Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-05-23
Potatoes Small or Large, Whole
or Cut.


rot any way" says fourth.
There is a great variety Of practice
which shows that this very useful vege-
table will bear more abuse than almost
any other crop grown upon the farm
The writer has tried almost all methods
and has settled down upon the whole
potatoes, an inch TO an inch and a half
in diameter, as being, on the whole, the
most desirable for seed, taking into ac-
count the immediate crop and the future
welfare of the tubes. If we look merely
at the immediate crop, we can doubtless
get more from given amount of seed to
cut them into single eyes, than to plant
them whole. But we have very strong
suspicions that this cutting weakens the
stamina OF the plant, and if followed up
with any variety for a long series Of
years would run it out. We ought TO
follow such a method, if we can discover
it, as will keep the plants in the highest
health, and make the crop sure and re-
muneralve.
We have grown good potatoes from
the smallest seed, half inch or less in
diamet' r, but it was only upon very rich
soil and with extra care. The objections
TO using large potatoes whole, are the
extra expense for seed, as it requires
from twelve to fifteen bushels to the acre,
and the over stocking Of every hill tend
ing to produce great many small pota-
toes The medium size removes these
objections, furnishes just about seed
enough, stocks the hills sufficiently, and
preserves the health of the plant. This
practice we have followed for several
years, and on the whole, it gives the best
results.
II we admit the theory to be correct,
on which the practice is founded, ii
would not follow that it would in every
case preserve the crop from disease. -
Almost every variety has been subject
TO cutting and to disease for many years,
and no one can be sure that he plants a
sound, healthy tuber, if the size is every
thing desirable. If the constitution has
been weakened in any way it is much
more likely to be injured BY the hot, wet
weather Of August than strong plant
would be. The universal prevalence OF
the rot is probably owing quite as much
10 the treatment Of seed as to soil and
climatic influences.
A report in the Springfield Republi-
can OF the doings of Farmers Club,
recently held at Chicopee farm house,
includes the following on the subject of
potato raising:
One of the party, large grower OF
potatoes, and who has at present about
1900 bushels in store, gave his expert.
ence as follows: lie prefers corn ground
that has been manured the year previ-
Gus. Srong manure, he says, makes
diseased potatoes. After blowing I'M
MANFRED ground, he marks out the rows,
four at a time. In these rows he drops
single pieces of cut potatoes, eighteen
inches apart. a medium sized potato is
enough for four hills. or about six bush
els Of seed to the acre. Large seed po-
tatoes give about one-fourth more pro.
duct at harvest than small ones. Small
potatoes have about as many eyes as
large ones, but the sprouts from those
eyes are not as large Or vigorous. The
potatoes are covered about two inche:
deep.
The potato vegetables slowly, and usu
ally weeds start before the potatoes
When the potatoes have sprouted so a.
generally TO show themselves above the
ground, hoeng machine is introduced
which covers the potatoes some two in
ches deeper, and destroys the weeds like
plow. Subsequently the potatoes are
hoed twice, and receive no further care
till digging. The common yield is about
two hundred bushels per acre. He digs
with hook, and from thirty to sixty
bushels per day TO man. Davis seed
lings are his lavorites.