The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-04-09
How TO Raise 500 Bushels of Potatoes
to the Acre

The average yield of potatoes in the
United States. in 1877. was estimated by
the Agricultural Department at y bush
els. in 1878 at 69 bushels, in 1879 at ~
bushels. and there are but few States IN
which the average for the last % years
viii exceed 100 bushels per acre. Fifty
years ago. when the potato was geneF-
ally more vigorous and hardy than now,
and its insect enemies were fewer, ana
our soils abOunded in alkalieS and aka
line earthS there could have been no
call for an article with this heading
Crops of $50 and 200 bushels per acre
were then exceptionally small. But IN
these davs Of deteTiOTated soil and seed,
is it really possible that more than five
times the average Weld can be produced?
Such productions are frequently heard
of in rosy reports of gOOd-natuTed agri-
cultural committeeman, who dig a
square rod with the result of, say, four
bushels. and straightway publish the
pleasant story that Farmer RedtOp has
raised $40 bushels to the acre Of stump
the-World' potatoes! And do we not
annually read of the prOdigiOus yieldsln IN
the allming catalogue of enterprlslng
Seedsmen , However, it is certain that
yield of 500 and more bushels Of pOta-
toes per acre has been recently attained
by farmers in most of our Northern
States. and it can and will be attained
far more fTequentlyin in the future. 1t is
Il sum in simple multiplication, one
which is at first puZZling TO the most OF
US diggeTs III tie ground rules OF agrI-
culture; but there is no ''catch" OF
'.trick" in it. There are good, plain,
honest directions-of course varying
ones-which. if fairly observed, will
give the correct answer. Anticipating
that some tired-Out and doubling stu
dent of the problem may ask, "Ilave you
solved it yourself - allows me to say
that some II years ago. after long
trial, | got the gratifying result-since
considerably eNceeded-Of 4jO measured
bushels of early Goodrich potatoes, from
z measured acre.
In the first place. it is important, alb
solutely essential, that the acre Of ground
selected for our large crop should pos
seSs certain qualities; and if they are
not already there we must supply them,
though It be done in d slow ana eXpen-
sive manner. To plant on a wet, heavy
soil, land undraiued or UnSWeetened, or
on Il light. sandy. wOrn-Out field, how
ever liberal the immediate supply of
plaut-fUOd may be, Will undoubtedly
prove Il disappointing labor. Just what
we desire before planting is a strong,
deep. warm lOam-nOt too lght-if
possible with a porous SubSOil- But the
chances are that we shall have to begin
the preparation for our crop year in
advance. We should then selec5 a field
Of blooming clover, if on gentle slope
so much the better, pIOw it under deep
ly, and harrow in bushel of buck
wheat. upon which we SOW 100 pounds
Of plaster. and in turn pIOw that under
when the bUckWheat has fully blossom
ed. This will probably be early in Sep
temLeT when. without getting faint
hearted and frightened at the outlay of
time and seed. we should Immediately
harrow in six pecks of rye. This will
have become large enough to furnish
considerable additional nutrimeut. when
in April or May. according TO locality
and season. we are ready to start the
plOw for planting. Then we have =
sol deep, rich, mellow, porous. fragrant,
delightful to look at on work in. and we
may feel sure that our potatoes, sensi-
tive as they are to surroundings. will be
cOutcuJed and disposed TO thrift in so
COngenial a home.
HENRY s. GOODALE.