The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-03-16
Chr farmer.
Early Potatoes.

AdAAy 4OtabOCos
This is crop almost as universal as
corn, and one which every farmer or
gardener is sure to raise, if but ever SO
small patch. In an essay, for which
aprize OF 800 offered by Rev Mr.. Wylie,
OF Pennsy lvauia, was paid to d. A. Coup.
ton, Of Wayne county, Pa, who had
been engaged in farming from early
youth, We give, says the Amerjcaa Far.
naer, the following as the substance of the
essay The soil best suited for pota.
toes is warm, dry, sandy, or gravelly
loan, well filed with decayed vegetable
matter-new lands, OF these lately denu.
ded ofthe forest, ifnot too damp, produce
tubers of the best quality, and grown un
der such circumstances, the potato al
ways cooks dry aud mealy, and with a
flavor and aroma not to be obtained in
older soils. Clayey soil he thinks can
not produce the potato in perfection as
to quality, but in favorable seasons
large crops Of coarse Aeshed tubers can
be raised. He enriehes the soil BY
ploughing under clover, buck " heat peas
or other green crops, or by swamp muck
that has been drawn TO the field in win.
ter, exposed in snail heaps to the frost,
aud mixed in the spring with a little
lime to neutralize the acid. Sea.weed
he considers as having no superior as
manure for potatoes, If bountiiully ap.
piled. Mr.. G. thinks that stable ma.
nure predisposcs the tuber to rot. de-
tracts from its flavor, aud that not half
ms large crop can be raised with it as
with other manures, and consequently
no stable or green barn yard manure
should be used on this crop. This is
very contrary to the practice almost
universally adopted. 1t is a good plan
tosprinkle handful ofsuper phosphate,
wood ashes, or lime in the hills at plant
ing, and an equal quantity of wood
ashes, or lime Stacked in strong salt
brine, just before the last hoeing. As.
tonishing results are obtained from dust
ing the vines, as soon as they are fairly
through the soil, with plaster, and again
Immediately after the last ploughing
and hoeing; and at intervals through
the whole growing season-the fist
dressing light, the second heavier, and
after that more bountiful, to the extent
Of 200 lbs. 10 the acre--the action Of
plaster is fatal to many of the fungus
family, and renders the plants less pala.
table to insects the vines retain
bright, lively color, and the tubers
continue swelling until stopped by the
frost; the tubers are less liable to rot,
and more easily kept till spring Mr..
Compton has seen field, all Of the
same soil, all prepared alike, aud all
planted'with the same variety, at the
same time, on one half of which, that
had received no plaster, the yield was
about 60 bushels per acre, and many
rotten; while the other half, to which
plaster had been applied in the manner
above described, yielded 800 bushels TO
the acre, and not an uusound one among
them. It is advisable to change the 10.
cation as well as the potato-loamy soil
frequently used 10 their culture is apt
soon to become heavy, compact and life
less, and troubled with weeds, and De
terioration'iu quantity and quality soon
render the crop Improbable. Mr..
Compton thinks that the poor results at.
tending cut tubers are traceable to poor
ones improperly cut - large, mature,
sound tubers should be used, cut in
pieces two or three eyes each with as
much flesh as possible around aud un-
der each eye, to the centre Of the tuber.
The best aud most extensive growers
procure new seed every two or three
years. When the tops are two inches
high, run corn plough inches deep,
close to the hills, turning the burrows
from the hills plough both ways-thus
standing on the squares of the earth,
warmed on all sides by the air aud sun.
light, the potatoes grow rapidly. AS
soon as the tops are or 7 inches high,
plough inches deep, midway between
the rows, turning the furrow to the
hills. Hoeing is generally unnecessary,
but when needed, draw mellow earth 10
the plants, with the hoe, keeping the
top OF the hills somewhat hollow Ia
catch the rain-then, as far as stirring
the soil is concerned, let IL alone, MS ai,
ter certain age new tubers are formed
each time the soil is disturbed and il
fhe last ploughing be deferred until the
vines are large, a great proportion Of
small potatoes is sure to be the conse.
quence. The ploughing for patatocs
should be thorough and deep, aud pull
verified well by narrowing and rolling.
As soon as the frost is out of the ground,
and the ground is prepared as suggest.
ed above, lay of the rows feet apart.
The views presented by Mr.. G. are
worthy consideration by every potato
planter.
IL Is estimated that the stock Of
cheese in the country, up to May /,