The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-15
= = III. = : ,
The Irish Potato.

Cut the potatoes into four or FIVE pieces,
according to size, and spread them out in
Il dry place 70 dry. Do this at least ten
days before planting. Ii the place will
admit Of it break up the ground with a
plow. Ifthe ;trampling Of. q horses feet
is Objectionable in a garden, break the
ground with spade or pyng fork. This
operation should be we'll done and to the;
depth ofeight.oriteu inches. Lay offthe
rows with the pfow, or hoe. as the case
may be, three feet apart. Ido-not advise
planting the cuttngsas deeply as is gen
orally recommended. Six inches below
the surface is deep enough. Put the cut.
tings about IA inches apart with the cut
side down, either upon the naked earth,
or on light sprinkling'of ashes then
lcover them with half an inch of earth,
and fill the, trench with mixture of
ashes, lime dwell rotted stable manure.
and draw On two or three inches of earth.
After this, either Of the two following
plans may be adopted: Cover the whole
bed at once ten inches with pine or any
other straw, and the work is done; or
wait the coming up of the potato plants
and plow or hoe we'll between the rows,
drawing little earth to the plants
Then apply the slrawin the middles and
between the plants. II the plants are
slightly, coyeredit will doe.no injury as
they. will sonn make their way through
the straw. It is not necessary that tile
soil should be very rich for Irish potatoes.
The manure will afford all the nutriment
they need. It is we'll" known that the
Irish potato is great absorber of potash,
and therefore ashes is a fine manure for
them. So is lime, which keep the soil
mellow and loose. The stable manure
furnishes all the nitrogenous and ammo.
uical elements. needed to keep the soil
moist and cool, and give vigor to the
|rroots. have, tried both Of these, plans
and prefer the first. Covering with the
straw, as soon AS the potatoes are planted,
saves the after work and prevents the
trampling of the lgreund in pulling on
the straw after the plants are up and
whep:it is better to keep it;loose'and free.
1t is true d similar trampling occurs when
Lit is applied at the time of:planting but
the straw soon loosens it, especially after
rain. 40 g 'F' :.
In the: next place covering at first pre-,
vents the hardening and compacting Of
the soii'dhring the weeks it takes for the
plants to make their appearance, and
keeps up constant uniformity in the
condition of the soil that is $50 50 favorable
Ito the growth Of the thbers. On q given
Tplat of ground no plan can equal that of
covering it With straw, whether we regard
1.-The quality or quantity of the product
This plan is specially commended for
small plats. When acres are cultivated
in these. potatoes the labor and expense
of covering with straw, may be too great
to make it advisable. In that case the
first work will be accomplished by the
method snggest;up to the time Of put
ting on the!straw. But in that case the
cuttings should'be planted eight instead
of six inches deep and the cutting should
be pftced on the naked ground.
The compost Of ashes, lime and stable
manure, with mixture Of any other
kinds of manure and with one fifth of
soil, should be put upon them the depth
of fouq Or five inches, so that when The
fearth is added, the ridge. over the aota-
toes will be, two inches higher than the
SURFACE ef lhe, ground. BY the time the
plants are up.t6ese ridges will have set
tied sorpp and the whole ground will be
/ level. -: =! = lii
l nesd not say anything about the afler
tidltuls fu.thsE than Chat itis.hsd phaieF