The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-05-31
or tho Hooking lvalley Horti.
HoRTlcUITURAL Rooms,
LANCASTER, May 26th, 1866.

LANCASTER, May 10Th, 1856.
Society mot, pursuant to adjourn
ment, President Kinkead in the chair.
The minutes of the preceding moct-
ing were read and approved.
Mr.. Fetters presented an account Of
the late City Marshal, for services,
which, on motion was referred TO the
Council of Nine.
Mr. Boving proposed the following
named gentlemen, residents OF Pieka'
way county, as candidates for mem
bership: George Meyers, Jos. P. Coil,
Jacob j. Miller. Jacob Kelstadt, d.
Thompson, Oscar 0msby, Q, b. Niles,
S. Riggle. Also, Isaac Claypool Of
Greenfield township. Fairfield Co, all
Of whom We're thereupon duly elected
members.
Tho discussion of the subject Of the
cultivation of vegetables was resum-
med.
Mr.. Fetters had but little to add to
his former remarks on potato culture,
but would say thai where mulching is
not resorted to, the soil should be
worked early, and stirred and loosened
as near as possible TO the place where
the tubers are to be formed-it is es-
sential to have the ground mellow and
well pulverized, that the roots may
have q chance to expand without OBJ
struction. The same principle holds
good with regard to sweet potatoes
In their cultivation, when the vines
begin to run, his pracLice is to draw
the dirt away from the plants, and
then replace it. AS general thing,
prefers to plant in ridges; but where
moles are prevalent they do rlore mis-
chief to the crop planted in ridges than
to that planted in hills. Makes his
ridges rather hat-not more than six
inches above the surface of the ground.
| A good way is to mako the ridges on
the sod as it grows-the tubers grow
shorter and thicker in shape 1t will
not dc to have hard ground below, as
moisture is drawn from beneath as
well as above. The vines should not
be cut off, but pulled loose from the
ground where they strike root.
The President mentioned the meth
cd of very successful grower, which
was to place straw or long manure at
the bottom of the hills or ridges, in
rich groand, the pulverized earth be.
ing above.
Mr.. Fetters. Horse manure is bad
to apply to any vcgetablc-it is toe
heating aud stimulating, and imparts
a disagrecable taste to the product.
| Mr.. Pence stated that his mode was
similar to that of Mr.. Fotters. III
manurcs his sweet potato patch imme'
diately after gathering the crop in the
fall; and in the spring. if this is mo-
sufficient, dresses it with well rottec
manure, plowing the ground at cacl
manuring. In preparing for planting
he makes q turrow as deep as he cal
with a shovel plow, and in this placer
sand or wash from the creek Stabl
manure and hen manure will give
great growth of vine, with but littl
root. Makes the ridges about as higl
as they can we'll be thrown with til
shovel plow. In the after culture b
keeps the vines wound together alon
! along the ridges, moving them fror
. side TO side for convenience G. weed
! ing.
, Mr.. Young said it hid long been
4 mistaken idea with many that q yer
! rich soil was required for the growt
T. ofswoet potatoes. For few years h
had bee cultivating them on clay lant
c containing very little sand, and raise
!, them of excellent quality. The grei
i and essential object is 10 haze the so
G loose. Some throw up tho ridges wit
s the p!ow, leaving the loose soil ou
o side, while it is lumpy within-th
IS practice will not give good potatoC
l. nor good yield The Irish potat
a wants good, mellow, rich soil-pe
If haps none is so good for this crop ;
s. new land. He finds it the best metI
IS cd in old land to manure and plow
a the fall, plow in tho spring, and aftC
# tho plant is up, to rigidly keep Il
= weeds down He would even hoe a
= ter blossoming time, rather than hay
= weeds among his potatoes. Somo hay
n complained of their bad luck in rai
5, ing potatoes, but he was no believer
IS luck, in raising crops, except as it
N made with the hoe and cultivator,
:, Mr.. Pence states that by far the II
gest crop he ever raised was from p
tatoes planted tho 18th OF June, 1
soon as the plants appear above u
ground, no goes over the patch wi
the plow, covering weeds, potato to-
and all After they are up the sccoI
time, he plows at proper intervals, al
is not troubled by weods-never us
the hoe among potatoes, even for di
ging-pIows them up.
Mr. White stated his method as sil
liar to that of Mr., Pence, Should q
surface of tho ground become bak
before tho potatoes come up, he go
over it with the harrow, with good {
feet.
In regard to the practice of coveri
the tops with earth, IL was general
agreed that this would not do VIII
Ss few inches growth had been attain
ra advisable only when the plant W
Just through the surface,
Tho President mentioned the pri
tico OF a successful grower, Mr., W
son, who goes over his potatoes will
harrow, as soon as they arc up, a
with great benefit to the crop.