Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-23

of city manure and II tons of fish
guano were scattered in the drills
per acre-the latter broken mp fine
on rainy days and scattered by
pouring it slowly out of baskets
while walking fast. This having
spoiled the shape of the drills, a
small double mould-board pillow was
run through them, which straight
ened them and left neat marks of
even depth to drop in, and stirred
up the manure, fish and soil, so
that the potatoes seldom touched a
lump of manure or fish.
| The sets (large potatoes cut to
2 and 3 eyes each* ON rainy days,
2 or 3 weeks before planting, ex-
cepting a few new varieties cut to
single eyes, were dropped IA inches
apart and covered with a pillow 4
inches deep, the horse not allowed
to walk in the drill.
On May Goth early Rose just
breaking through the ground was
narrowed; in four days the Early
Samaritan and Early Goodrich
came up; in six days after, the late
varieties began to show, when they
were again narrowed. June 10,
Phifer's sulky pillow was run through
the rows, with only one pillow on
each side of the drill set to plow
very deep. On the 10Th, a cultiva-
tor hoe, Ross patent, with guide
that kept it very steady, was used
twice in row, running within an
inch or two of the plants what |
weeds were left were cut out with a |
hand hoe. Then a billing cultiva-
tor, Burke's patent, was used once
in row; it consists of two long
and narrow mouldboards, made of
saw blade steel, which can be sprung
out of the width of row; this took |
soil from the middle and pushed it
up under the vines, leaning the
vines over a little and leaving the
field neat and smooth. The pota-
toes were again cultivated before
they were in bloom. The straight
and parallel rows permitted the use
Of the cultivators almost to the ex-
clusion Of hand hoeing; three men
hoed two acres in one day. The
potatoes were very clean, and their
culture did not cost half as much
as if planted and worked out in the
Did way.
June %, Early Rose in bloom;
the largest potato found in four or
five hills was II inches in diameter;
hat of Goodrich, 4 inch; and Sa-
marian inch. July 4, Rose large
enough for market; July 20, Good
rich about same size. The turnip
1y ate and killed the vines of Good |
rich and Samaritan, without touch
ng the row Of Rose, which was be-
.ween the two, or any of the other
varieties. July %, few barrels of
Goodrich were dug and sold at the
village stores for Sc per Dbl; in two
lays the price fell to 81.
August l, many of the Early
Rose were found exposed to the sun
md a few sprouting again. A
'ushel was carefully removed, cut
o 3 eyes, wilted in the sun one
lay, and planted 1t had been very
Try for two weeks, which stopped
he growth of the early potatoes; |
hen heavy shower washed away
ome of the soil around the vines,
eaving them exposed to the sun.
)ne- tenth Of the second planting
anne up; the season was dry and
hort; the largest of the second
rop weighed four ounces, and less
vas dug than had been planted. A
leighbOr planted few week ear 5
Ter with better results.
The rows were 186 yards long t
26th Of an acre; nine consecutive
ows, with one variety in each,
7ere dug when fully ripe, with the
OllOwing result, allowing 60 lbs. to
be bushel: