
Time Of 7oidRtiRg.-Wc have already
said, that the eariy planting should take
place, as soon as the absence of the frost,
the ground can beploughed and gotin first
rate order, and as from the immense terri
torial limits ofour country, there are from
to weeks difference in point of climate,
1t is impossible to designate any day, with
more precision than is implied by the pre-
ceding remarks. As to the time ofgetting
in the late crop of potatoes, we would
get them in between the goth Of April
and 10th of May, early planting, and early
harvesting, being the only chancellor avoid
ing the rot.
after Caltme.-As soon as the potatoes
begin to come up, run the harrow through
them This practice destroys weeds and
grass, ensures general stand, and serves
as a cultivation to the potatoes. When
the potatoes are up about 3 or inches,
throw furrow from them, returning it at