Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-04-29
POtatQes.

Land intended for potato crop should
be p!oughed in the fall, so tia! the gras;
or other vegetable matter may be more ef
tectually rotted or deeomposed preparatory
to a second plougbing in the Spring
Lands naturally dry, and containing large
portion of silex sand, would no. plough
early in Spring, as they are more liable to
be too much washed by the rain, which
would deprive them Of their fertilzing
properties; and, in this way they would
probably be more injured than benefited
from the influence Of the atmosphere
Hence it is evident that the trcatrcn: and
management Of land preparatory to plant.
lug, is of much greater consequence to.
wards obtaining productive crop, than is
generally supposed, and that there are bu,
few soils, however defective in their pow.
ers of promoting vegetation, that can not
BY some application be made fertile OF
productive.
There is no crop to which this observa-
tion applies so well, as to the cuiti, alton of
potatoes, as every extra expense incurred
inproducing them is repaid, often ten-fold,
by the produce, and in that Of the succee-
ding crops; whereas, by mistaken economy
or bad management, two crops may be
lost, at least there is little probability of
their proving Productive. With respect to
rich and deep soils, they seldom require
any other aid than good cultivation and a
reasonable share of manure at the time Of
planting.
The management and choice of seeds is
4 matter Of great importance. In the case
Of ordinary farmers, upon this alone the
success or failure Of crop often depends,
and, in fact. the neglect of this is the
principal cause of the quality Of potatoes
SO generally degenerating, and the practice
of introducing seed SO often resorted to.
1t has been asserted b. many that by
changing seeds, particularly that of pota-
toes, from one description of soil to ano;h-
er, it is materially renovated. Seed that
is produced of of land that has been
passed and beamed is generally preferred,
and, perhaps it will not be considered as
merely theoretical to assert that a crop
produced in this manner, retains the prop
critics Of the soil in which it has been cul-
tivated, and that these properties remain
in force at the time of its re-vegetation.
Ohe thing, however, is evident, and it may
be considered the chief reason why this
description Of potatoes are the bes. for
seed, namely, they are generally more
spongey and succulent, the coat or skin
cleaner and freer from scab, and the eyes
more healthy and numerous. Good sized
potatoes only should be cut, and all ILL.,
shaped ones rejected. 1t is not unreason-
able to suppose that if the deterioration
Of crop is caused by bad management,
good management and attention will re-
store it to its original quality and value.
Much care should be taken in cutting the
seed, as it often happens that the strongest
eyes are cut through, and consequently
will not produce healthy shoot. l have
also found it necessary to leave two tubes
on each seeding and perform this work
ten or twelve days, previous to planting
After the land being ploughed ten or
twelve inches deep, and well narrowed, l
open drills thirty-two inches apart, and
nine to twelve inches deep, laid horse sta
bic dung into the drills, draw a little dirt
over with a rake, about one half inch
thick and lay the seed on top. This keeps
the seed dry. After the seed are laid in
the rows, l cover them with the plough
about eight inches deep. When the young
shoots are within about two inches Of the
surface, I harrow along the rows to the
depth of not injuring the scion, after which
the cultivator follows single time. When
the vines are about four inches high, l
plough six inches deepfrom the vines with
4 one horse plough, if the weather is dry
and no vegetation in the air. This ought
to be ploughed up to the vines next day;
but, if it be cloudy weather it may remain
three days. Before they begin to blossom
they are ploughed up second and last
time. By this they find uour:shment in
the loose soil, which they do by sending
'0ssn their Joung roots This consider |