Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-05-02
nlss Cu,:are of Irish potatoes.

Ths Culture of Irish Potatoes.
 In response to correspondents in quiries about our experience in Irish potatoe culture, we will briefly detail the practice we have found most successful in this climate
 The soil best adapted to this crop is fresh, friable loam, containing large per cent, of vegetable mold, silica (sand) and the phosphates, and above all, potash and lime Scarcely any other cultivated crop excepting tobaeco-requires so much pota,h in the soil as the Irish potato, and hence 1t is that ashes--strong, unleached, hardwood ashes exert sueh beneficial effect upon the health and product of the plaut. Originally good land, still further enriched by "cow penning' or the lber- al addition of the proper composts, will, under iudieious culture, produce.crops of equal quality and but little inferior in amount to the most favored regions of the North, In our own experiments we have aceeeded satisfactorily with . moderate application of superphosphate of lime, plaster and wood ashes, thoroughly inter mingled with the soil at the time of plan ting A compost that we liked better, however, was made of heavy layer (say) six inches in thickness) of swamp muck, lime, ashes, ground bones and old brine from the beef, pork or fish barrel 4 bed of this in alternate strata, chopped down aud pulyer.zed after remaining as made Tor two or three months, will be found the uest as well as the cheapest manure for the posatoe-either sweet or Irishand should be applied to the drill with the covering earth at planting, Rich, stimulating, nitrogeucus manures are not good for potatoes, as they force too great ! growth al .op--for this crop at least, the mineral manure theory is safest. The aspect and location are of minor importance, provided the subsoil is sufficiently peryious to pre- vent water remaining too long about the roots of the plants. We have raised equally good crops on land slightly roll ing, and hilly land, and with inclination to all points of the compass.
 The ground should be thoroughly pre- pared by repeated and deep broadcast ploxings and harowings then throw in 10 ridges the same IS for cotton the width Of rows about three feet. These ridges should be opened with bulltongue or shovel blow, and tho seed dropped there- in at about eight inches apart. If the planting is done early, whole potatoes should be used, so that if the tops are kill cd by frost, there will be strength enough lsft in the original seed to send up new growth. Ifso late that there is no danger of fres., plant cut potatoes by all means the pieces containing notamore than two eyes each. Plant two of these pieces to- gather, and cover with light furrow from each side. As soon as the tops ap- pear above ground, throw close and deep furrows tothem, breaking out the middles entirely. No after milling or cultivation ;s necessary except to keep the grass and weeds down, Late and repeated milling up we have found to be decided injury,
 Of varieties we have tried great many, including the newer seeding of Goodrich and others, but esteem the Early Good. rich and Harrison IS the best of all. The Peach Blow, (of \. J. ), and Early sebee gre worthless, on account of rotting. The Cuzeo, Garnet Chii, Gleason and Hedron are excellent varieties and should be tested b5 all We will give description of all the new varieties in an early No.--South- cru Ruralist.