Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-07-01
CULTURE OF POTATOES.

use. and it is now cultivated wherever !.
civilization extends. 1t is estimated
that 15O,OOO,OO0 bushels are annually
consumed in the United States for food /,
alone. and vast quantities are used in
the manufacture of starch which is en- !
ployed in stiffening cotton cloth, cali +;
Goes, &C., in the cotton factories.
Raising potatoes is as profitable an
employment as can be resorted to by the
farmers of Massachusetts,, Vermont and
New Hampshire, as the starch mills of
those states will purchase millions of
bushels at from thirty to forty cents
per bushel Thus. if a man can raise
5000 bushels he can make it paying
crop. The time is coming when north
ern farmers will not attempt to raise
corn, wheat, &C., but will purchase them
from the west, the great granery of the
world, and content themselves with
raising potatoes, tobacco and vegetables
of various kinds. The root crops are
surely the most profitable in New Eng
land. Various are the opinions in re-
gard to the best method of cultivating
potatoes. Some select small seed pota-
toes, and contest that they produce as
large crop as large sized ones cut in
to eyes. Others declare that the largest
potatoes produce in their turn larger
roots and it seems to us that this is
the most reasonable conclusion, and that
small potatoes are only fit to feed to
stock.
| Large potatoes should be cut into
four or five pieces at the most, and then
allowed to become a little dry or cal
loused before planting. If small seed
are used, the sprout end, i. e., the end
furthest from the stem, should be cut
off, because if all the eyes are allow
ed to grow, they cannot make hill
of potatoes, as there is not vitality
enough in them. There will be many
stalks, but few seed.
If it is possible, always plant the po-
tatoes desired for the table upon new
land it will produce seed of much bet
> ter flavor and size.
> Grass land is next best, and should
be plowed in the autumn, or as early IN
spring as convenient.
! Stable manure has tendency to In
. duce disease, and to deteriorate the fia-
y vor of the potato, but the crop may be
e greatly increased by adding ashes, lime
e and salt to the soil. All vegetable and
IL mineral manures are very desirable. A
'i rich calcareous soil that is underdrainet
: is the best for raising healthy crop o
10 good favored potatoes.
- In planting potatoes very early IL
the season, it is essential to prepare tn
seed at least week before it is to b
" planted, and spread thinly to dry wher
" they will not become chilled; thus treat
" ed, an incrustation of the juices take
= place, and this prevents the decay
Ny the eyes should the season prove rain
= and cold
an The best time to plant seed in nortf
-. ern ATTITUDES is about the middle
i'll April, for the earlier in the season tn;
u the potato gets start the more like
=. is it to escape the drouth of summ
Tho and the attacks of the potato bug al
I'll other unfavorable influences. In plan
inc ing early in the season, place the seed
iii least six inches below the soil; then
INV the frost should kill the tops, it will n
av lnjure the eyes, and they will soon sta
.ce again Plant the hills eighteen inch
. apart, and the rows three feet and
oas half distant, and as soon as the spro,
90 are about four inches high. run the CT
,oo tivator close to and between them, t
Il next time cultivate deep and encoura
tho the growth of the tubers by making
ia soil very fine. The third time ia
,nh- care not to hill them up so high tt
art the rain cannot touch the potatoes;
na. after this keep down the weeds wit
viii hoe Of the various kinds that Bre
can of Vermont has produced, the Peerl
rood is decidedly the best; the tubers
do very large. pure white flesh, and v
4 IN fine favored.
Breezes Prolific is only fit for fe
HIGH ing to cattle, or making into stat
,;+v Early Rose, if planted in good soil, r;
han ly fails to give satisfaction. 1t RIP
from in less than three months, yields "
limo and is of good quality. If plan
ONE. April lst, in a good location, it will
little ready for the table by the middle
rewd June. King of the Earlies is a
have days ahead of the Early Rose, but {
,ould not equal it in size or quality.
was 5. IN Country Gentleman.
hay
sense To PRESERVE EGGs.-Nearly fl
home. deep earthen vessel "a potchurn is
'entle- besD with fresh-laid eggs, closely
regularly packed in with the small
downward. In another vessel pu
give much quicklime as you think will
have enough water to fill up the egg v
n re- into the consistency of cream. Let
m the lime and water stand two or three 9