Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-12-30
]; Farm ann houstboIu,
Ster;as Potatoes.

or late years the potato has been one Of
the most profitable offarm crops in the
East, aud chiefly arises from the fact that
it Is somewhat difficult to keep any great
quantity of them. Thus only so many are
grown as can be preserved, and as the &C
commodations are limited there is no glut
10 the market, as there is with things that
are grown and must be sent TO market at
once. OF course there are times when po-
tatoes rule low. This is apt TO be the case
with early ones, grown especially for early
use. and which follow the same law that
rules ip transient vegetables. SO also with
those who grow potatoes and have no con-
venience for storing them. These have TO
market in the fall, and have 10 take what
ever price may rule for them. Those who
have good cellars under their barns or in
any place safe from frost and yet cool aud
dry, can generally make potato growing
pay; and these are usually the ones who
do.
In old times large quantity of potatoes
were stored out OF doors in the open
ground. They were arranged in long ridges
not IN great bulk, as even a mass of pota-
toes will heat. and covered with earth suf-
nciently thick TO keep out the frost But
since the Incoming of the potato disease.
this plan is not much followed. The infect
ed tuoers will often rot, especially If the
mass heats little. and the diseased ones
will Oflen communicate tho disease - ,bo
rest. In a cellar this can be seen and not
ed but in mound out of doors no one
knows OF the trouble till spring. when
great loss has been found. Besides this. il
Is so difficult TO get them in winter that
those who have no way 10 preserve pota-
toes except this, as a general thing prefer
not to grow at all rather than be bothered
with this.
Stored in cellars. the potato is seldom
troublesome II healthy. No matter In how
great bulk, or whether put in wet or dry,
they seldom heat 10 injury. But the seeds
OF disease be there, the little heat general
ed by the heaping together OF so many
roots is often enough to set the disease 10
work, and very great losses have been the
Consequence
Dampnes, undoubtedly favors the spread
OF the potato disease, and therefore. where
there is any chance at all of the disease
existing in the roots, they ought 10 be stor-
ed a. dry as possible. Those which are 10
be kept in this general way should be dry
and cool, but this should be especially seen
% in the ease Of seed potatoes Since the
potato-beetle came among Us it is clear
that we are to have the best results from
every early planting, and by the use Of the
earliest varieties. Now these early kinds
are more easily affected by warmth than
the late ones. They sprout easily. and
GOODNESS is therefore the more essential for
them. Some people think it makes little
difference whether seed potatoes sprout or
not before planting. We have known peo-
pie to tear of sprouts several inches long.
and cut up the tubers, In full faith that they
VIII sprout out again and be none the
worse for il. They do generally grow; but
there is little doubt that they are constltu.
tlonally weaker, and much more liable to
disease than those which do not sprout till
ready 10 20 in the ground.-IEx.