The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-05-01
po,n,oes-CuIsure and vnserstes.


Al the request of a friend, we offer a few
remarks on the cultivation of potatoes. in
connection with a list comprising good vari-
cites.
sal and Manure-In the selection Of
soil and in the choice Of manure for the po-
-ato. we should have reference TO the ten
dency which the crop has had to disease, and
endeavor to place it in circumstance most
favorable TO its health To this end we
should avoid wet soil, but would select
friabIe loan of medium dryness. Sward
ground IS preferred, and If it had been pas
tuTe few years, 30 much the better. If 1t
was tolerably rich, we would use no manure,
ly,lcss the soil was that on which gypsum
sperates adyantageously, IN which case We
ouid apply small handful Of that sub
stance 10 each hill at the time OF first hoeing.
We would pillow the ground as early IN May
- observation-disclosures ten inches wide and
from five TO six inches deep. If the sub
stratum was very hard, would break it with
.uhsoii rlow. Would plant the potatoes as
.oon as possible after plowing-plaeing them
so that when covered two inches deep, the
whole surface would tie level.
1.-THE soil needed manuring, we would use
we'll rotted compost of stable manure and
muck, spreading it on the inverted burrows
and narrowing it in with a light harrow.
Would use plaster, as above mentioned.
Laree or Small Potatoes FIR Pianting.-
Those which are too small for marketing will
do well to plant, if they not shriveled.
n they are shrivelcd the sIrCut may be
weakened, which cause the growth to be less
vigorous. The substance Of the tuber at
forls food to the young shoot IS equiva-
lent O. manure. On poor soil 1t may be OF
inheritance TO plant large potatoes, especially
on account Of the stronger growth they give
the stalk in the outset This may explain
why they have sometimes gwen a larger
Weld than small ones. On the other hand,
Il the soil is in good condition for the crop
has abundance of food for it from the start to
the end-the small or medium sized tubers
may do as well, or even in some cases out
yield the others, in consequence OF more
ICED, or a greater number Of eyes, being
planted In all cases the seed should have
1ccn fully ripe We think neglect of this
caution has often caused failure from small
potatoes. The larger tubers are more apt
70 he well ripened.-EDs.
Cplfirattoa-In cultivating the crop, the
drst object should be to prev ent the growth
~ weeds This can be done with the har-
row and cultivator, or horse hoe, without
much use If the hand hoe. 1t is not advis-
aLeto ridge the potatoes very highly, as 1t
renders them more liable to suffer from
Grauth. All the benefit Of ''carthing up is
to prevent the tubers from being exposed to
the air. which would give them greenish
tingc and iniure their quality.
GggiRg and PreSerrtas.-Th tubcrs
may lie dug when the vines are dead, though
il the around is dry, they will not suffer by
remaining in it till the weather is cold as
70 cndan~er their freeing. If the ground
thr OF
had better be dug, unless they have com
menced rotting, in which case it may be as
we'll 10 let them remain few days 1t
sometimes happens that what are destined to
rot, do SO in a short time leaving the others
sound.
If the tubers show no tendency to rot.
they viii hold their quality best III cool
and rather damp place; but II inclined to
decay, they must be kept in drier atmos-
phcrc tn check this tendency.
IaytctieS-We can here enunerate but q
small number of the kinds which are or have
been known. Different kinds are required
90 answer all purposes. Early ones must
be had for the summer or autumn market
These are generally less productive and no,
% good for late keeping some kinds
hich require more time 10 grow. Occasion
~, il is true kind is met with which unites
.arly maturity with late keeping qualities il
desirable manner.
(;}ftI-Synonvns--N cshanuock Mercer
Chemango. The history of this variety is
hat II was produced from seed about fifty
years ago. by John Gilky, who lived ON the
hanks ct Neshannock creek, IN Mercer Co.
la. The name Gilky would therefore b,
most appropriate. II is oblong hatish il
shape; color dull white with purple mark
mgs round the eyes sometimes showing thu
same coloring more or less on other parts
The flesh is dull white, with sometimes
puyplish tinge running in streak round nea
the outside. 1t is what might be Gale,
second early" When i'll perfection II
quality is good. being mea'y and wei
favored /, is not a very solid potato; i
sometimes hollow at the centre, and its tex
tire is more open than that of some othe
kinds 1t has been popular variety in th
market: but from being subject to rot in
greater degree than many others, has bee
less cultivated for a few years past.
Cl.rter-We are unable to say where thi
originated Its shape is oblong-round colo
white; flesh delicately white Quality frs.
rate, being highly tarnacious and of unea
ceptlonable flavor. No potato is so univer
SALLY liked ON the table as this. But it ha
been even more liable to rot than the Gilky
and its cultivation has been much dimiuishe
On this account. During the last two seasons
however, it has done better in many places
and il Is now to be had in our market {
very fine quality. But except on soils whic
have been proved TO be particularly adapte
to it. we should not think il safe to ris
planting it largely.
Peach -bloc-Synouyms-- Sand lake, Yves
ern red. Kentucky red. This variety. who's