Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-04-10

that IN the earlier part of the same volume.
several large crops Of potatoes had been re-
ported by correspondents who had used
seed cut small, to which the late G. r.
Goodrich of Utica, SO widely known as an
experimenter with potatoes, had replied in
the issue Of May 18th, in opposition to the
practice. In the number of June 18th. Mr..
Howatt rejoined, giving his views in oppo-
sltlon to Mr.. Goodrich's reasoning, and en-
closing the above statement with the follow
ing remarks:
Il have tried all systems of potato cul-
ture, the five and six-eye system, the halt
potato system, and the wonderful small DO
tato system. x X \ X
fyou want good crop of potato stalks,
plant potato with five or six eyes on it,
but if you want good tubers, plant set
with one eye. x X
l have grown them in this country for the
last six years on the one-eye system with
perfect success, and have taken premiums
(first) at the Allegheny Co., Pa, Agricultu-
raj Society, the Pittsburgh, Pa, Horticul-
Society, and [ think at the PENNSYLVANIA
State meeting. Let both systems be tried
and the results published-the sets being
prepared as | do mine, and planted the
same as other potatoes, either for forcing or
field culture'
Dir. Howatt now adds:
Mr.. Clymer's one-dollar prescription is
not quite right, however. He says: Take
the potato-ordinary seed-cut away
enough OF the seed end to remove the clus-
ter of eyes there situated (cutting these
away at once saves much time, and does no
injury to the seed.) Then cut out all the re-
naming eyes, except two, with the point of
the knife, softened and bent round, to form
quarter-inch gouge. (This with a three
or four inch blade, makes the most conyen-
lent tool, but an ordinary pocket knife will
do very welD. They may then be rolled in
plaster; but this is not indispensable.
Much of this is simply to mislead. He
says cut away the seed end, but it is we'll
known to ali potato men that the eyes at
the seed end will mature from one to two
weeks earlier than the other eyes. He says
to throw them away. [ commence cutting
at the root end, throwing it away, or rather
feeding it, as it is we'll known that the eyes
at the root end will produce
small and later potatoes. He speaks of the
point of his knite softened, and made into
gouge, and it is strange to me that he has
not got up patent knife for the purpose.
But it is we'll known that pocket-knife. is
not tit to cut potato the back is too thick,
and if the potato is hard, it will split it. A
table knife is proper, and the best Had he
said, in the fall spread out your small pota-
toes in the sun, to get thoroughly greened,
which makes the flesh harder and ripens the
eyes, should have said he knew little.
AS to covering with plaster, he has never
tried it, and lost them. Plaster is cold, an,i
if they are covered with it, draws the frost.
Having seen last spring IS barrels so froz-
en- in a shed, | know. Had they been COW
cred with lime, that would not be the result,
lime being heating.
In conclusion, advise Mr.. Clymer first |
to learn how to grow potato properly, and
then give us the result, and we shall all be
glad to copy from him.-Cou,atay Gentleman
nx--Sza
M M