Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-10-05
House, Farm and Garden
1. d. II. COLLINS, Editor.
EarIy Rose Potatoes.

Last spring we procured one pound of
the Early Rose potatoes of neighbor who
had some five or six pounds. We cut them
in small pieces, leaving but one eye on
piece, and planted them in the garden
about the LIST of June, putting two pieces
to hill, making thirty-two hills in ALL
The soil is naturally strong loan, some
what inclined to be heavy, and was of
course rich, as all garden soils should be.
We also used table spoonful of Bradley's
Superphosphate to each hill. Sept. 18th
we dug them; and now for the result =
Seventyfve pounds of assorted table pota-
toes and twenty pounds of small and affec
ted ones, making ninety-five pounds in all
from one pound of seed. Many of the po-
tatoes are very large, and comparatively
few very small The worst fault we have
discovered in them as yet is, the habit they
seem to have Of growing out of the ground
and were sunburnt. We judge that this
aggravated the rot, as no signs of rot ap-
peared in any excepting those thus expos
ed to the sun and air We never saw this
tendency to grow out of the ground, to so
great an extent, in any other variety we
have raised, many small potatoes having
one or two cases even to the tops. We
have not tried their cooking qualities yet.
The potatoes were apparently ripe about
the Goth of August, little less than three
months from planting.
We should be pleased to have the farm
ers who read the Standard send us, during
| the fall, accounts of the yield of the vari-
Gus crops they raise, and especially of the
new varieties which they may have tried,
such as the Norway oats, Early Rose pota-
| toes, &c. If they would do sO-stating the
quantity of seed used, the kind and condi-
| ton of the soil, as well as the amount of
ground devoted to the crop, the method of
| cultivation, and any other items of interest
connected with tit might be of great in
| terest to the farming community, as we
should gladly publish all such commune
cations, and farmers might thus be ena-
bled to Judge very readily and accurately
| of the relative merits of the different yari-
cites reported upon, and of their adaptable
| ity to the different soils. For instance: A.
will report that he planted fyep pounds Ear
ly Rose potatoes, and they were almost q
failure, producing only twenty-five pound:
of small, poor potatoes and rotting quite
badly and consequently they are a humbug
and good for nothing But B. reports thai
he planted five pounds of the same variety
| and harvested hundred and eighty lbs
of splendid potatoes-very few small one.
and no rot in short they are the best pota
to that he is acquainted with. Now why
the difference? Let us look fartherin thei
reports. A. says he planted his on rattle
heavy sofia clay lOam-and the season
being a wet one the ground had been pref
ty moist and heavy all summer but B
planted his on a dry rich loan which haC
not suffered with an excess of moisture a
any time during the season. Now, her
we see at once what may have occasione,
the difference in the result, and if thei
method of procedure in other respects wa
alike, we come to the conclusion at once
that this variety is not adapted TO the kin,
of soil upon which A. raised his crop, an
this conclusion is confirmed, in our mind,
if upon looking farther, we find that c. an
d. report similar experience with \
and f. and F's experience correspond
with that of B.
1t is a well known fact that some vant
ties ofpotatoes and wheat, as well as of va
rious kinds of fruit, are very valuable upo
some soils, and with certain methods {
culture, while on other soils and unde
other conditions they are sure to be a fai
ure; and we can conceive of no better wa
for farmers to mutually benefit each othe
than by doing as herein suggested; that il
publishing their methods ofProeedure an
the result, whether favorable or otherwis,
Let us compare notes and thus be enable
to arrive at just conclusions.