Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-03-29

RAISING POTATOES UNDER STRAW.


EDITORS OF Ono CULrrTAroR.- propose in
q familiar way, to tell your readers how to
raise good crop Of potatoes. I am aware,
however, that many farmers will not consider
it very appropriate season of the year to
talk about raising potatoes, now. Just as the
current crop of remarkable small potatoes"
has boen secured, and winter setting in; but
my theory is, that winter being the least busy
part of the year for the farmer, and withal
the season just preceding the spring, is the
most appropriate time that can be chosen In
which to arrange or form his plans for the en-.
suing spring and summer; to determine what
kind of crop shall be grown on each field, so
that when the season of active operation ar
rives, no time need be wasted in considering
what is to be done, but all be prepared to move
on tremendously and successfully.
All will have noticed the miserable failure
Of the potato crop throughout this, as well as
several other States. Thousands will have to
do without potatoes this winter, or pay exhor-
biant prices for them, while the same labor
which they have applied to their potato crop,
would, had it been properly expended, have
secuted an abundance and to 81 are of that de.
licious and wholesome Vegetable.
1t is to the end that such failure need not
again occur, even though the season may be as
dry as has been the past, and thus early pro-
pose to give the readers of the Cultivator a
few suggestions on the subject, also that ample
time may be had to make the necessary ar
rangements, which by the way, are few, and
by no means difficult to make. | have this
year raised a crop of as sound, good potatoes,
as ever need be set before the most fastidious
epicure. They are now worth here, 81 IL
cents per bushel, what pays better. y and are
spoken of by all who come to our table, as
being the best they have seen this season. Yet
it was so dry here that our corn dried up, and
not half crop was realized.
The plan l have adopted is not original
with myself, but has been published in various
agricultural journals. However, it requires a
precept upon precept, and evidence piled up.
on evidence, to induce people to adopt any
thing new, plain and simple though it be.
My plan is as follows Select good mel
low piece of land, rich enough to bear good
corn, either stubble Or sward will do. and pillow
it thoroughly six Or eight inches deep, as soor
:, as it is dry and sufficiently warm for potatoe.
s to vegitate. Harrow and mark off lightly
with shovel plough, one way, about 2 - Of
: feet apart. Sc ect sound and good-sizet
r potatoes for seed, if you can get them, ant
: drop in the rows about Is inches apart, an(
cover lightly, about 2 inches, say. 1t is al
y important point to get them planted early, AM
IS | think early varieties do better than late
r The Blue Meshannock consider equal to an,
extent.
The next operation is, to cover the who'll
r. surface of the ground with old straw or par
n TALLY rotted manure, to the depth of 5 Or
i. inches. if the materials used are wet, Or to tn
d depth of 10 or II inches, if dry straw is USED
Is as the latter will settle considerably when
st becomes moistened by the rain.
d AS the soil and weather are rather cool a
,r this season, | find it advantageous to delay til
n. application of straw until the potatoes hav
n sprouted and grown nearly to the surface
ID They thus come forward earlier than if cover
st ed Immediately on planting.
IN If the work thus far has been properl
ae done, nothing more is necessary until the pc
m tatoes NEW ones) are large enough to di
re and eat" The advantages of this method ar,
he first, it efectually secures the crop againl
drouth secondly, the crop needs no atteutio
in the busy part Of the season, as no weet
I'll will terminate or grow where the ground is s
n covered. Thirdly, lastly and most gioriousl,
n it secures an abundant crop, whether the SCI
nc son be wet or dry, hot Or cold. Should Ii
10 weather be ucry wet, the potatoes should /
m dug as soon as ripe, and placed in dry, COZ
III situation, otherwise they might rot, as tt
re straw is great retainer of moisture.
ri | think good mellow land, just cleare
> would do well to plant without any plowin
but merely drop the seed upon the surface, an
G. cover with the straw, in which case it wou
az az not be much trouble to dig the potatoes, an
" by the way, it is not when planted in Of
~ ground, as they grow very near the surface.
- - Try it, brother farmers; eat good potato
~ next year, and report the result. j. @. Cow
~ CosHooToN Co., Dec. 1854.-Ohio Cult
- uator.