Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-05-23
Eillins Potatoes.

Mach has been published within .
few years on the subject Of killing po-
tatoes, aud by some the fat.cnltnre
system has been recommended. At
one time tine arguments brought out in
its favor were so clear that l expert.
mented on the system, ani the result
was a very lean harvest of small pota-
tatoes. have no doubt, however, Of
| the sincerity of those who recommend
| that mode of culture, which probably
has been successful under The. circum-
stances by which they were favored
But ia farming, as in medicine. there
are no fixed and positive rules OF prac-
tice. In medicine, the onstitution.
habits aud all other peculiarities are to
be understood in order to apply safe
and efficient remedies.
So ia farming, the nature aud quality
# soil, and other conditions. must be
understood In order to insure successful
practice. When the potato rot first
appeared in this country, thiriy-fve
years ago, il was soon discovered that
the vines We're first attacked on low
grounds, subject to fogs, and that the
disease was worst On stiff. clammy
soils, enriched bv fermcniing lnsuures.
This induced farmers TO plant on lands
high and dry, Gf the soil was very san
dv, SO much the better), and TO use
manures cooling in their nature. The
result was saving OF the crop under
such management; while where the
older system of planting lower fields Of
more compact soil. and feeding with
heating msnures, was continued, a
failure from rot was the general conse-
quence.
Here was happy variation of results
brought about by a variation of culture,
| and we have no reason TO suppose but
that fiat culture of potatoes, under
some circumstances, may be successful.
Admitting this to be SO, we should
select sandy or yer; porous land as the
field on which 10 try this mode of cul-
ture; while on a tenacious, clsyev soil,
or stiff, loamy one, that requires
much working TO keep it in friable
copdition, should continue the old
system of blowing out, pulverizing the
soil and billing up. for the following
reason: Where such soils are fiat cul-
tured, they will become compact By the
rains and by the atmosphere, so that
they become impermeable 10 the influ-
ence of rain aud air-two valuable
elements OF growth-consequently the
size OF The potato is diminished, and its
quality impaired, by its being deprived
OF two essentials of healthy growth.
ireland, with soil moistened by tie
saline breezes OF the sea, is famous for
potato growing and her stalwart sons
| who come 10 America, are uniformly
successful in its culture here, and often
raise fine crops of poiatos under mos,
uniavorable circumstances. What their
| practice may be il other localities, |
am not informed; but here, where thew
form numerous class, their uniform
practice is TO hill largely, or il they
plant in drills, to bring the earth into
ridges along the growing crop, and
their crops are large.
Just when TO form the hill is an i'm .
portani consideration in securing q crop
and is better done after rain than
when the ground is very dry; for BY
hoeing in moisture, a supply is secured
10 counteract the effect of dry weather
Cor. Country Gentleman.