The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-05-20
THE POTATO-BEsT KINDS AND PROPER
CuI TlXAIION EOR IHIS COUNTY,

As shown in previous article. SO important to
both producers and consumers do we esteem the
potato, that we have spent much time in studying
its nature and the conditions Of its growth, and in
lconsultng numerous intelligent persons Of large
leypercncc in lis culture, to The best kinds. proper
dressing mode Of cultivation, &c.
| And the first discovery we have made is that all
these potato doctors disagree these subjects with
as much zeal and warmth as Divinity and Medical
doctors do Oh theirs; some recommending one kind
and mode of treatment as the very best others some
exactly the opposite. And from the large survey
we have made we have discovered facts and princi-
pies enough TO enable TO say, think, that both
and all are right, however contradictory their state
lmcnts and vcws,-all these differences arising from
different conditions herein TO be pointed out
| KINDS. The Sebec. the Jackson or Orono, the
Foote and the Goodrich are the ones, and in the
order just named, which the numerous cultivators
we have consulted recommend as the true thing for
this region. And we have discovered This in our
| inquiries which cannot be too well known: All who
| praise the Scbec--and they are majority of the
cuiNalorsinyariably state that they are raised on
Il dry, porous soil. which does not retain too much
moisture; while all who diSpraisc them as yielding
poorly and rotting badly, as uniformly State that
tLtN were ItlsCu Ull Ntt tiNtN anu Soll
Happening into a field while the crop was being
harvested last fall, liked the looks of the potatoes
so well that onr winters supply WAS ordered from
| them. 1heyswere the Sebccs and We're grown on
a high, sandy ridge, whose soil seemed too dry for
anything. We want no better article; good SIZE
smooth, fine flavor, not over two or three to Il hshe
rottng and all the way through, down 10 this date,
as sprightly and meay cpicure could wish. 10
}plant the Sehec only on dry, porous soils, and the
Orono and the Footc on wet, heavy soils. seems,
therefore, to be the true rule. As 10 the Goodrich
| not enough of it i, known hereabout> TO Judge of
its relative merits. Hon. Mr.. Mct'ilvcry, of Sears
port, tried it last year. and finds it an excellent po-
tato, good flavor hardy. free from rot and produc
tive; and many others preparing to try this
| year Numerous other varieties, as the ll:rliSon
| Early Rose, and Others are offered; and if their
qualities half equal the fabulous prices AT which
they are held->omc at So per h., and one, the
| Early Prince at $50 tuber-thcy are indeed Won
derfll. But lei all our readers remember that spec
ulatiOn, having somewhat exhausted itself on
Shanghae rooSters, and in many other directions
seems now to have struck among the potatoes.
Some enthusiastic people always have an itching for
these eXravagancieS, just a certain man we read
| Of spent 81 life time IRVING to extract Sun-beams
from cucumberS; but our adviHc is TO sh,n all such
follics. And as to seed potatoes whether there is
Ianything in it not all cultiYators agree thai to
Ichanee The seed around from place to place, fro
Iquently, is of very great utility.
DRESSING. Experience shows that all strong I'M
! Ifermentcd manures are not well for anything; so
old manure if possible, should be used for the po-
tato. Ashes, plaster and the supcrphosphates are
highly useful To this plant; those who have tried
| them state that they well repay their cost. How
shall the dressing be applied? In the HILL the drill,
| OF broadcast: Here also farmers, as we'll as all
writers, disagree; but SO far as can learn the
| drill is coming into favor in this section.
| PLANTING AND CULTIvATING. How much seed:
Formerly three pieces, each with two three eyes,
to each hill, the nvarablc rule the world
Lately the amount has been growing less, so that
two or three eyes to a hill is now thought q great
!morc seed produces the small and worthless tubers.
Our own limited trials confirm this Some Of oul
lbest farmers now plant in drills, one piece with Two
eyes, about foot apart. When the plants are two
between the rows, and again in week or two,
using the hoe TO destroy weeds, and to properly put
the earth in place. The plow or culivator so late
as to disturb the roots is injurious
| To the many persons who have kindly contribut-
ed valuable information on this subject we offer our
| Acknowledgements and hope for continuance of
their f,vors.