Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-05-18


-,si Select rolling ground, mellow and warm.
Cold or wet soils will not do. Good "sec-
-ond years" upland is what we generally
: prefer for field crops. Dry, but not too
barren knolls, we'll lmanured, are good
p New lands, If dry, produce beautiful crops,
of fine quality. Manuring in the hill or
ridge is best where the land is not in first
rate -tilth.-Plow a shallow furrow, putthe
manure in and throw up ridge over it
Theson in all cases must be well worked
and finely pulverized. Throw two burrows
together, forming high ridges. Three and
,ahalf feet apart, from center, to center, is
the proper distance. They may be made
with q hoe by hand labor on a small scale.
And if ridging with plow does not work
well, the ridges should be finished up with
: the HOE ,. ss. ,ts.as 1a5''' Ts.f7-
;Ridging should, if possible, be done when
the soil is moist on top, as then youwill get
no dry dirt in the center of the ridge, as
would be the case were the surface soil dry.
just before planting is the best time, if it
can be arranged thus. NJ q : ai,4r1W
~ If the soil within the ridge is quite moist,
you can plant all day with safety, proyid-
ing the soil next the roots is properly
pressed, and the plants not wilted before
planting. They may wilt in the sun if it
Is shining, but If the work is properly
done, they will revive at sundown, and
never wilt again. Keep the roots moist
and the tops shaded until planted. A boy
with a bucket to carry the plants in, may
drop as wanted, for two planters. Two
men and boy may thus plant one acre
per dav. If you have not many to plant,
choose the afternoon or evening for plant
ing If the ground gets too dry to plant
8 without water, and it is important to pro-
edceed with the work, it may be used. Plant
q and press as usual, but leave cavity about
the plant, into which pour pint of wa
ter Immediately after planting, before they
A ffa- o-7o han fhoz
" soaked away, and the leaves are dry, pass
-aalong and pull some dry. dirt over the wet
gplace to prevent baking. Water is unnec-
essary, unless the soil that the roots have
to come in contact with be dry. s-l-a.
The best instrument for planting with is
q mason's trowel. Thrust it lengthwise of
edthe ridge in the center (not across it), ALT
tlesobliquely, so that in bringing it out and
TO you itwlH form a cavity admitting the
plant with roots well spread. Withdraw
b the trowel with one hand, at the same in
estaut you thrust the planti in with the 9TH
er, letting the dirt fall back to its place.
Press1in scompaetiyI at the roots. Severe
pressure is indispensable to success, unless
: you should have a continuation of moist,
CLOUDY weather. q thing not to be depended
oinpon at all. Plant an inch OF more deeper
I than they stood in the bed, so that the
stems Of the lower leaves may be covered,
'asJbien they will sprout again if cutby frost
or worms. If the plants are very long, put
in rather more obliquely, SO that the foot OF
THE plant will not be too far removed from
the turface, say not more than three inches
under. "a 10 1''t mp ''
.ba1Some think the potatoes will grow to bet
ter size and mature sooner to break the
ridge into hills once in two feet, and hoe up
more conically. To make the most0f a few
plants, / think it may be best. But it is
not advisable on a large scale, as itrequires
imorela labor to tend them. In ridges, plant
fifteen inches apart-requiring about 10000
per acre. in hills, one plant in each-about
-aOO0 per acre. Plant from the 18th of May
until the middle Of June, or as early as safe
from frost. In Southern Ohio, Indiana and
IllinoiS aad3 th hropg hout skentueky, they
may Be planted as early as the 1st of May,
many seasons. An early start is important,
but It Is TIE best policy to be on the sale
b5fAbodt ten days after planting, Commence
stirring tile ground, to prevent the growth
Sofweeds. Frequent hoeinss will be appre-
ciated. Still / hoe but.two or three times
Id field culture. Hoe often enough, how
not to strike with sharp hoes so near the
plant as to cut Off sthe young potatoes.
When the vines commence running, pass a
common adjustable eultivator between the
ridges, tearing down the sides somewhat,
and follow with, shovel to replacejit.
Bring dirt towards the plants in hoe
fffe, 20 preserve the ridge. DO not cover
the ends. or other parts of the vines with
dirt, neither cut them, but lay them on the
ridge out of the way It will not harm to
1ftt them, ii they have commenced roofing
atsthe Joints Some think it beneficial to
keep Them lifted or, rolled up. In wet
season, when the vines grow very rank
think il may hasten their maturity, but in
common seasons Iprefer letting them have