Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-04-14
farmers 9epartmt.
RAISING PoTAroEs.

l.. r IL
Nh En,roR As the time OF planning
tbis esculeut root, the potato, isnear at manu.
Il NAV not be out of place to make tew re-
n,arks ON its culture. From my experience
in racing potatoes, lam convinced that the
middle planting, as il is called, is the surest
of making a good crop, 1 know that much
depends on the weather If il should happen
TO be dry ut the time the potato vines are 10
blossom and the potato about forming, we
cannot expect much OF a crop; out IL, plan.-
ing at O certain season, the rams are n,oIe
apt to suit the potato, it should be our oa'y
to endeavor to plant our potatoes at tnai
time. I have, however generally divided
nv time of planting into three periods; the
first rs early in tho spring as 1t Will do,
sometimes by the first Of April, and some
times later, according as the spring is ior-
ward or backward. At this planting, put
in about one-fourth Of the patch. The next
or middle planting, is done about the 18th oi
April, at which time put in one-half OF the
whole patch and the last planting is dore
from the fifth TO the tenth of May when
put in the remaining one-fourth. 1t some
times happens that the first or the last
planting turns out the best; in case this
happens, / am sure Of part Of my crop
being good. But as the middle planting is
generally better than the others, plant
double the quantity at that time. My rea-
sons for making three divisions in the crop
are obvious and think the best that can
be adopted.
As have now stated my time Of planting,
with my reason for so doing, / will proceed
to give you the best manner fplantng, &c.
A clover sod is superior to any other kind
have ever tried and to obtain this. it Is
best to sew clover with oats. and leave il
lay over until the next spring, instead oi
plowing mp the oats stubble and sowing with
wheat. The portion Of this stubble intended
for potatoes, should be enclosed with tempo
rary fence, and the remaining part may bt
pastured Give the clover sod good coat @
manure, or apply four hundred pounds o
gpauo per acre, the manure is preferable. y
If fmanure is used it should be raked in oil
the potatoes, after they are dropped if qua
ma it may be sprinkled in the furrOw, and il
both instances plowed under to the depth O
four inches. The potatoes shonld be plante,
in every second furrow. After the potatoe
are planted, q good rolling will be of advau
tage. as it will level the ground and gil u
the small hollows.
When tho potatoes are Just coming through
the ground should be thoroughly loosened u
by using the square harrow on it. As 500
SIS the potatoes are large enough, not 10 b
covered up, the cultivator should be used. b
taking out the two back teeth, and running
twice on q row. Continue this every fe,
days, until the vines begin to fall. The plo,
is OF no advantage, as it throws the dirt 4
the potatoes. aud leaves furrow between tn
rows. so that when it rains, the water runs il
the burrows, and is thus keeps from the root
of the potato.
If this plan be followed, it is hardly posi-
BILE to fail having fair crop. Some plan
pumpkins with their potatoes, and raise
considerable quantity Of them; but probabl
it tends to draw the virtue Of the soil fror
the potato.
Another very essential point in the raisp
ofpotatoes, successfully, is that of changin
the seed every 6ve or six years. They, lik
almost everything else, follow the course {
nature, and degenerate when planted in th
same soil for any considerable length of time
In proof of this, / will give one instanc,
only. A neighbor about ten years ago, wa
fortunate enough to secure smooth kind
MERGERS. which when FIRST planted yiclde
very we'll, so much so, that all the EeighboI
bought of him and planted. Where the
have bought within two or three years, the
still raise fine crops, fully equal to when frt
introduced while for the last two or thrc
years, he has not had more than half crop
therefore, they want changing.
have already heightened out this muc
beyond my intentions when commencing, an
will therefore close.-Cor. Ger. Telegraph