Middletown transcript., 1869-05-08
Ghe 1armer.
Culture OF Potatoes.

From the Rural Talk for May" of
Patuxent Planter, in the Prince Geor-
gian, we Gull the following, which may
be interesting to farmers here, who are
engaged in growing potatoes:
PoTAToEs. these, some, if not
all, this month. Many persons prefer to
plant in June, and last year the late plan
ted succeeded the best, but l have not
found it so most years. At any rate, l
deem it best to plant some this and the
balance next month. The Harrison is
the most prolific and best winter potato
among the new varieties. Take it all in
all the Carter is my favorite for my own
use. The Orono is fine sort. The
Goodrich is early and prolific, but not
good to eat and not very saleable. Last
year | tried seventeen varieties, twelve
were new kinds. / noted the results with
care. Some were worthless. The Early
Rose, proved very fine. The Blue Scotch
proved the best of all others, and to nv
taste, better to eat than the famous Early
Rose. They resemble the old Blue Mer-
GER, only they cook pure white, which the
Blue Mercer did pot-the yield was forty
to one. They cook dry and mealy. The
color is Objectionable as market variety,
though they cook very white. For early
Potatoes, would recommend the Early
Rose, Orono, and Dykeman-fo winter
crop, Harrison, Carter, and Blue Scotch.
The Peach Blow yields we'll and grows
large but will rot in winter badly. The
Monitor is very highly spoken of by some.
SWEET PoTAroEs. Es.-Why is it that our
people will not raise this delicious vege-
table. We can do it as well as our South
Carolina or Norfolk friends. Our soil is
adapted to its growth. Perhaps it is that
none or only few know how to grow it.
A friend of mine in Anne Arundel sue
ceeds always in growing abundant crops
of fac sized dry yellow potatoes. He
says he can grow twice as many per acre
as he can of the Irish. The profit would
seldom be less than 800 or $3.50 per
acre. The culture is simple. Plow and
harrow the land, lay off rows as for Irish
potatoes, place manure in the furroys,
then throw list over the manure, or back
furrow over the manure to raise ridge
eight or ten inches high pass with hoe,
and pat hard with back of the hoe every
two or three feet. When a rain comes.
insert potato slip in each pat. As soon
as the grass begins to grow, weed the
ridges by shaving the dirt off lightly.
Keep the middle of the rows clean with
cultivator or plow. When the vines be-
gin to run draw the earth up on both
sides Of the ridge, forming good border,
little fiat on the top, pillow out the mid
die of the rows, and the work is done, for
the vines will soon cover the ground.
Now is the time when our people used to
cover the vines with dirt, and always,
thereby ruined the crop, for they took
root and the vines growing above ground
wherever joint touched the ground il
took root, and thus the whole strength o
the plant was exhausted in forming 8
thousand small roots, that were mere
strings of roots. Never cover part o.
the vine, but as soon as they begin t.
cover the hill, 60 along with cane OF
stick, run under the vines, and turn them
over, from one side to the other. By the
time the patch is gone over, they may b.
turned back again. By this time the fin,
tendrils which were about to take root
being in contact with the soil, will, by tn,
sun and air. be dried up, and not sprou
again. This should be done once weel
or ten days until the potatoes have nearl,
matured. By this little trouble the Who'll,
strength Ct the plant is thrown into tn
fruit, and good crop is secured. Las
year got a few plants from New York
by mail, and planted them, and grew then
after the above formula, and the yiel,
was fine, the potatoes were large and dry
fully equal to any ever saw grown in tn
great Southern Potato region.