Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-10
NO. H..
MiseellaneoMs.
THE POTATO.

We have repeatedly alluded to the i'm
portance of planting potatoes early, if
we are to expect the best results. At this
season of the year everything relating to
this valuable plant has practical interest
to every farmer.
Soils and fertilizers are, of course,
among the most important things to con-
slider. A sandy loan is, perhaps, on the
whole, the best adapted to this crop, but
If there is clay sub-soil, we should say
it ought to be drained. A soil too wet,
filled with water, will hardly do, and if it
is too light and warm it ought to lie on q
northerIy exposure. The potato ought not
to be subjected to too great heat, and if
the tubes lie too near the surface of light
warm soil exposed to the full blaze of the
sun, they will be liable to injury about as
much as if they were kept constantly wet.
A comparatively new soil is better
than one long in cultivation. An old
pasture or cleared forest with the sod
newly turned with the plough or the
spade must be regarded as one of the
best soil for potatoes. With little
well-rotted compost narrowed in thorough
ly upon such a soil to give the plants
a good start, we have raised good crops
on comparatively poor soil. An old pas
ture contains mnch vegetable matter, and
the tubers delight in the mellow bed which
such soil affords, and come out in the
TALL clean and healthy. We have also raised
good potatoes in mucky soil apparently
having little but vegetable matter in it.
This can only be done in dry season.
In wet summer the muck retains too
much water, and has the same influence
on the tubers as compact clay. Leached
ashes should always be put in the hill
with potatoes, when planted on muck.
to furnish the inorganic matter in which
muck is deficient A compost made of
muck and leached ashes is one of the
best possible manures for the potato.
The muck makes the soil porous, and
furnishes bed in which the potato de-
lights as much as our mothers formerly
did in a feather-bed. Sufficient potash
is left in the leached ashes to furnish
this essential ingredient of the potato.
1t ought to be kept in mind that sandy
soils are often as much too open to atmos-
pheric influences as clay soils are closed
against them. Sand both cools and heats
too rapidly, and feels the sudden changes
OF temperature which are so trying to the
potato. Still on poor, sandy soils, good
| crops OF potatoes can be raised by the aid
of muck and ashes. The perfect drainage
and the slow growth secure this result.
The seed should be planted deeply and
cultivated on a level, SO that the timbers
may be less affected by the sudden chang
es of temperature. We have known pO-
tatoes to rot as badly on sand as on clay
when planted specifically and hilled up in
contracted hills. Killing was formerly
universally practiced; but hills heat and
cool more rapidly than level service,
feel the effect of drought more, and are
now discarded in ieht, dry soils. 1t was
supposed that the tubers felt the influence
of air more in the hills, and had lighter
bed in which to expand; but potatoes
should not be planted anywhere till good
bed is first prepared for them. The only
good reason for hilling in dry soil is that
the potatoes are more easily dug. Dis
eased tubers will generally be found near
est the surface of the ground; and If the
soil is washed off so as to expose them to
the sun and air they are ruined. if they do
not rot
With regard to the varieties to cultivate
it is difficult to say which Is best. The
early rose is very popular potato, though
it does not give the best results without
high manuring and judicious care. 1t is
a great feeder and must have enough to
live on. Whatever sort is chosen, we
think change of seed is desirable; that
is, seed brought from some distance, rath.
er than that raised on the place for a se-
ries of years. We do not believe that the
free use of fermcnting stable manures in
The hill, and planting the seed directly up
on them, is wise treatment. Much of the
disease which has been so troublesome of
late years can probably be traced directly
to this management. If such manures
are to be used, we would spread them and
plough them in Mass. Plou0hman.