Ellsworth American., 1876-05-25

We have repeatedly alluded 20 the IN
pouance OF planting potatoes early. il We
are 10 expect the best results. Al thi- sea
son OF the year every thing relating to tn,
valuable plant has a practical interest to
every farmer
soils and fertilizers are. oi course.
amopg the most important things to con
slider. \ sandy loam j.. perhaps. ou the
whole. the best adapted 20 ;hi, crop. bot
il there j, clay sub-soli, we should say Il
ought 10 De drAiuesI \ sun too VT. fIItd
with water. will hardly 90. aud II il : too
/. ght aud warm il ought 10 lie or a nortber-
Is exposure. The potato ought not l9 2,
subjected 10 too great hest. aud frhe tubs
lie toe near the surface OF h2ht warm
,oll exposed to the tall blaze Of the sun,
they Will be liable to injury about a. much
a. II they were kept constantly wet.
comparatively new soil j. better than
one long in cultivation. An Old pasture or
cleared forest with the SOD newly turned
with the plow or the spade must be re-
garied a. one OF ite best soil for potatoes.
with little weIl-rotted compost narrowed
in thoroughly upon such soil TO give tie
plauts good start, we have raised good
crops on comparatively poor soil. An Cd
pasture contains much vegetable matter.
and the tubers delight IN the mellew bed
which such a soil affords, and come out in
the fa.l clean and hvalhy. We have A.>o
raised good potatoes 10 mucAy so. sP-
parent'y having little but vegetable matter
in il. This can oniy be done .u dry sea-
son. ln wei summer THE mueA retains
too much water. and has the same .uf.u-
euce on the tGbcrs a. comqae; clay.
LeAchel ashes should aiway. D. put ia the
hlll wiki potatoes, when planted on muck.
TO furnish the inorganic malter ia which
muck i deficient. \ compost IEsde Of
muck and IeAched ashes is one of the best
possible manures for the potato The
muck makes the soil porous, aud furnishes
bed in which the potato delights a. much
a. our methers formerly d.d Ia feather
bed. Sufficient potash j. len in the leached
ashes to furnish this essential Ingredient
pf the potato.
II ought 10 be kept In mind that sandy
soils are often az much open to atmospheric
influences as clay soils are closed against
them sand both cools aid heats too
rapidly, and feels the sudden changes Of
temperature which are 50 trying to the po-
iato. >i.il 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 plantes deeply and
cultivated on a level. 50 thsi the timbers
may be lees affected BY the sudden chang
toes 10 rot as badly on sand a. on clay
when planted specifically and hll!ed up
in contracted hills. HijliuS was formerly
universally practIced; but hill. heat and
cool more rapidly than a level service
feel the effect OF drought more, and are
now discarded in light, dry soils. 1t was
supposed that the tubers felt the influence
Of air more in the hills. aud had lighter
btl III WINCH 10 tApALG. BLt POTATOES
should not be planted anywhere till good
bed is first prepared for them. The only
good reason for hllling in a dry soil j. that
the potatoes are more easily dug. D.s-
eased tubers Will generally be found near
est the surface OF the ground; and II the
soil is washed off 50 a. 10 expose them 10
the sun and air they are ruined. II they DO
not rot.
With regard TO the varieties to cultivate
il Is difficult TO say which Is best. The
early rose Is very popular potato, though
Ii does not give the best results without
high maHuring and judicious care. X is
great feeder and must have enough to live
on. Whatever sort is chosen We think a
change Of seed is desirable; that i. seed
brought from some distance. rather than
that raised on the place for q series OF
years. We do not believe that the free use
OF fermenting stable manures 10 the hill.
and planting the seed directly upon them,
is wise treatment. Much of the disease
which has been So troublesome OF late
years can probably be traced directly TO
this management. II such manures are
TO be used, We would spread them and
plough them in Mass. Ploughman.