Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1855-06-12
CnIti1afinr the Potato.

The following TemarkS in refeEapce to the PTela-
fhd0nOf the soil for the potato crop ir from Mr.
Eokn R Chapman, Of Madison county, New York
communicated With many Other spgseStioaE to the
Country Gentlemen:
The best soil, in my opinion, for the growth Of
Eound potatoes, undcr all seasons is sandy loan,
testiuy upon porous Subsoil with the surface GHt
tloping Just enough to carry away aEsy the water
proceeding from heavy fall Of rain. Bot as gveFy
srIl will not give this peculiar soil and situGtion
we must make the best use Of what we h6ve. keep
t= in view Gsct however, that is 10 useless %
F:ant potatoes in low vet ground for thsv will soTe-
Il rot, The best plan is for farmer to set aPart
fGug Of his highest dryest aud strongest land
and PLAN ouEha'f Of it the first year with oorn Ia
EnS care TO ploN under q heavy coat Of COW dung;
sSs remaining half he SOW with any grain that
E;l: give fair crop II the soil had Oeen bard
TSesiOusly, lei .opares5ing Of twenty bushels Of
Inns to the acre be applied. The year aftsT Jet BIN
plaut with potatoes the half that corn, and let
3lIe half that grass 30 planted with com, aud
Sssuured il necessary. When plowei for potatoes
she, lands ought not to be more than SeTen pacCs
vice. ard plosed eight inches deep and aiter
pRlIiug, the dead fUTroWs ought TO be Flowed
out beam deeF By thus taking an alternate
crop of corr, Pot0toesi and ErsiE, 1nouuTius for
Il corn only, ha Will keep cne-hslf this patch pt
md in rnos. Suitable conditlon-tor FaisinS soupd
{ptatoeS. This system will rcqnlrq che land 70 bO
AAauUTed evtrg' Eve yests ero1gk 4 q good heavy
dat be Plowei Iuder
Aliqding 20 TIN potato IN general terms the Work
lnG Farmer iCF = prl MAKES tne foitoNlpR reg1oskS
large quahtty of European potatoes Eere
II III few DAYS tiuco 81 a9etiOn IN New York aud
5t price which N-o'sld pay the foreign ArcneR
very large profit beyond the cost Of freight, etc,
aud this toe in couRtry where they might be pro
dused n; less Than the freight paid by :hs foregu far
mcr. Every year since our childhood, wo hSve
heard farmers say that the- feared potatoes woa'd
be low next year, as every body would be raising
4hemin cuusequenre of the high Prieesi and taus
far has prevented full supply being grown, Psrtir-
eiGrly during the last few years, wien the extra
rep required each year for the consumption uf the
a.aif million erui-rauts, has beea zniliion nu3 a
Aa,t of bushels beyond tue requirement OF tie PEE
EviouS year, snd which ~ tho average CROP o: loo
bushels per acre, would require $4,000 Gcres OF
Hand for their culture This is not only true Of po
tatoes but OF other roots, the consumption of which
is not only increased from the cause but from
our own citizsas becoming convinced that !arFtr
proportion O! yvStahl4 diet Is conducive 90 health.
Tho farmers Epd iys-r staS!s keepers sIso feI-
Sng roots more literally cattle aud horses, and rs
a Consequsuco carrots arO sold rapidly in the New
York MARKET at fifty ceuts per bushei; and even
ITsnips and ruJabagn turnips bring prices equally
leEge. rs cOupand with thosa of FORMER HrIrS