Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-02-16
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Rafting Potatoes under Straw.

naming kot4toco unuck otEdWs
EprroRs Ono CuLrIvAroR |
propose in familiar way. TO tell your
readers how to raise q good crop Of
potatoes. | am aware, however, that
many farmers will not consider il We
~ appropriate season of the year to
talk about raising potatoes, now. Just
a. the current crop Of remarkably
"small potatoes" has been secured.
and winter setting in: but my theory
10, that winter being the least busy
part OF the year for The farmer, and
wishal the season just preceding the
spring, Is the most appropriate time
that can be chosen in which TO ar
range or form his plans for tie ensu.
ing spring and summer to determine
what kind Of a crop shall be grown on
each field, so that when the season Of
active operation arrives, no time need
be wasted in considering what is to be
done, but all be prepared to move on
tremendously and successfully.
AL viii have noticed tho miserable
failure Of the potatoe crop through
out this, as well rs several other
States. Thousands will have TO do
without potatoes this winter. or pay
exorbitant prices for them. while the
same labor which they have applied to
their potato crop, would, had il been
properly expended. have secured an
abundance and TO spare Of that delic-
ious and wholesome vegetable.
II Ia to the end that such failure
need not again occur, even though the
season may be as dry as has been the
past, that l thus early propose to give
the readers Of tho Cultivator few
suggestions on the subject. also that
ample time may be had to make the
necessary arrangements, which, by the
way, are few. and by no means diill.
cult 10 make. l have this year raised
q crop Of as sound, good potatoes. rs
ever need be set before the most fas-
tidious epicure. They are now worth
here e7i cents per bushel, (what pays
better? and are spoken of by all who
come TO our table. a. being the best
they have seen this season. Yet il
was so dry here that our corn all dried
up, and not q half a crop was reali-
sed.
The plan l have adopted is not orig
inal with myself, but has been pub
lished in various agricultural journals.
However. IL requires precept upon pre-
eept, and evidence piled upon evi.
dence, to induce people to adopt any
thing new. plain and simple though Il
be.
My plan is as follows Select n
good mellow piece Of land, rich
enough TO bear good corn; eitherstub-
BILE or sward will do, and pillow Il
thoroughly six or eight inches dee !, as
soon as Ii Is dry and sufficiently warm
for potatoes to vegetate. Harrow and
mark off lightly with a shovel plow,
one way. about q or 3 feet apart
Select sound and good sized potatoes
for seed; II you can get them, and DROP
in rows about 10 inches apart, and
cover lightly, about inches, say. Il
Is an important point TO getthem plant
ed early. and think early yarietie,
do better than late. The Blue Mes
hammock ! consider equal to any ex
tant.
The next operation is, to cover thu
whole surface Of the ground with oil
straw or partially rotted manure, 4
the depth OF FIVE or six inches, IL tn
materials used are wet, or TO the dept
of 10 or ~ inches, il dry straw is used
as the latter will settle considerable,
when IL becomes moistened by the rain
As the soil and weather are cool o
this season, find il advantageous L
delay the application Of the straw un
Ill the potatoes have sprouted ant
grown nearly to. the surface. The,
thus come forward earlier than il GOV
cred Immediately on planting them.
II the work thus far has been prop
erly done, nothing more is necessar
until the potatoes (new ones) ar
large enough to dig and eat" TIL
advantages Of this method are, first.
effectually secures the crop agains
drouth; secondly. the crop needs n
attention in the busy part Of the sea
son, as no weeds will terminate Q
grow where theground is so covered
Thirdly. lastly. and most gloriously,
secures in abundant crop. whethe
the season be wet or dry, hot or cole
Should the weather be very wet, III
potatoes should be dug as soon rs rip
and placed IN dry, cool situation
otherwise they might rot, as the stra
is q great retainer Of moisture.
l think good mellow land, jul
cleared. would do we'll to plant will
out any blowing. but merely drop Il
seed upon the surface. and cover wit
the straw, in which case IL would n,
be much trouble TO dig the potatoc
and. BY the way. il Is not when plan
edin old ground. as they grow ver
near the surface.
Try It, brother farmers; eat good p
tatoes next year. and repeat the resul
j. q. CoWEE.
Ohio Inlfipafor.