St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-06-05
THE CATEDONIAN.
farm, Garden and 5itfien.
UbofD,aAes my rotatoes Rot ?

will tell you, sir, without stamps,
patent-rights, or tin-box humbugs for
creenheads. And will tell you how to
prevent the rot, for | have tried it for
sixteen years with complete success, and
| know of many others who have tried
it with like success.
The first cause of rotting is planting
them in ground that has been stripped of
the material that is needful for their
proper composition. The second cause
Is wrong management in cultivation.
The remedy is to apply the right ma
tcrial and the right cultivation.
will mention two instances among
many, for examples. Two farmers,
whose lands Joined, planted the Mercer
potato for New York market. H"lh
pIow,d in yard manures. One piowcd
deep, planted on a mellow bottom and
covered good depth, keeping the roots
moist and at an even temperatures.
When the rain came. it carried the Ter
tilty of the earth with it to the roots
and even down below, attracting thr
roots downward This man Away. had
-ound seed TO plant, sound seed to dir
and large crops, year after year.
One thing Is certain, potatoes caunot
crow in mud. Forty years ago, pant
cd Il plat by river side. They came "a.
finely, but when the patatoes were the
Slza Of 4 hens c-g, there came an extra
ordinary flood, and ovcrfIowed them for
two hours The next day there was
not Il sound tubcr IN the plot. Once It
ncighbor came 20 me 10 see ii my puta-
toes were rotting. told him they We're
not. He said his were half rotten. | >aj,!
to him, can tell which hills are rotten
and which sound. before YOU open them.
/ went and was able to do as | said.
Where the water could drain from thp.
hills the tubers were sound where il
could not. they were rotten. News
came 10 me from plain 4 mile or two
distant, that the air was poisoned with
rotten potatoes. went TO see, ami
found all true. passed 10y enc field,
rather low Ground, with the -ubSoil near
the surface. Ii was thrown into ride
and had been well planted ! hcau,i.oj
crop Of large Mercer potatoes We're lyin-
on the ground. with moi rotten one to
be seen. My nearest ncighbor cultivato-
potatoes, blowing deep; planting o.
mellow bottom, and covering good depth.
and has had no rotten potatoes Tor forty
years. Planted the Scbcc last wear
had fine, LARGE Yield not Il rotten on,.
Another man. two miles oil. had tie
same kind rot badly. a. dill also the Mrr-
Ger, and several other kinds of early pc
tators. Planting near the surface, ANA
light covering cau-cs many thousands ol
bushels to rot. Lying too long IN the
sun and air when first dug, CT when bro
out Of the cellars has Il bad effect on a
future crop by increasing the liability TO
rot. The use Of small ones for seed will
cause them 10 decrease in quantity. size
and quality
New ground, o. That which has lain
long TO grass Is mos; favorable to Good
crop OF potatoes. III deciding villa; j.
needed to restore oh ground to It's former
fertility, consider what has been taken
from Il in the wheat. corn, tiaN buck
wheat, potatoes, or beans. Among other
substances have used and seen used for
the purpose, are bone dust, # GOOD
forest leaves and dccayc! wool, mould
turf: hen manure: she'll lime and 81
line Iatter. Another thing OF much
value, but lit.lc thought of, is to he found
On tie margin of the sea, rivers and
PONDS. There for ages the fine rich COM
post has tloatcd and settled from barn
yards and cultivated fields, | have seen
such produce fertility equal to the hest
yard manure Yard manure, the great
staple, Is not alone sufficient in all cases
for crops. Stone lime IS good, but ii
takes SIX months or a year to prepare it
Fish manure will produce monstrous
crops, but without yard or other manure
it spoils the land. Lime, followed by
clover, and the roots plowed in, will
bring land into high fertility, produce
fine crops, and the best of fruit and vcg-
etables and Kill insects. From your old
friend, who this day completes his four
score and fourth year, in good health
PnINEAs PRATT
D,,pi7rei', C0i,H.. Jan. Is. 1868