Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-04-09
Planting Potatoes.

The potato the past year was fail
uro in quality on account Of the grea,
heat. Many tubers were so scorched
that they became watery and rank
and some very near the surface OF
partly exposed, assumed the green
color and litter taste Of the vine
making them unfit TO feed even to
stock, on account OF the poisonous
property engendered by the rays oil
the sun. The remedy is, plant deep
from six to seven inches This for
various reasons 1t will permit very
early planting-an advantage--secur
ing thus the seed against the frost, OF
II reached by it, it will permit it grad
Fualty to draw out, which will save it
it will favor it in drouth, and pro
vent the setting of tubcrs too near the
surface, so that the sun cannot injure
thom; hilling can also be dispensed
with, and only tho cultivator used &c
make mellow and keep out the grass
with no danger Of hurting the roots
or the tubers.
BY putting out early, with the first
mellow soil, the potato will sproul
ana grow on, unimpeded in the ground
instead Of the cellar, and get the bene
fl of the Winters moisture, which il
an carly droutb, is of Importance
Particularly should the Early Rose b
put out early. The experience here
is, decided and unvarying, that yor
cannot get it out too early in case
you have mellow ground for it. /
will grow in the worst Of weather
snow and frost excepted, and seem'
TO delight in it, while at the same
time other sorts are at stand still
thus making this emphatically what
it is, an early potato. Plant clos'
rather than wide apart, say IL to X
inches in the row, as this sort keop'
its tubers close together, a nest o
them, and easily gathered. They
will then also be of a medium rather
than large size, which is favorable
to quality; and by putting but one oil
two eyes in a hill, there will be few
small potatoes. Thus crop of Early
Rose can be ripened very early, anc
of a superior quality and yield. Ba
tho ground must be dry or wei
drained; and as guard against rot
there should be more sand than clay
in the soil.
Late sorts should receive the sam,
treatment as early. They will then
by being put out early, get the whole
seasons growth, and will ripen il
time for dry gathering. A potato
wants to be grown rather slowly, bu,
continuously, and well ripened. Il
will then bo sound and solid, fine
grained, and ofbetter flavor; also more
mellow, Rank growth will give
rank taste, and watery condition {
less concentration ofsubstancc.
Experience has demonstrated thu,
1t is better to manure in the hill thar
to apply broadcast. Better q pool
soil, with some good fertilizer in The
hill, than rich land and the best for
tillzers are ashes, guano, reduced bone
plaster, &c. Ashes are a special ma
nure for this plant.
Will our farmers who arc not in The
secret Of early planting, try IL .hii
year. Try IL on small scale of nc
other. Put out with tho very frs,
mellow soil, If it is in March; but be
sure and plant deep, never less than
six, and better seven inches. When
say better seven / mean 1t particu'
larry with the Early Rose. But do il
with all sorts. Do not fear the fros,
with the seed SO deep in the ground
Put q good quantity of unloachcd
wood ashes and hen dung in tho bill
IL the soil is not rich. The ashes and
dung should be applied and covered
at once, as soon as mixed, as else the
strength by the union will escape, and
that rapidly. Keep out the grass
keep the ground mellow Countri
Gentleman.