Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-08-23

verizes the soil, admits air and heat, and
inns assists to warm up the soil. After
the potatoes are two or three inches above
ground. hill them with 8 riding or walk
Ing cultivator, turning the earth to them,
so as to nearly or quite cover the tops,
but without changing their upright posi-
ton. When they are again oat an men
or two, if the weather proves frosty, an
| other slight covering will protect them;
and, by the time the danger of frost IS
over, your potatoes will have surprised
you with their rank growth. Stir the sur
face ut least once week until in bloom,
and after that, between the rows, but do
not disturb the hills. This is all, and will
insure early potatoes-at least two weeks
in advance of the usual crop of early
planting. Don't use too much manure, or
it will burn the crop. Better use too little
than too much. Keep the secret gentle
men, and make money out of the early
crop"
"Well," said r., "that is sensible, and
the best feature that have heard on this
subject, and makes it perfectly clear to
nv mind. But one thing more: Will
those early potatoes keep well through
the summer for seed | have heard a
deal of complaint on that score" Plant
for seed in the middle of June and you
will have no trouble"
1t is easy to have early potatoes.
Another fact has been demonstrated :
that sweet corn and many garden vegeta-
bles can be advanced by similar treat
ment
1t might be said that this advice is not
timely; but we can see that it is, for 1t is
the days of new potatoes, and we have
wished that their coming had not been 50
tardy. We may cut this out and paste IT
into the scrapbook, ready for the next
planting of early maturing potatoes.
We have seen the necessity of tnanuring.
The difficulties in manuring such crops
as corn and potatoes in the spring are on
account of the soft ground for hauling
and the want of time-two difficulties not
to be set aside. To remedy this, we must
haul out our manure during the winter
and spread it at once. In the west par
of Cook and east part of DuPage Coun
ties is a large settlement of Germans
These thrifty farmers have large barns
and warm stables for their stock, an(
: every load of manure is hauled out il
winter, or nearly as fast as it is ready t.
, go to the field. These people grow fint
crops and have fine dairies, and the foun
dation of their success is the manner o.
using the manure of the farm. In some
. respects they are not pattern farmers
{ but, in this-in putting manure on theil
fields in winter-they put money in theil
: pockets in summer These farmers sup
| ply the city with hundreds Of bushels o
, potatoes daily, and have made fortune
r out of this one crop No manure, NJ
2 potatoes, at least on old land but, with it
{ you can have an annual crop on the SAM
t land. / have had some fifteen crop
from the same garden-spots, and the crop
have all been good. In two respects, a
! least, this plan of managing the crop i
} new; the use of the subsoil pillow in plant
ing, as it allows Of light covering
! which is desirable, and then it does no
bury the manure too deeply; in fact, it i
j so near the surface that its plant food
, at once available. Then the covering o
the plant to keep from frost, giving then
, strong roots, is of value On few row
or parts of rows, was applied a top-dress
ing Of material from the esrth-closet
which much increased this yield.
To grow potatoes south Of 40 degree
of latitude requires some skill as well a!
knowledge of the habits of the plant
If we will use manure, and plant early
so that the crop may have the advantage
of the spring rains and low temperature
we will seldom fail of a beautiful crop oil
early potatoes for market; and, as these
usually pay the best, we can well aforC
, to give them the proper ate ntiOn.-
, "RuraI, iB Chicago Tribune.