Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-04-08
How to have EARLY Potatoes.

Prepare q lot Of shallow boxes from d to
3 inches deep-soap or candle boXes-and If
slit twice length or tat75isc will make three
boxes of the required depth-the top and
bottom two, leaving the middle piece to be-
furnished with bottom. The third OF %
soap box will hold from 100 to 1870 sets or
eyes the third of a candle-boN about 90
sets
If the sets are planted out in rows, foot
apart in the rows, every 33 sets will produce
one hushel, or three bushels to every 100 feet
of rows; if planted in rows three feet apart,
or eleven hills three feet apart, three sets in
"a hill. set about foot apart in the hill, should
produce "a bushel Of potatoes when ripe, equal
to IA bushels to the acre.
With this information all can tell the NUM-
Der of boxes required to furnish sets sufficient
to plant any desired space.
Compost for me SetS-Nlix up lot of
sand aud soil, or sand and fine manure or fine
" slted coal ashes and sand or fine sand
alone will do, having boxes and compost
ready
Proceed 10 Cm The Sefs-Selett from
your stock of seed potatoes all those that
have good strong sprouts at the point or nose
end +; cut off each sprout with bit Of the
potato attached to it, The end sprouts are
to be kept separate, and marked No. | ; the
next or middle sprouts or eyes No. >, and the
eyes at the stem or butt end, No. 3. Number
the boxes accordingly. and when ready to set
in the open ground plant out in the same or
der. No. will ripen first, No. > next, and
No 3 following. Gain IN the time about
hco iceehS
The sets being ready, cover the bottom OF
the boYes with the compost then set the eyes
on it so they toHch each either, fill up the box
rs with compost, wet with warm water occa'
sionally, keep in a warm room-if desired tC
push them forward keep quite warm; if nee
essary TO retard them remove to cool place
From two to three weeks brings them int,
fine condition for setting in the open ground
which is generally about the first week il
April in the vicinity of New York city
\ few days prior to plant ingout the sets, WA
ter should not be applicd-letting the sets dr.,
off greatly facilitates the separating OF tn
rootlets, for on turning them out of the boXe
they will be found in compact mass, like
sod of grass careful and repeated shakin
will separate them nicely, preserving tn
rootlets of each set entire. If any of tn
sprouts have grown too long, so they woul
be above ground when planted, such shoul
be laid down and covered with earth, if
danger of frost.
Setting ont the Sprouts. The ground b,
ing prepared, rows or hills opened, the sprout
are set a foot apart and covered with tl
horse manure and then with earth If ash,
or ashes and plaster are used, then a sigi
sprinkling Of either before covering, to be r,
peated as a top-dressing when the sprouts AZ
pear above ground, The ground must |
kept in fine, mellow condition at the sid,
of the rows, and well drawn up to the vim,
as they advance in growth
Hind 10 Pidm.-For early planting | re-
ommend the Early Goodrich, They are yer
Il early and very productive-quaity fine
cook dry and mealy even before ripe produ
with ordinary care, 300 to 400 bushels p,
G acre; with extra care, 400 to 500 bushels
b For late planting the Harrison" Tn
o is fine late variety, keeps we'll like Il
Goodrich, and is still more productive tina
l. the Goodrich. | have raised three peel
D. from less than pound of seed, and have r
T. liable information that five bushels were rails,
II from five ordinary sized potatoes during Il
; past season; product from 400 to 500 bus
u els per acre with care 600 bushels