Ellsworth American., 1877-05-10
Planting Early Potatoes,

present season, tie unusual sight has
been presented of farmers carrying loads
of potatoes to market, and after making
an exchange for corn, returning home
with a large number of bushels than
they had carried. This equality Of VAL
ues has resulted largely from the drouth
OF last summer, which curiaied the crop
of potatoes in many localities. Probably
prices will remain high until an the seed
required has been planted. both on ac-
count OF the large amount OF previous
sales for consumption aud for seed, and
the actual smallness of the crop.
Under ordinary circumstances we
might say that the present high prices
will stimulate everybody to plant this
spring, and therefore with large area
devoted 10 the crop it will be unusually
large, and in the fall the market will he
glutted. We think, however, that the
widespread apprehension of injury from
he Colorodo beetle will deter many from
the field cultivation of the potato. Ii
therefore il Is mainly 10 be raised in gar
dens, where il can be watched and pre-
served from destruction, and on small
scale for domestic use, the next crop
will be small ard the market price cor
respondingly high. And yet, while
there are the reasonable probabilities a.
we regard them, there are multitude
of contingencies sueh as will readily oc-
cur to every one, which may disturb all
persons calculations.
We advise our readers while keeping
in mind the possibility of an uuremuner-
ative Weld TO devote the full average
acreage to this crop, regardless ofdruuth
or insects. We would not recommend
the cultivation. of large areas and there
fore small returns, but rather compact
fields in good condition. which can be
easily cared for, and where the insect
harvest can be readily gathered aud de-
stroyed. II may be safe to plant on
land previously enriched from the barn.
but large application OF such dressing
the present wear should be avoidcd-as
under certain circumstances a tendency
to decay will be developed. On the
greensward and in gardens, with the
present prospect, we should rather some
approved commercial fertilizers, or
ashes, lime. plaster and salt. as the con-
diiion OF the soil NAV demand
We concur in the very general advice
given by the agricultural press, to plant
early. This course we should not rec
ommend usually. as we think it better
for potatoes TO ripen in the autumn ra,h,
er than earlier, when intended for win
ter use. Early planted potatoe, will
generally mature before they are scri-
ously injured by the bug or the drouth;
and thus they are saved either for The
summer market or home consumption.
II i certainly better TO have a crop Of
ripe potatoes even in july or August
than TO find only a barren harvest
month later.
As the whole advantage ofearly plant
log is to secure a crop. it is well to make
it doublv sure by selecting the early va
rieties. As no variety has yet been
found for summer and winter use to sur
pass the Early Rose, and as il still is tie
market favorite, we recommend its gem
eral use. The Alpha, although not so
well known and widely introduced. NAV
surpass the Early Rose few DAYS in for
warduess; aud il is said that il NAV be
kept in as sound a condition through the
winter. The Snowflake aud Early Yer
mont have merits which have com
nended them to large number of far
mers and gardeners.
As TO modes of planting aud culti-
vating, we have only TO repeat former
suggestions and adyice-we prefer the
drill system, as il secures gr-ater uni
formity and regularity, and lessons the
amount OF hand labor required. By its
use, the plow will perform all the work
needed, Throwing, covering, cul,ivating
and digging. While there seems TO be
no positive and definite rule for seeding,
such as great amount Of experiment
and observation apparently should have
established, it is always safe TO plant
healthy potatoes of medium size, aud
yet we should not refrain from the use
OF eyes, aud parings even, when scar
city Of seed prevailed. Although the re-
suits OF experiments would seem TO in
dicate that the shoots from the seed end
Of potato start earlier, and perhaps
bring its roots to earlier maturity thar
from the eyes; yet usually the potatoes
from such source are inferior in size
and quality.
The forwardness of the season NAV
lead to premature planting-some plots
were planted by the middle OF the month
but on suitable ground the potato will
endure considerable exposure. There
may be check in the coming Of the
seedtime, yet our advice is, plant about
the usual breadth, and plant early, and
choose the early varieties - Portland
Press.