Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-05-18

only exposed, and upon each growth OF IL
inches this process should be repeated at
each alternate covering, turning the vines
towards the centre Of the hill, and in turn
bending ther, towards its oatsiae, and that
this process should be continued until the
vines showed blossom that these buried
stems would become covered with tubers,
and that the crop would be increased an
hundred fold, as compared With the old
style Of cultivation. This process We tried
faitlg ard soand it literally true as to the
number of potatoes produced, but they
were SO small as to be worthless. The
FIRST set of tubers formed nearest the origi-
nal seed, could Lo. receive proper share
Of pabulum to increase their size, all the
efforts Of the root being required for the
formation of the new tubers, and hence
the whole crop was Of inferior size. This
experiment, in connection with the fol-
lowing, we think, clearly points ont the
proper mode of cultlvatirg potatoes, and
shows US what errors are to be avoided.
fla piece Of Ground be well ard deeply
prepared, and potatoes be placed upon its
surface, ard Covered with four inches of
salt, or other refuse Ray, end without be-
ing buried in the soil at all, they will be
found to grow and to yield the usual crop,
but the quality will be inferior, as the too
free access OF sun and air will render them
green and bitter; but the number and
weight Of potatoes resulting will be as
great as any ether mode of cultivation.
Gen. Beatson published many years since
4 series ofe1periments made on the growth
of potatoes in the island Of ST. Helena.
He Used potatoes Of ell sizes, whole and
Sut, and he planted them at various depths,
from one to twelve inches. He found that
the largest potatoes covered at depth of
si1 inches, gave larger results than any
other mode.
The potato is usually called tuberous
rooted plant, but from this the grower
must ret understand that the tubers ever
grow on the roots, they always grow on
the stem above the original potato, and if
we continue to hill up the stem, new pota-
toes will continHe 70 form, andby this pro-
cess being carried CD at too late date, as
With the German method before spoken of,
50 many tubets will fern, that the first fer
nations cannot Perfect themselves, the
roots not being enabled tosupply pabulum
for all
From this We deduce the following ::
Large potatoes should be used for seed ;
they should be covered &c depth not e,-
ceedins 81. inches; they should be planted
as early in the season as practicable, to es.
cape the ravages cf The potato disease.
The hiling-up process should not be per-
severed in, and by such treatment better
result will be obtained than by any other.
TIE immediate surface cfthe ground should
he frequently disturbed during the early
growth Of the potato, fof The purpose Of
destroy ing weeds, and Of freely admitting
atmospheric influences. BY This method,
all the tubers formed upon the stem dur
ing the early growth will become large, as
new ones are not induced by killing up
the plants, and the result will be more
bushels of greater weight, and of perfectly
ripe tubers. Potatoes may be planted in
rows, and at three feet apart, and at SIX
inches distance in the rows they may be
covered by doubling the furrcw from each
side, with a covering of three inches, and
this May be repeated with another of four
or five inches, whereve. tie potato shall
appear near the surface of the ground. 4
drog-board may then be carried along the
surface of the ridges, moved By horse so
as to fatten down their tops, expose tie
ends of the young plants, and leave the
covering Of earth six inches in depth. The
after cultivation may be by disturbing the
earth between the ridges with a cultivator,
and cleaning the immediate surface of the
ridges By The Use OF the hoe. Potatoes
are sometimes annoyed by grubs. This
may be entirely prevented by sowing six
bushels of common salt to the acre between
the ridges, one or two days before using
the cultivator In blowing out the furrow
for planting potatoes, place in its bottom
the cheap organic matter before alladed to,
on which the seed potatoes may be placed,
100000 lbs. of potatoes contain 800
lbs. of potash, 234 lbs. of soda, 50 lbs. of
lime, 81 lbs of sulphuric acid, 40 lbs. of
phosphoric acid, and l5l lbs. of chlorine.
1t must be evident, therefore, that wood
ashes containing large amounts of potashj
is Useful as manure for potatoes, also
that common salt entirely composed Of
chlorine and soda, may be used with ad-
vantage, and the phosphoric and sulphuric
acids may be judiciously added, by the use
of super phosphate Of lime, which is bones
dissolved in sulphuric acid.
As stimulant to encourage the growth
of not,toee ammon;a ia usaf,1 and hence /