Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-04-22
The farnt aud fireside*
IRISH POTATOES.

Our planters and gardeners almost without
exception know how to plant and raise good
spring crop Of Irish potatoes. Yet how few
of them make the effort to produce the second
or fall crop which may be done in shorter time,
and with less attention and work.
There are but two or three points of differ
ence in the modes of planting each crop.
To succeed in fall crop, it is the best to
plant the potatoes you have raised in the spring,
and Just after digging them, and without ex-
posure to the sun. Secondly, the potato you
plant in the fall must not be cut, but planted
whole, without regard to it's size. This is one
important point If you cut them they will
''bleed'' and are not likely to come up, and if
they do come up, the plant will not be strong
and vigorous. Thirdly, mulch the entire
patch three or four inches deep, Immediately
after planting, or after the first rain that fol-
lows the planting. This is the most impor-
tant point, and upon it's being faithfully done
depends your success. You can mulch with
half rotted wheat-straw, pine-straw or oak
leaves. We prefer pine straw and oak leaves
mixed, if they can be had conveniently. The
potatoes may be planted in, rows and manured
we'll with rotted manure the same as your
spring crop, only you should not leave any
ridges, but have the entire surface OF your
patch as level as possible, after you have done
planting and before beginning to mulch.
We have not failed to raise a most excellent
crop of Irish potatoes for number OF years
past We plant after good rain any time in
August. The plan we pursue in planting, and
which has given us such all invariable success
is this: We never dig our spring crop until
we are ready to plant our fall crop. We then
plow our spring patch with common turning
plow twice III immediate succession. AT each
blowing we have hands to follow the plOw and
1,otbor M, bo OntatOpS bpinp careful tO Olacp
them in the shade until ready to plant Then
with turning plow six or seven inches run a
furrow across the patch at one side-let the
plow return in the same furrOW; deposit the
manure, and on the manure drop the potato,
twelve or eighteen inches apart, without being
| cut. This furrow is filled, and the manure
and potatoes covered by running another
alongside the one in which they are deposited.
The plowlnan will now return, with his plow,
to the end, keeping it out of the ground, and
then run furrow to cover up the last one,
which has covered the potato. In this furrow
he returns, opening as he did the first one for
the reception of manure and potato BY these
methods you plant in every furrOw. If you
wish, however, to give greater distance be.
| tween the rows, it may be easily done by add.
ing one or more waste burrows.
When you have planted in the manner des-
cribed, the ground will be level and smooth
and in splendid condition to receive the neces-
sary mulching, after which no other work OF
attention is required.
If the weather is moderately SeasOnable the
potatoes planted in the fall make very rapidly
and much sooner than those planted III the
spring. If gathered just before frost, or after
the vines die down, they can be easily kept
through the winter, and for table use are equal
to any obtained from the north. DO not try
| to keep them in the smokehOuse- they will rot
in a salt atmosphere-but in a dry cellar, or
some other cool and dry place, not too much in
bulk, but spread out thinly Oh the floor.
Exclude all light from them-if you do not
| they will turn green and become soft, and en-
tirely worthless for table use.-Americats Re
palLlicdn