Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-05-03
FARM GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.



s. J. Woolley, of billiard, Ohio,
talks about potatoes as follows in the
Ohio Farmer:
cit has been three hundred years
since the potato was discovered, but il
is now cultivated in all parts of the
globe where civilization has extended.
One hundred and fifty million bushels
are consumed annually in the United
States as an article of food alone,
aside from their extensive utility in
occupying so great a part in commerce
and arts.
There are great variety of opinions
III regard to the proper method of their
culture. have tried many expert
ments in the cultivation of potatoes,
and have settled on the following sys-
tenn as being the true one:
If it is convenient, plant your pota-
toes on new land sod is next best, and
should be broken in fall or early spring,
and subsoiled at least fifteen inches
deep. Animal or stable manure should
not be used on potato ground, it has a
tendency to deteriorate and disease :;
potatoes thus raised lack the sweet,
delicate flavor that those have which
are raised on virgin soil. The crop
may be much benefited with vegetable
manure, ashes, lime, salt, &c. I have
never succeeded in raising good crop
of healthy potatoes on wet land;
rich, calcareous clay soil, that contains
a-httle sand, is best, and may be much
benefited by being underdrained.
There are many failures caused by
not having the seed properly prepared.
There are variety OF opinions of seed
to plant, whether large or small. I am
satisfied that large seed, not cut in more
than two pieces, is best, but small seed,
II properly prepared, isnearly as good.
Large potatoes should be cut length
wise, and small ones should have only
the sprout end cut off, i. e., the end
furthest from the STEM If all the
sprouts are allowed to grow, there is
not vitality enough in small potato
to make a vigorous growth. There
will be many stalks, and hill of many
little potatoes; whereas if the sprout
end is cut off there will be few strong
stalks, and not more than half the num-
Der of potatoes will be produced,
but they will nearly all be large ones.
Those that are planted early should
be cut at least week before they are
planted, and the heap turned over, or
spread thin, to dry. An incrustation
of the starch and juices of the trber,
called healing, takes place, which de-
tends the pelce against decay. It is
important to have your seed well ma
tured. If your seed potatoes are not
ripe you need not expect success
The best time to plant, in this lati-
tude, is about the middle of April, but
the time may be extended to the first of
July, but early planting, as rule, is
by far the best. The earlier in the
season the potato gets start the more
likely it is to escape the summer
droughts, the attacks of the bug, and
other influences unfavorable to it's
growth and maturity. Early planting
should be about eight inches deep, so
if the frost should kill the tops, the
eyes will start again.
If your ground is clear of weeds, I
would plant In drills about twelve
inches apart, and have the rows three
feet and half apart.
As soon as the plant is about fonr
inches high, run the ctlltivator close to
and between, but not over them. The
next time cultivate deep, and thorough
ly pulverize the soil, and encourage the
growth of the tuber rather than the
stalk, and the third time lay them by
with the double shovel, not hill them
up too much, cut the weeds out after
this with hoe.