Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-02-11

barrow it in the Spring, and then apply
the lime and harrow it in; then open the
drills and plaat. Even then the lime will
work to the subsoil in the course of two
or three years. To avoid this the next
blowing is shallow, and this followed with
plowing as deep as | can, throwing 10 the
top the bottom soil which contains the
lime. The following year the plowing
is light again. After this, if the land is
laid down to meadow and remains so for
three or more years, in bresking It up
use deep plow which again brings the
lime to the surface. In this plan it is
supposed that the land in the first place
received all that ii viii bear or needs. of
the best quality Of lime which is fossil
limestone as a general thing. The great
secret in using lime on land, il we would
see results, is to apply the proper guam
tity. As in other things it can be half
done or over done in either case the re-
suit is not satisfactory. have known
men err in both ways, and they are rea-
dy TO say that lining is 'all humbug,'
whereas the fault is with themselves
Lime is as necessary TO land as is barn
yard manure, and this fact am happy to
say farmers hereabouts are learning eve
cry day.
AS to applying lime TO the stems and
leaves of potatoes to prevent or cure dis
ease, it is of little or no use. This idea
originated from the practice of applying
! quick lime 10 the vines to kill insects, po-
tato bugs, etc, which at times are so
abundant that they quickly destroy the
vitality of the plant by destroying the
leaves, and making them look as if they
were diseased, and which in fact is as
bad as disease. l have had potato fields
so attacked with these vermin, in which
! case / have sown lime on the leaves un-
til the field looked as white as a miller's
jacket Another good result of this is,
it kills wire worms and grubs that lay on
the surface and eat the stems and leaves.
Grubs infest broken sod ground more than
any other. In applying the lime TO them,
do it in the morning when the dew is on
the leaves, or if practicable, Immediately
after rain. If applied when dry there is
nothing TO retain it.
My method of preparing potatoes for
| planting, is TO cut them three weeks or a
month previous to using-cutting one eye
to each set lay them in a heap, say
three or four inches thick, and throw on
about the same depth fquicklime. They
are then turned all over so that each part
of the cut gets coat of lime. This is
done while the cut is fresh so that the
lime will adhere. then spread them
out an inch thick, letting them lay thus
until the eye begins TO break, and then
plant them. If after this time, they APP
pear quite soft and the skin in wrinkles,
it is a good sign, the eyes may sometimes
get too long; if SO, break them off, as
this does no harm, for the sets will imme-
diately break again.
i / send you sample Of Prince Albert
potatoes which have grown this season +,
on the farm Of A. Horton, Esq, on the
above one-eye system, and prepared as
above. They are from an old reclaimed
, piece Of marsh that we drained last Sum-
mer Q8j7,) which previous to this grew
nothing but wild grass and calamus. /
plowed it in the Fall and applied heavy
! dose Of lime before planting. They will
, show you what UNDERTAKING. and lime
f will accomplish. These potatoes have
had no manure Of any kind, barn-yard or
special, excepting lime. Persons not ac-
quainted with this system, and seeing how
they are cut would not believe that they
could be grown, or in fact, that they
could sprout did not intend entering
50 far at present into potato culture, but
at some future period will give you more
F., particulars Of my practice.
GERALD HowATT.
Newton, Nj, Oct. l6, 1853.
REMARKs.-The Prince Alberts were
received, and princes they were--a half
bushel or more, 10 Y inches long, I-2
to ii inches in diameter, and sound to
! the core. The cooking quality is also
good, precisely like those grown in our
own neighborhood, where we took some
pains 70 introduce this variety two years
since, and where they were largely plant
a ed last Spring and we're much liked on
account Of their large yield and freedom
from rot For eating, however, we do
not like them quite as well as the old
Mercers, aud scarcely as well as Peach
Blows.
Mf. Howatt's practice in lining land
q i mainly correaf thouah ne dHer from.