Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-01
IRISH POTATOES.

IRISH POTATOES.
The time is at hand for planting the crop
Of this succulent vegetable, and as our in
quiries in various portions of the State have
given US opportunities for comparing the
views of practical farmers as to the best
variety, best methods of planting ETC., we
propose to give our readers the benefit of
that experience.
The Irish potatoe (Solanum Tuberosum)
like tobacco, is indigenous to the new
world, aud was made known to Europeans
by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1856. 1t is sup
posed by some authors to be native Of
Peru, and to have been brought to Europe
by the Spaniards as early as 1858. The
last is quite likely, as Pizarro with his bold
followers penetrated into the very heart of
Peru, and must have as a matter Of neces-
sity become familiarized with all articles of
food in the country.
The potato in its wild state is poison
Gus. This poisonous principle, called
solanine, is eradicated by culture
asd climatic influences, AID next to
Indian corn, the potato is the most
valuable gift made by the New World to
the Old. In Ireland, it's the principal
article Of diet among the laboring classes
and great distress always follows partial
destruction Of the potato crop. In 1881 pes
thence and famine fell upon the western
counties and scenes Of horror, such as have
been seldom witnessed in the worlds history
were witnessed. Thepotsto rot first made
its appearance in 1S45 and in 1916 the entire
crop was destroyed by 1t in a single
weeks time. Scientific men were
unable to account for the phenome-
non. Practical agriculturists could
find no preventive. Ghostly famine stared
the whole nation in the face and relief COM
mittees were formed in almost every civil
lized country, and food sent by the shipload
to Ireland's furnishing millions.
Recent investigations throw some light on
the disease. It is known now that potatoes
planted upon new soils, or upon poor land,
are not liable to the disease, while upon land
heavily manured with barn-yard dung they
are liable to the rot. The disease
attacks old varieties and sometimes destroys
particular kinds without affecting others of
a different sort in the same locality. New
sorts propagated from seed usually escape.
The Irish potato does best in cool moist
climate, and is greatly influenced by the
character of the soil. Sandy soils with
plenty Of humus make mealy tubers,
while stiff, clayey soils invariably make
waxey ones. The best locality for potatoes
inILennnessee, is on the mountain peaks,
iri he coal formations where red sandstone
predominates. The tops Of such noun
tains as Ben Lomond in Warren, and all
the region about Beersheba springs, are
noted for the large size, delightful flavor and
perfect mealiness Of the potatoes. Indeed
it is surprising and almost incredible to see
how soil, apparently so poor, can produce
such immense tubers.
The land for crop Of potatoes should be
plowed deep and closely, well pulverised
with harrow and laid Off in rows three
and a-half feet apart. These rows should
be about five inches deep, and the potatoes,
after being cut in pieces about the size Of a
walnut, should be dropped six inches apart.
Upon these, two burrows should be thrown
with a single plOw. Planted in this man.
ner, the after cultivation is very simple.
Just before the sprouts begin to appear
above ground, and when the land is in
good condition, run a two horse harrow
across the ridges, levelling the land. The
potato sprouts will rapidly appear and get
ahead of all grass and weeds. About two
weeks after this, plow, or use cultivator in
running between the rows. We prefer the
latter implement, as we are satisfied that
potatoes will make much greater yield by
having level cultivation. Two workings
with the pIow OF cultivator will be sufi-
Gent.
As to fertilizers we have never tried any
thing that gives better results than hogs
hair. When the potato is dropped,
tuft just sufficient to cover the potato should
be dropped on it. We have never knowna
failure in raising good potatoes when this
fertilizer has been used. They are very
superior in quality to the potatoes grown
with barn-yard manure, being mealy and
mild favored and free from the waxey,
soapy appearance and strong taste of those
raised by manuring with barn-yard scrap
ings. An analysis of hair gives just the in
gradients which enter as elements in the
Formation of the potato, viz: sulphate Of
| lime, common salt, silica, oxide Of iron, etc.
A very successful potato grower in our
State recommends the following compost as
being well suited for growing potatoes:
Dry muck, bushels; lime, bushels;
leeched ashes (wood,) 10 bushels; Salt l
bushel; gypsum or land plaster, 8 bushels.
Work it up we'll, and use double handful
| upon each potato. -Four hundred bushels
have been raised by the use of this COM
post from a single acre.
As to varieties: 1t is generally conceded,
we believe, that the Early Rose is better
than any other early variety now known in
our State. The London Lady, the Early
Goodrich, the White Sprout, the Pink
Eyes, and Slany others have done well, but
each lacks something that the Early Rose
possesses. Indeed, in our judgment, there
is no necessity for any improvement on the
Early Rose, whether we regard size, quick
ness of growth, color, flavor keeping quail
ties or yield.
APPLE TREES.
! q the Elitnrs of 70 I-rinr and American.