The Portland daily press., 1876-06-22
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
The New Potatoes.


The prevailing tendency among farmers is
to cultivate too many varieties of potatoes.
1t would be safe to say that at least a half
dozen different kinds could be found in the
fields or cellars Of almost every cultivator-
while some are not content with twice that
number
sect the best" should be the farmers
motto here and everywhere, and an adoption
OF it would necessarilylead TO an exclusion
OF many kinds now in general use, and fire.
quently to an entirely new selection. Here,
as in all other crops, the object should be to
secure the largest practicable return at the
least possible cost; and in order to effect
this it will not do TO try many kinds of un-
equal value. When we have special refer
ence to quality and productiveness, as we
always should in the selection of our seed,
probably large share of the potatoes now
cultivated would be laid aside.
These persons who. raise a number of va
rieties usually do SO from necessity rather
than cnoice, becoming in some sense the
victims of their own practice. The same in
difference and negligence which occasions a
mixing of seed in planting prevents sorting
OF varieties at the harvest; and when spring
returns the necessary complement for the
field can only be obtained by using the mixed
remainder after the winters consumption.
Some of the evils and Inconvenience aris-
ing from this mixed husbandry are-the inev-
liable lack of adaptation of some varieties to
in nxvI1i oh 4baI1o
quail forwardness at the time of planting the
necessity of going over the whole field to find
the hills suitable for early digging, the un-
comfortable search in the cellar for single
variety in order to secure uniformity in cook
ing, and more than all, the difficulty of mark
eting crop unless at reduced rates.
The small farmer or gardener whose crop
is only sufficient to supply his own wants,
will be governed by his own taste or fancy in
the choice of varieties, but those who depend
upon sales in the market must yield to the
judgment or prejudice of the consumer. Or
dinarily, the market verdict is just, and
safe guide to the beginner who wishes to
know What kinds he shall raise. 1t is very
dlfflcult to dlsplace a popular favorite with
any new candidate; and it must be thorough
ly tested and found to possess undoubted mer-
it before ii can be even introduced. At the
present time, the man who produces the
Early Rose, the Peachblow, and the Jack
son for the market of the northern and mid
die States, runs very little risk of loss.
We think every farmer should satisfy him
self that theirs is no room for improvement
in the selections he has made for this
important crop. 1t is idle to recommend
man to discard a variety that succeeds
with him, although it may be failure
elsewhere, nor is it wise to urge farmers to
try every new specimen whether good or bad.
Now that the field planting is over, we ad-
wise farmers and gardeners who have not
done SO, to test some of the most promising
new potatoes. There will be ample time
during the present month to start few hills
in some vacant place in the field or garden
that will. furnish seed sufficiently matured for
another year. At the seed stores, or at some
neighbors, seed has been left over which can
be obtained at low rates and thus a supply
secured for the next spring planting at
small cost. We did not intend to refer to
such varieties as the Peerless, Prolific, King
ofthe Earlies, State Rose, and Early Yer.
mont, as they have already been for few
years before the public-they are however,
all worthy of trial. Among the most promis-
Ing and deserving candidates in recent lists,
are the Snowflake, Alpha, Brownell's Beauty,
Compton's Surprise and Excelsior. Other
names might be added, and probably some
valuable kinds have been omitted, but we
prefer to confine our recommendation to
those which have been thoroughly tested and
indorsed at home and abroad. OF the last
named variety we know but little; an agricul-
tural editor however, states that it is the very
best spring potato he can find, and as grown
by the originator.it is cheap article of food at
one dollar bushel. The English Horticnl-
tural Societies have highly commended all in
the above list. Our present impression is,
that the snowflake promises to stand next in
popularity to the Early Rose.