The Placer herald., 1874-01-03
HOUSE AND FA RIM.

ural Society, wrote very exhaustive essay
upon the above-named subject, proving con-
slusively, to many, that whole potatoes
were far preferable to pieces of tubers for
planting. Mr.. Knight, at that time and for
many succeeding years, was considered, in
Great Britain, the highest authority in the
world on all horticultural subjects, conse-
quenty his opinions carried great weight
among the people. His idea was that tu-
Der, as whole, was but one seed, like a
kernel of corn. But we now consider po-
tato tuber more like an ear of corn contain
ing many seeds. ,.each of which is capable Of
producing plant equal in strength and val
ue to the whole combined OF course there
are hundreds of farmers who will, and do,
cling to this old theory of Mr.. Knights.
despite of all the science or practice to the
contrary. We should think, however, that
the enormous yield secured from the various
new sorts within the past few years and fire.
quently referred to in the agricultural jour-
mails, all of which have been produced from
cut seed, would begin to awaken the stick
lers for whole seed and set them to making
experiments in this direction. No one will
suppose fer a moment the yields reported in
the case of the Bliss prizes for the Early
Vermont and Compton Surprise could have
been secured by planting whole tubers.
Those farmers who believe that the whole
tubers are best for seed should look at these
fgures-5114, COZ, 437 and 456 pounds,
raised by different men in different localities,
each having but one pound for seed. We
think these facts and figures are woth a
dozen theories, and well worth remember
ing at planting time.
premium PoTAToIs.-The New York
Tribune says:-We lately interviewed
practical farmer who, for several years past,
has taken the first prize for his potatc es. lu
reply to inquiries as to his mode of opera
tions, he said that the largest and best
shaped tubers aie always selected for plant
ing at digging time the previous year; and
he finds that they have been gradually in
creasing in size until his potatoes are now
enormous. Sod ground is chosen for the
crop; it is very carefully and deeply plowed
and thoroughly pulverized with the spike
harrow Previous to breaking up, however,
the whole surface is heavily manured and
this manure raked into the furrow as the
plow passes round. The tubers are cut in
to quarters a few days before planting and
dropped in the rows sixteen or eighteen inch
es apart. The rows are struck out with the
plow about three feet distant, and the seed
is covered with a good depth of soil. A
roller passed over the ground, leveing and
smoothing the surface, to be followed in a
short time by the spike harrow. AS soon
as the young plants appear above the ground
the culiivator is started and kept going fire.
quently throughout the growing season.
Every weed is pulled up as soon as it makes
its appearance; for, to use bis own express
sin, he is "too poor to grow weeds" AS
the plants wax strong, slight furrows are
thrown up to them with a small plow, and
these are still further increased afterward by
repetition of the same process. In dig
ging, great care is taken not to skin or
bruise the tubers, but to handle them all
carefully, and this enables the owner to pre-
serve them much better than the careless
farmer who throws his potatoes about as if
they were cobble stones. This is the only
magic he employs. Careful choice of seed,
thorough preparation of the soil, frequent
stirring of the surface and total extinction of
WCCOo dlt Iuc scCICtS VI ulb success.
DRESS OF OUR ExrREM1rrEs. During
the damp and cold season, says Dio Lewis,
deficient dress of the feet and legs is a fruit
full source of disease The head, throat and
liver are, perhaps, the most frequent suffer-
ers. The legs and feet are far from the CEN
trail part of the body. They are not in
great mass, like the trunk, but extended
and enveloped by the atmosphere Besides,
they are near the damp, cold earth. For
these aud other reasons they require extra
covering. If we would secure the highest
physiological conditions, we must give our
extremities more dress than the body. We
wear upon our legs in the coolest season but
two thicknesses of cloth. The body has at
least six. Women put on them four thick
nesses under the shawl, which, with the va
rious doublings, furnishes several more;
then, over all, thick padded furs, while their
legs have one thickness of cotton, under
balloon. They constantly come to me about
their headache, pa!pitation of the heart, and
congestion of the liver. Recently one said
to me, "All my blood is in my head and
chest. My head goes bumpety-bump, my
heart goes bumpety-bump.'
l asked, Chow are your feet?" "Chunks
of ice" she replied. | said to her, eff you
so dress your legs and feet that the blood
can't get down into them, where can it 90 i?
1t cant go out visiting; it must stay in the
system somewhere OF course the chest
and head must have an exec ssive quantity.
So they 60 'bumpety- bump and SO they
must go, until you dress your legs and feet
in such way that they shall get their share
of blood" In the coolest season of the
year leave Boston for bit of tour be-
fore the lyceums-going as far as Phiade-
phia, and riding much in the night, without
an overcoat; but give my legs two or three
times their usual dress. During the coolest
weather men may wear, in addition to their
usual drawers, a pair of chamois-skin draw
erS with great aQyantage When we ride |