The Portland daily press., 1869-04-19
DAILY PRESS.
md.
Monday Morning, April 8, 1869.
PORTLAND.

Potatoes.
| There has been for the last year or two,
what may be properly denominated potato
mania. Cultivators of this valuable tuber
have been much excited upon the subject,
and great efforts made to secure the best va
rieties and the largest yields. Such ambition
is by no means to be condemned, and when it
leads to decided improvement in the mode Of
cultivation, or to the selection of such kinds
as will best reward the husbandmsn and af-
ford the most nutritious and palatable food,
it ought to be encouraged; but when its ten
dency is to foster a spirit of speculation and,
to induce the less intelligent cultivators to
purchase certain varieties at enormous prices
and to neglect and ignore those which they
have grown at good profit in past years, a
word of caution may not be out of place, We
60 in for all Improvements in agriculture
whether they relate to the best modes of cul-
tivation, or to the choice of the most valuable
varieties of any plant or vegetable. But the
question comes up, whether all new varieties
are so much better than many OF the old
ones as to warrant the outlay and justify the
experiment in purchasing and planting the
former to the exclusion of the latter.
Now we venture the opinion that some of
the old varieties are worthy a place in the
farmers field, and are even better than some
of the new ones which have been sold at
great prices. Mr.. Dresser of Vermont has
raised great breeze in the country, and no
doubt he ehas produced from potato balls
some excellent tubers, but whether his new
varieties will eventually turn out to be of
greater value than all others is question
not yet solved. His "No. 4" has recently
been sold at such enormous prices as to place
them beyond the reach of ordinary cultiva-
tors. And perhaps it is fortunate that it is
so, for il any loss should happen il will fall
upon the rich who are able to bear it. Six
teen of his "No. A" have been sold for 1926;
twelve for $515; one for $50, and one was ex-
changed for COW valued at sixty dollars.
We confess that such prices are very start
ling, and may make some of our farmers Sc
cretly wish they were able to buy a few
ounces of such varieties. But we advise them
not to be in too much of hurry, and sigh
not for things beyond their reach. 1t is to be
hoped other seed times are in the future and
they can affort to watch and wait. Let them
make the most of what they have, and give
them fair chance for their lives. Good cul-
tivation is quite as important as fancy seed.
Vegetables and plants may be gradually i'm
proved without change of variety, and so
can oxen, cows horses and other live stock
without changing the breed. Bad cultivation
will run down any plant or vegetable, and
bad management will run down the best
breeds of stock.
Having always been a lover of good pota-
toes as an article of food, we can well remem-
Der several varieties which were cultivated
half century ago in our State. There is one
variety that now comes up fresh in memory
and that we used to call the "Hatch Potato"
but why so called we don't remember. 1t
was large round tuber with a white, deli
cate skin, and yielded large crop. 1t was,
too, most excellent potato for the table.
There was another we called the "Pink Eye"
This was also large round tuber with eyes
of delicate pink color which gave it its
name. We also remember large blue pota-
to which was highly esteemed for its mealy
qualities and rich favor. Now we have seen
none Of the above varieties for many years.
They were quite as good as any new varie-
ty we have ever seen, and even better. But
then they grew in virgin soils and long be-
fore disease had made any inroads upon this
vegetable. IN
The cultivator may plant the best variety
in the world, but if his soil is not of the right
kind and put into good condition, his crop
will not be very profitable, and his tubers
not exactly fit for the table. Potatoes par
take largely of the soil in which they grow,
more than most vegetables, and hence the
Importance of selecting proper grounds for
this crop. Farmers do not always select the
most suitable soil for the potato. 1t used to
be said that potatoes would grow almost any
where, and they were treated accordingly
Aud when the lands were new they would
grow well, but it is not so now. Any fertil-
isers which will restore the soil to its condi-
tion previous to its cultivation are the best
for potatoes.
1t is not an easy task to lay down rules of
universal application for the cultivation of
potatoes. There are many things to be taken
into the account. Soil, climate and variety
of seed are all to be considered. There is one
rule however, which holds good anywhere
and under all circumstances, and may be ap-
piled to the cultivation of all vegetables as
well as TO potatoes. Old Jethro Tulps prin-
ciple is a good one, that is, fertility depends
on comminution. Soils cannot be reduced to
too fine a tilth, or made too mellow even for
potatoes. The truth is, many potatoe fields
are miserably plowed, and narrowed but
slightly, The ground is hard, and the hills in
which the seed is deposited have not room
and verge enough to give the ,tubers fair
chance to grow without crowding against
hard ground, and that always stints their
growth. The little family of potatoes in a
hill like soft bed, and one large enough to
give them ample room when they grow up.
Farmers should consider this fact and be
more merciful to these groups of vegetables.
We have often urged pom cultivators the
great Importance of preparing their soils for
the reception of seed, and we mean to contin-
ue to urge it at the risk of being accused OF
repetition. We know many farmers lose
much every season by running over too
much land and half cultivating it.. They la
Dor more and produce less. 1t is easier and
requires much less labor to grow thee hun
dred bushels of potatoes on one acre than it
does on two. If any farmer who may read
this article is making his calculation to plant
two acres with potatoes this spring, we ad-
wise him to plant only one and bestow upon
this one all the labor and the manure which
he intended for the two. By so doing, he
will save one third of his labor and expense
and get better crop, besides, this acre will
be well prepared for future crops and yield
him as good return as the two half cuitiva
ted acres.
Now, be it understood that we do not OBJ
ject to new varieties of potatoes, and these
gentlemen who have raised them from the
balls we esteem as public benefactors. But
our object is to warn the farmer not to place
more confidence in new seedlings than ne
does in good cultivation. Good seed VIII no'
amount to much without wise culture. ineie :,
L. wi