Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-11-07

| 12j hills. Mr.. Squire planted in five
| double rows or drills, the seed being just
/ twelve inches apart each way with room for
horse cultivation between. Mr.. Morse prac-
tised horse cultivation exclusively, never us
ing a hand hoe at all, either in covering or
tending the crop, while Messrs. Clark Hood
aud Chccver cultivated by hand exclusively.
Mr. Squire cut his seed in halves, planting
one piece in place. Mr.. Mann used pieces
| with two eyes, while most of the others were
cut to single eyes Mr. Hood cut his seed
two weeks before planting, and found it
much dried but only one hill failed. The
lots were planted from May 9Th to June Sth,
and were dug at four different periods, sever
al competitors being in each case present and
taking part in the measuring of the land and
weighing the crop"
The prize was awarded to Mr.. A. w. Chez
yer, who gives the following account of the
mode of cultivation, which contains sugges-
tons that may be of value to others in rails
"The land has been under cultivation sew
eral years, producing chiefly forage crops.
Last year it produced crops ofrye and oat fodder
and these were followed by crop Of barley,
! each crop being MANFRED either with stable
manure or commercial fertilizers. The soil
is heavy loan exposed TO the east, quite
U d =
ploughing caused it to form somewhat into
Jumps, which remained unpulverized during
the season. 1t was plOughed but once this
year. light coat Of stable manure being
turned in about seven inches deep. This
was somewhat mixed with the soil by deep
cultivation after ploughing. The rows were
marked out with large cultiyator tooth
about eighteen inches apart, run quite shall
low, so that the potato sets, when planted
were scarcely below the surface of the
ground.
Before planting, about 500 pounds of
! guano, and 400 pounds of sulphate were
| spread broadcast over the burrows. The
seed was prepared by exposure several days
! to a strong light to start the sprouts into a
/ short healthy growth. When ready to plant,
/ single eyes were cut from the seed selecting
[ only those which were well started and of
| good strong appearance. Most Of the eyes
/ were cut from the stem end or middle of the
| potato where considerable potato could be
| taken out with each eye As they were cut
| they we're laid in basket, with plaster dust
| ed over them in sufficient quantity to cover
/ the cut surface, and to partially protect the
| sprouts from bruising while being handled.
| The pieces were dropped singly, and about
| fourteen inches apart, the whole amount Of
ground planted in this way being from two to
! three rods.
The sets were covered by hand not over
an inch deep. just As the shoots Were break
/ ing ground the plot was busted over with
guano at the rate Of 2OO pounds per acre
and then raked into the soil with garden
rake killing at the same time all the small
weeds which had started. As tn potatoes
| were so near the surface. and so thiCkly
planted. it was found impracticablo to hill
them in the ordinary way, so the ground was
mulched with chopped straw for a protection,
not only against weeds, but to keep the new
potatoes from being suuburnt as they showed
themselves above the surface The mulch
also, in a measure, secured a cool, moist soil
| during the hot dry weather of midsummer.
The straw was put on some three inches
! deep, but soon settled TO one inch and wa,
then covered with a second coat Of mulch,
which remained uudisturbed till digging
| time.
ITO keep the bugs in check. sprinkling OF
dry plaster was used three or four times with
just enough Paris green to tinge the plaster,
| giving it a slight greenish tinge. very few
weeds were pulled by hand during the season
Of their growth but it was the aim to travel
over the patch just as little as possible, a.
the plants covered nearly the whole surface.
| The most important lesson have learned by
the experiment is that potatoes must have
room TO grow UHder ground, or the yield viii
be diminished and the quality impaired.
would never plant SO near the surface again,
and with au equally favorable season should
expect TO do better another year"