Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-01-03
FIELD AND GARDEN.
Edl.ed bv NIB. sArEHam.
nAlsrNe Nrw srrpIrNe rorArors.

RAISING NEW SFEDLtNG fOiAIOf-Ss
In the Ohio Agric iltural Report for
1872, recently published. is an essay on
the Potato, read at the Agricultural
one year ago, by G. w.
of Delaware, o., in which he
gives the Following account of his exper-
iments in raising new Seeding pota-
toes.
nv experiments in the production OF |
new varieties from seed have been to |
me interesting, and l hope may prove |
of some value to others. The impress
sion most deeply fixed upon my mind
by this pursuit is, that it is one OF ex-
treme uncertainty. For, while some OF
nv efforts have resulted in simple re-
productions of the varieties fro which
seed were taken, without apparent
change or Improvement, in other eases
there has been the most wonderful di-
Yersity from the parent stock. l VIII
here remark, that in all accounts which
I find descriptive of Seeding potatoes,
it Is stated that the product the first
year will be small tubers, about the size
Of boys' marbles the second year, reach
ing the average size of hens eggs; and
that third year is required to attain
their full size and development.
In nay earlier efforts, this was, very
nearly, my own experience. But upon
20 Ave Years agn T nurchased half
,staaI mS ~. cor. fro,,, tlair descendants
s.s.nas..,s r. rs,,, so..., ,halls and the FOL-
$500 sssson rsisaJ fnrtv seeding
-1a,+s Thera was great difference in
tRha s,,v,aarsnce of these nlsnts while
growin0 thonoh ali were planted at the
Same time. in as nearly as practicable
the same eoil. and had the same treat
ment and cultivation throughout. There
was also much difference in their period
of ripenfno. as indicated by cessation of
Crowth- and diving of the stalks. They
were dng in Succession as thew ripened:
and Il was then found there was even
crearer diversity in the appearance and
Character OF the potatoes than in their
growth. Some were yery small, some
medium. and few large. Some were
white-skinned. others running through
all 1raeiations of color. from pink to
uurplisb red. Nearly every shape
known among potatoes was also repre-
sented: some were long. some round,
others very ;rre0ular Tn productive
mess. their differences were not less re-
markable. Some plants produced only
two to four small tubers, the size of fil-
berts. the weight of which would scarce
ly reach an ounce. Others yielded
much more; in few instances, giving
q dozen or so OF tubers. VARYING from
the size of pullets' egg to a weight of
half pound-the product of two plants
reaching as high as two and a half
pounds each. This / regarded as quite
extraordinary, and with a single excep-
tion, exceeds anything | have ever pro-
dueed. This one exception was remark
able from the first for unusual strength,
and vigor Of growth, remaining green.
and growing longer than anv of its
companions. 1t was not dug till about
the middle of October, and was then
fonnd to have produced twenty potatoes,
the largest Of which weighed three
quarters of a pound, and the aggregate
weight of the whole six and half
pounds. This was by fer tho most sur
prising result had ever produced, or
of which / could hear. or find any rec
ord. Its wonderful productiveness may
be better understood when | state that
the yield of an acre at this rate, planted
in drills three feet apart, and two feet
apart IN the rows, would be 7S6 BUSH
els.
The quality of this potato was tested
by boiling aud baking. and found yery
satisfactory, being fine~grained, white.
dry and of good flavor. very much like
that Of Early Rose. The following
year, about three pounds were cut to
single eyes and planted. yielding 400
ponnJs, or about three barrels of large
and handsome potatoes. Samples were
sent 10 yarions parts of the country for
trial, and very fiatrering reports. both
of quality and productiyepess. were re-
turned. II still continues far the most
productive variety ever grown.
All my experiments have been con-