Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-14
Il Il IRISH POTATO-MODE OF CUE
From the American Farmer.


Within the present century the potato
has been much improved in size and tex
ture by careful culture, and many new va
rieties are yearly being produced from
seed. The potato does not necessarily pro-
duce from seed tubeTs like the parent; as q
general thing the tubers thus produced are
totally different, and consequently in
Vulnerable varieties are produced by
planting the seed. We can bring a
white potato in contact with red one 0he
bloom) aud by hybridization produce seed
that viii bring tubers bearing somewhat
the resemblance Of both parents; the Cali
co potato was thus originated, but as gen.
eral thing, the color of IL g product will be
lighter color than that of the darker of its
parents. Though many varieties are thus
formed, but few of them ever become pop
ular, owing to the fact that many turn out
ofsmall size or of bad quality. But the ex-
perimeuter should be encouraged. Pota-
toes, after being grown for a number Of
years, degenerate, and we require new ones
to take their places as they degenerate;
from the seed we get what we want, and
be that exercises proper judgment in re-
tanning the good and discarding the bad tn.
bers produced from seed, is often
Justly remunerated. Messrs. Good
rich and Bresee have prodnced hun
dreds of new varieties of pota-
toes from seed, and have been justly remu-
nerated for their labors. Several Of the
new varieties produced by them have
brought many dollars per pound the first
season that they were thrown upon the
market, as instance the Early Goodrich,
Early Rose, Peerless, etc.
It is but Just to reward those who, by care
and labor, increase the value and produc-
tiveness Of plants put on earth to be made
useful by man. The varieties of the potato
now in cultivation are almost innumerable
but three of which consider OF great
value to Maryland planters: The Early
Rose and Early Goodrich, for early planting,
and the Peach Blow for the late crop.
The Early Rose is prolific bearer, and is
the potato to be grown for an early market.
it keeps badly, having great tendency to
rot when exposed to the air for any length
oftime-hence should be marketed soon
after being removed from the soil.
The Goodrich, on the other hand, has
much thicker skin, is not so liable to be
bruised in handling, keeps well; and by
some is thought TO produce better than the
Rose, but it Is not so fine in quality as the
Rose, and ripens from ten days to two
weeks later.
The Peach Blow is the potato for late
planting and cooks well at all seasons. 1t
is very productive. Ihsve gathered, per
acre, from new ground, without
manure, from eight to
one hundred and forty bushels, the yield
VARYING with the season. 1t keeps well
xrirfor md cvorinn and inc
its drynesS until the Early Rose comes in
market. s.i ..r
Upon the potatoes composition in meas
ure depends its popularity with the con-
sumner. The most ignorant can designate
between wet and a dry potato, and by SO
doing indicate its composition. Now, it is
within the power of man to change the COM
position of the potato, as shall here en-
deavor 10 prove; he, by exercising proper
care in culture, can often make one that is
not eatable an acceptable vegetable. will
here give two analyses Of potatoes. The
first of potatoes grown on wet clay lands;
the second, of those grown on a bright
loan: .r
/. Sol. matter 1898, starch 7.S3, fibre
6.S1, water 71.43-100 or.
2. Sol. matter 1886, starch 9.93, fl pre-
$50, water 67.32-100 or. rE.8 -
Here can be seen the difference which
soils produce in the composition of the pc
tato; the season has its influence as we'll as
the mode of culture. One of the greatest
recommendation of the potato is to be able
to say OF it that it is dry and mealy, and
this state depends very much upon the
amount OF water which it contains; hence
our aim should be to bring such influence
to bear upon the potato as shall tend to
produce the desired effect. To accomplish
this: Select good seed; the climate you can
not regulate, but the seasons you can mod
ify-by working high in wet seasoos-by
working fiat in dry seasons; by planting in
such land as is best adapted to its growth.
recommend new land, loamy in texture,
] because il neither becomes sobby, nor tends
to make the potato sobby, its porosity Civ
ing vent to superfuous moisture, and its or,