Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-31
FARM AND GARDEN.
CaIanre Of POTATOES.

should raise potatoes in sufficient quan-
titles not only 70 supply the demand for
home consumption, but to furnish an Or
ticle of commerce. Instead Of that,
thousands Of barrels Of potatoes are
brought here from the Western markets
and sold to the very men who should
have potatoes to sell. Our soil win pro-
duce as fne potatoes as can be grown
anywhere, il the proper attention be
paid to their culture. We find in the
Albany IN. " Country Gentleman
some very valuable suggestions on this
subject, snd as the tine for planting
early potatoes win soon be at hand, we
reproduce the article that our farmers
may avail themselves Of the information
il imparts
A Tennessee correspondent, who wishes
to introduce a general or mixed system of
husbandry on his plantation, asks for prac-
teal directions for the cultivation Of the
p0tato. In furnishing 3 few general d.
i no crop respecting which there is a
greater diversity Of opinion on several
points Of management. Whatever We
may cay, therefore, Will meet with greater
or less objection, especially from those who
have made single experiments in relation
10 disputed points, and have fully made up
their minds, without further trials, under
the varying circumstances Of differing soils
and seasons. We shall endeavor 10 give
such views ia relation 10 the matter, a.
have been well established by repeated
practice under our own observation, or
which will probably receive the assent Of
good cultiyators.
The first important requisite is 10 re-
duce the soil 10 a proper condition. Po-
tatoes are sometimes planted on sod re-
Gently inverted. In a few instances they
succeed well; but they are more likely 10
suffer from drouth, except in wet seasons,
and the practice is not therefore TO be gen
orally recommended II is better TO pillow
the previous autumn, and 10 reduce the
soil to high degree Of pulverization. The
additional plowing and narrowing required
for this purpose, will be repaid several
times by the ease, rapility and perfection
with which the planting and subsequent
cultivation may be performed. If the
seedr of weeds can be well worked ont pre-
viously, it will save much labor in heeing,
and give a better crop.
The depth Of the soil lie another inn
portant requisite. The roots are less
affected BY drouth on the one hand, and
continued rains on the other, when there
is q deep bed Of mellow soil for absorbing
surplus water when IL comes, and for res
tanning IL through dry periods. Every one
Is aware that dry seEson will ofaen reduce
the yield Of potatoes, under ordinary maIs
agement, TO one-half the usual amount, or
even one-fourth, when the summer proves
TO be an umcommonly dry one. Many
instances of this kind occurred during the
past summer throughout the middle and
western portions Of the country. Very deep
soilE, however, were but slightly affected.
A striking instance was observed on the
grounds n a neighbor who had recently
made an underdrain through the center Of
a small field occupied this year with pola-
toes. The row which stood over the ditch,
where the soil had been made deep and
loose, yielded at least double the amount
Of sry ether row. Unless, therefore, the
soil is already deep and loose, il should be
turned over 20 as great depth as can be
done with three-horae pillow and II, 10 ad.
dition 10 fhis a suhsoiler can be used, all
the better. Such treatment, more than
anything else, will place the crop above
any contingency Of wet or dry seasons.
Az fresh manure is not the thing for pota~
toes, deep cultivation alone will he found
greatly superior 10 any manuring
10 connection with shallow blowing.
II the soil ia too poor, il ia better
that the manure be applied 10 a
previous crop--or what amounts 10 nearly
The same thing, that Il be evenly spread on
the land the previous autumn, allowed 10
soak In BY the washing Of rain, and
thoroughly pulveriEed with the harrow the
following spring before piowing. Ma
nurine ia the hill should never be prac-
tioed when there is any fear OF rotting,
unless with old pulverized manure or fine
compost; and even then, IL is better IL diff |
fused broadcast through the soii, az the
small 6brous roots Of the plant soon ex-
tend several feet 10 every direction.
A great diversity Of opinion exists on
the subject Of planting whole, cutting in
large pieces, and cuttinR 20 single eyes, a.
well as in relation 20 the depth and dis
lance for planting. All admitthat planting
potatoes whole, produces greater number
Of stalks and more and smaller potatoes.
Ths only advantage On employing whole
potatoes, is that they do not dry up 90 soon
when plsnted late OF in very dry earth.
Il VIII rarely happen that good, well pul.
verified soil will be found &c dry IS 10 re-
Quirs whole seed. Planting in hills both
ways may do for weedy land, as more Of
the work may be done by horse cultivR-
ton ihan when in drills or in rows but in
one direction. The last named mode, how
ever. will generally yield nearly double,
A moFe Of the soil Is occupied with |
the tubers. The practice of cutting 20
three or four eyes, OF 90 single eve, must
depend on circumstances. For ordinary
or where the finest culture
and best care cannot be given, pieces with |
three or four eyes may be planted, twelve
TO twenty inches apart in the row. This is
the mode Eow most generally adopted BY
the better class Of Cultivators. Bot il the
soil il IN the finest condition, larger crop,
with more uniformly large potatoes, may
be obtained by adopting the single~eye
mode. For this purpose The tneers should
be Of fair size, and be cut some days before
90 - 10 form thin dry crust on
the cut flriece uSiofe 0epo1t1ilS Al lte
ground. Some cultiyetou regard Il s. i'm
pOrtant 10 roll the pieces ia slaked lime or
plaster. while others entirely disregard il.
We are unable 20 say what amount Of
valus The practices possesses Tbs distance
should not exceed eight or ten inches in
he row, bat may vary with the character
IF The variety, for spreading at the top and
4 the roois-soms varieties forming more
,ompscs masses Of tubers than others.
Thsrs is another paint upon which oplnr
ons diGer--namely, the influence Of the
ize of the seed. Il is commonly believed
hat anal potatoes reproduce small opss,
nd that the crop Il smaller than frcm
asRs potatoes. This opinion il partly cor
cot end partly errcDeona. When small
potatoes are ylsnted, eslis are COMMONLY