Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-03-06

hat is the most largely drawn upon
There may remain in the soil enough of
potash to supply many succeeding crops
Of cereals, and yet it might not be sufi-
ciently abundant to meet the wants of the
potato until it is furnished from other
sources. Tits for this reason that the most
productive yield of potatoes is recorded to
have taken place on new lands aud espe-
cially 90 those where the brush and timber
have been collected and burnt, and the
ashes strewed over the soil and ploughed
in. The next largest crops have been ia
ken from meadows of q loamy t~exturei
that have been for many years in grass
the excess of potash required by the potato
being, in this instance, supplied by the de-
composition of the turf, and of the vegeta-
bic fibre with which the soil by remaining
so long undisturbed had become filed
1t is evident, then, that the potato de~
mands a soil which is peculiarly rich in or
ganic matter, and in alkalies aud alkaline
earths. Putrescent manures are of little
or no service; for the heat which these
give out during decomposition is injurious
to the plants, which not only delights in a
light soil filled with vegetable matter, but
also one that is slightly moist aud of a cool
and esusble temperature. Composts, such
as we have often given in the Rural direc>
tions for making, are therefore better adap-
ted to the growth of the potato than barn
yard manure; and if, in making up those
composts, twenty bushels of unlcached
ashes and ten bushels of fine earth were
added to the proportion set apart for each
acre, not only would the yield of potatoes
be greatly increased theseby, bat the land
would be left in prime order for any other
crops that might follow in rotation. To
ensure, then, a fair prospect for a profitable
return on the outlay expended in cultiva'
ting a crop of potatoes, it is necessary te
bear 10 mind the following facts:
L. That the potato requires a light soil
rather moist than dry, and that a northern
exposure is ininitly preferable to a south
ern.
2. That the soil should not only be Of
light texture, but should be deeply plough
ed and completely pulverized.
8. That new lands, if of good quality
after they have once been boken, are bet
ter than any other for the growth of the pc
tate, aud that next to these are rich 'ol
pastures that have become grass bound.
4. That commercial fertilizers, In com
bination with composts formed of wood
earth, marsh muck, and rough yegetab
fibre, should be used in preference to an
Others in the cultivation of this crop.
s. That a s~prinkling of plaster apple
in the hill at the time of planting, ar
around the vines when six or eight inch
high, will increase the yield upon dry VI
lands, but has no effect upon a low moi
soil.
6. That care should be taken in the
ter-culture to keep the soil perfectly Fl
aud loose about the vines, audin the int
walls between the ows and to hill up t
vines at least three times during the seas'
7. That rcpeated experiments go to Pre-
that early planted potatoes almost invar
bly, succeed best. A report of Mr.. Es
man to the New York Agricultural Sot
ty, shows that of three lots Of potat
planted on the same soil, and under slmi
conditions, on the 18th and 23d of M
and on the 18th of June, the first produ
at the rate of one and forty-two tust
per acre /; the second gave one hund
and forty>oue bushels, and the third
one hundred bushels per acre.