The Russellville Democrat., 1880-07-01
FACTS FOR FARMERS.
Large Crops of Potatoes-Ficld beans Remedy for Foot-rot In sheep
 General Items.

Large Crops of Potatoes--Ficld beans
 Remedy for Foot-rot In sheep
 General Items.
 l LARGE CROPS OF POTATOES.
 l A New York correspondent of Tie l Country Gentleman writes. i have given snec,aii sttention to the culture of pota- toes for years, with results far better than from any other crop that I have grown. plant only the leading varie- ties, principally early rose, and only one i variety in field. prefer to let others do the experimenting with the many different varieties that have not found their way into the market yet. Second I ly, l plant only perfect seed, selected to a nicety. They are not the largest nor the smallest, but such as anyone would call sizable baking potatoe. believe in cutting, but not to single eyes I cut from three to four ayes to piece, which, however, l defer till the very time of planting. This insures me growth in every hill. Cutting too long before | planting causes the potatoes to dry and become spongy, which prevents them from making vigorous start, and often causes many hills to miss always consider vigorous start the secret a good crop. think that the cut should be fresh, so that the moisture from the potatoe causes the earth to adhere to it, and draws the nutriment from the soil more readily and, instead of sickly plant, tt makes it's appearance vigorous and very dark-almost the color of the soil.
 My method of planting probably diff fers form many others. Many farmers row their fields both ways, so as to en- able them to cultivate both ways, and have the hills distinct. 1 row my field only one-.way, two feet eight inches apart. then plant in drills. dropping the potatoes about fifteen inches apart. They are well covered with the coverer drawn by two horses After they make their appearance 1 cover them again to the depth of two or more inches. This has twofold tendency it causes the vines to stock more, and also checks the growth of weeds. After they are well up the second time tin fact as soon as they puncture the earth of the second covering), I commence working with cultivator, and always feel well paid for extra cultivation. In fact, never feel better paid for any farm labor than for the man and horse kept in the field till the tops become too large to work amo.lg. The final hilling IS deferred till the tops nearly cover the ground. Every weed which has escaped the cultivator is pulled up, root and branch, which leaves the more nour' shment for the crop; be- sides, it is really gratifying to see field, let 1t be great or small, without a weed or anything except what pertains to the crop. sSR s 8a h s@seN@ae
 will also give my method of prepar- ing the soil. We cannot expect to re- ceive from the soil unless we give freely; therefore I claim that five acres, well manured and well titled, will bring a greater return than twice that number of acres worked at" "Anything worth doing is worth doing we'll" I put as much barn-yard manure on my fields as will blow under. Il blow early, for the action of the air is very beneficial to the soil; it becomes light and mellow. The blowing should be done as early as the soil is suitably dry, and the more culti- vation 1t receives the better the crop. turn furrow about eight inches wide and six inches deep, using iointer at tachment. l allow it to lie in furrow about three weeks, when give it thorough narrowing; then follow with cultivator. The latter is sepeated twoor three times before planting. The 1st of June is early enough for early rose, though the number of acres often forces us to commence planting little sooner.
 In 1877, l ;marketed 101 barrels of early rose per acre. after using for the family till digging time, and placing 50 bushels in cellar for winter use, beside 30 bushels selected for seed. The crop was sold for $l 20 per barrel, bringing FNl. T planted to early rose the following year. Alter using for family till digging, and saving 100 bushels fer seed and 50 bush- els for winter use, l marketed 75 barrels at $2 per barrel-$150 per acre. Last acres, leaving 200 bushels for seed and 100 bushels of prime. table potatoes for home use. The 2,700 bushels were sold for 33 cents per bushel of 60 pounds, which was an average of STA 25 per acre.
 FIELD BEANS.
 It is stated that a few of the Western States produce supply of white beans sufficient for home consumption, and the amount eaten is far smaller than it should be. No vegetable food contains larger amount of nutriment than beans. In the formation of muscles they are nearly equal to any kind of meat. Beans form staple article of diet in all coun- tries noted for thrift. The institution of baked beans has much to do with the prosperity of the New England States. Famine rarely if ever occurs in countries where beans form a leading article of food. Scarcely any crop can be produced from given amount of land that will supply as many persons with food as crop of beans. Common field beans are easily and cheaply raised. The seed costs very little and the labor of cultiva- tion is small. A very fair crop of beans may be raised by sowing them broadcast in sod turned over in May. If sowed in this manner no cultivation is required. It is usual to plant them in drills on old land, and to tend the crop with hoe and cultivator. The drills may be as near together as will allow the running of cuitiyator between them. Little cultivation is required except to keep down the weeds aud grass. The plants should never be disturbed while they are wet with dew or rain, as the least touch will cause the leaves to rust The land on which beans are planted should be of nearly uniform character, so that they may all ripen at the same time. A | very rich. soil IS not necessary for the - t