Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-21
For the Freeman.
A Chat with Farmers.
BY AGRICOLA.
ABOUT POTATO CULTURE.
No. g

| NJ.
We will note another abnormal condi
ton of potato growth. Several new
(small) potatoes grow in the body of al
old one. In this case the large potato il
so pressed upon by others around it ha
its comparatively soft interior offers les
resistance to this new growth than in AM
other direction.
A temperate climate is the best adapted
to the common potato crop. In tropica
countries it is superseded by the sweet pc
tato and other kindred plants. The mum
Der of varieties now cultivated is very
great. A farmer at New Castle, N. Y :.
has collection of over three hundred
named species. with which he composes
other kinds. Varieties most highly priced
in England do not succeed in the United
States. And the English have been in the
habit of sncering at American standard
varieties; until, few years ago. the
royal horticultural society, having placed
some of these rejected species in theil
garden, and offered them. without name,
with others of English origin. to the com.
mttec of award, the American specials
were awarded first-class certificates.
The kinds of potatoes in general cult
walton before the advent of the rot, in
1910, are not found now. The reason fol
the change was the impression among
scientific farmers that the rot resulted
from weakness induced by long contin
ued culture, which made the potato more
susceptible of disease. In 1850 series OF
experiments were tried by Rev. c.. L
Goodrich of Utica, N. Y, for the purpose
of Introducing more vigorous varieties
lie imported II fresh stock from South
America. These he crossed with the best
kinds in use, and though he died in the
midst OF his experimenting, most, or all
the excellent kinds now grown are due tc
his labors. The early rose is Seeding
from one of Mr.. Goodrich's hardy and
productive varieties, called the great Chilli
The Mercer, Carter, pink eye, and other
kinds which were highly esteemed thirty
or forty years ago, are now seldom found.
They have been supplanted by the Jackson
white, peach-blow, early Goodrich, and
the early and late rose. And even these
varieties are likely to be set aside by the
Alpha, the snowflake, the early Vermont.
Brownell's beauty. and other kinds, which
in quality and productiveness seem to have
reached higher limit.
The different varieties of the potato are
distinguished by the time of maturing,
form, size, color, number of eyes, elevation
or depression of surface, smoothness or
roughness of skin and their keeping quail
tiles. Round, white-skinned varieties are
generally the most popular in the market.
Bermudas are the first new potatoes that
appear in our city market, and these are
raised from seed sent from this country.
The western red and the garnet Chill,
both coarse kinds, are grown in Bermuda
in the winter, and come here in early
spring. Next our market is supplied from
Georgia and the Carolinas, then from Vir-
ginia, keeping up u constant succession Of
new potatoes in early spring. Early pot;l-
toes in our climate may be forwarded by
sprouting the tubers in some warm place,
and protecting them with mats and shutters
at night and in cold days, until the ground
is ready for their natural growth and ma
turity.
The farm crop has regard to product
lveness and keeping qualities almost en-
tlrely. Hence the wise farmer selects n
rich loan, that has been highly MANFRED
for some previous crop, or recently
turned sod, for his potato field. Fresh
manure, it is thought, tends to produce
rot and a poorer quality of the tuber.
Older barn manure, ashes, salt, gypsum
and ground bone are much better. Pota-
toes are good for preparing new or weedy
land for other crops. They may be plant
cd in hills or in drills. If in the latter,
they may be dropped, say twelve inches
apart. the old habit of making large
hills about the vines is abandoned by the
most intelligent farmers, except in cold,
damp soil. The crop should be kept as
free from weeds as possible, but after the
tubers begin to form, the culture should
be very shallow. Some maintain that the
crop would be increased by picking off the
flower buds, yet this is seldom done.
When the tubers are ripe the tops natural
ly die. If they die before it shows the
crop to be diseased. This vegetable is
largely used for food of man and beast,
and for the manufacture of starch.