The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-12-12
Potatoes on Fall PIoughinq.

Whatever viii! in these days of degenor-
ate potatoeS-from disease, potato beetles
and other causeS-prOmOte growth early
in the season, is of value TO the farmer
one of the most important of these, on
clays and loans, is fall ploughing. These
are well known TO be the proper soils for
the crop, except among market gardeners.
whore earineos is sacrificed to quality
with such, sandy and highly manured,s the
best We have never failed in getting a
crop. planted as soon in the spring as the
soil was in condition, and to hasten this we
nave always planted in we'll drained soil
ploughed deeply III the fall, leaving the sur
face a. rough as possible.
As soon in the spring as the soil is friable,
fnrrow your land. If manure is used place
II over the tubers or eyes when planted
and cover with not less than four inches OF
earth. Covered thus with manure, the 20
tatoes viii not appear above ground so
early as if planted on the manure but they
will appear in due time, and before the crop
is ripe will have caught up; and If early
sorts are planted, as Early Rose, Early
York, etc, the crop will ripen before the
season is far enough advanced to generate
the condition inducing rot. OF course, if
the beetle makes its appearance it must be
attended to; but these pests are seldom so
destructive with early as with late plant
ings.
A peculiarity of the potato is that it re-
quires 4 cool, moist soil. The hot sun
glowing on the bare earth is destructive to
this coolness and moisture. If this extreme
heat is accompanied with or follows hard
showers, it almost always induces disease
In the tuper, and consequently, rot. For
this reason only rich lands should be used
that you may plant the crop close enough
to % "a ha nd xx,;t
and planted early the plant will completely
shade the land before the advent of ex-
tremely hot weather,
On new land, or half rotten sod, We
should not advise the application of strong
uitr0genOus manure. for it constantly does
dcpreclate the quality of the potato. Min
efal manures on soils moderately rich in
nitrogen, or those elements contained in
horse manure, always give satisfaction.
Plaster, mari and phosphate manure may
always be indicated upon any soil, after
the final working, mulching the land be-
tween the rows with long manure, especi-
ally horse manure, we have always prac-
tised with the best results; it keeps the
earth cool and moist, and feeds the plant
just at the time it needs it most. Thus
treated, the tubers will generally be large
healthy, aud consequently farnaceous.
Ii the soil, from having been previously
badly worked, or from natural causes, is
mechanically disorganzed, and is inclined
To run together, of course it must be re-
ploughed in the spring. This may be lightly
done, not more than four or five inches
deep, but upon ordinary soils, the spring
pIoughing may usually be omitted. The
advantage of fall ploughing is undoubtedly
owing To the fact that the frosts of winter
break down and thoroughly commute the
soil nh g,
to run Of through the dead furrows as also
more free percoation through the sol
Itself. A soil so acted upon, not only takes
up from the atmosphere the floating ele-
ments of fertility it contains, but its por-
oslty allows it to take up heat also, and
store it more surely then on less disinte
grated or lumpy soils Western Rural