The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-05-22
The Potato.
wn.,sa for the Pisae-r ssa D-aecr.i

In u hate number Of ysur pspsr. your cor
respondent "Subsoil' inquiries who. among his
brother farmers, has the bert potatoes. both
in regard TO prodnetivenes. for market and for
table use. Now. do not presume to say that
/ have the BEsr, in all these respects, as do
not know what different varieties Others may
have; hut that have a variety that will, at
least bear the positive degree Of comparison.
I anbesitatingly affirm. 1t b called the Peach
Blow, and, IN some localities, 'PIezh Color
These potatoes are Of huish red color and
have a superiority over oil others that ever
saw, In two or three particulars. They almost
uniformly grow to "a large size, are not as liable
70 be affected by disease, and win keep hard
and sound until late In the summer
II Is not my object in this article to enter
ter into an elaborate dissertation on the scien-
tile culture Of this remarkable csculent-that
leave tor older and wiser hesds-but would
bcs leave to state, In this connection. simply
aud briefly, my moi,s oprond, believing that
an interchange Of sentiment among farmers
can but be productive OF good. In the first
place, il il can be conveniently be done, To-
cate my potatoc patch" on an elevated posi-
ton, in order that the plants may get the btnc-
fit Of the cool breeze, which | consider ne
cessary element in producing sound healthy tu-
bers and preventing the rot. After having
plowed the ground deep and narrowed it until
il becomes thoroughly pulverized. I am ready
for planting. ! usually cut my seed FEW days
previous to planting 20 that the cut part will
become dry before being put in the damp
ground. When everything is ready, com.
meucc by dropping the SEED on the suyfaes, 10
rows three ket apart, and the hills about two
and hall feet apart. then cover them up
s.iA cas-, .,pssipg .Asss "a. hiNs ss3 ~ b7c<a
as the space will allow 1.-THE ground is clean,
free from weeds, nothing more need be done
until digging, but, in all cases, weeds should be
KEPT down. That this plan will produce more
bushels than the old way Of hoeiBg two or
three times, will not attempt to prove but
that a many bushels and OF q better quality,
more uniform in size. can be produced | can
didly believe have pursued the above plan
with signal success in the Empire State, and,
until am convinced that II Is not the way to
manage in Minnesota, shall recommend Il a.
the right way. As TO the time for planting, !
am not strenuous any time between the LIST Of
NAV and the LIST of June will do, thoush many
Of my ncighbors are very tenacious n to the
time OF the moon, sous holding that potatoss
should be planted in the new Of the moon,
Others in the full OF the moon ] was brought
up IN this latter faith, but having long since
discardei the whole system. and. although
entertain the utmost respect for the opinions Of
old people and. especially those Of u father,
Tpudiate, in the absence Of sound sense and
philosophy, to sustain their theory, such an
absurd hypothesis | shall not at present en-
ter into any argument. in defense Of the posi-
ton which have assumed but should the
exponents Of the doctrine which have de-
nounced as absurd wish TO take the field in
the affirmative. I shall be happy to reply, I'M
lcss made convert by their arguments
Permit me TO suggest the propriety Of cor
cspondents signing their narues and post Office
address, or, il fictitious uame, let il answer
the same purpose ms the real name in case Of a
private correspondence.
Yours. etc. Z. +. CorSrarxAS.
Hastings. Dakota Co, NJ. T..
May L., 1856.