Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-10-28
1ancaster fntelligellrer.
FRIDAY EVENING, OCT. %. 1881.
ProDer Culture OF Potatoes.

Proper Culture Of Potatoes.
"F. g. in Country Gentleman.
The present season has been an excellent
one for testing potatoes having been hot
and dry, just the reverse of what is con-
ceeded to be the demand of this crop. The
usual shallow planting-two or three
inches deep, thus, exposing the tuber to
heat of the sun and drouth-has proved to
be failure. That which always happens
in shallow planting, and especially in hot
season like this, is that large proportion
of tubers protrude through the soil and
are spoiled by the sun. These appear in
market here in greater. proportion this year
than usual. They are of conrso worthless
and unhealthy. The rest lack in quality,
and will deterioratc moro and more with
age rot and the effect Of the sun co oPer-
ating. Few sorts, if any, are exempt. 1t
is in moist season, which is also a cool
one, that the potato does best, increasing
the size and number of its specimens. Are
We then to depend upon such seasons alone
for success? If SO, the chances are against
us, as drouth and heat predominate and
our faulty treatment puts us at the mercy
Of the seasons. 1t is for this reason more
than any that potatoes as crop arc 50
fluctuating. They do not yield what they
should, and the quality is far from being
what it ought to be, aside from the rot.
In short, the potato is disappointing, being
largely raised, from necessity, for home
use.
There have some good potatoes been
grown the present season, which were
from early planting of early sorts. They
escalei tho heat and dry weather later on.
1t is always we'll to plant early, as early as
possible ia our climate, on we'll prepared
soil having good drainage, whether early
or late sorts. Properly managed and at
tended to. the chances are for more mois.
ture and more GOODNESS: and, for safety
against the frost and dry weather Of
spring, put we'll down in the mellow soil
at least six inches deep, and deeper in
sandy loan. This will prevent the seed
however small, from drying out. and
sproutirg will 60 OH there instead of in
the cellar, the tips appearing when the
danger from frost is over, and at the time
potatoes are usually planted, thus get
ting start of weeks, and maturing
the crop early, about the middle or latter
part of June, before drouth has pen
etratea deeply. BY this time the late
sorts will be we'll established, occupy
ing with their roots and young tubers the
lower, cooler soil weeks in advance of the
usual planting, and lipening SO much the
earlier, thus avoiding drouth and frost.
lated potatoes. Deep planting requires
deep working and enrichment of the soil
SO as to have the seed in rich, mellow
furrow OH the hard, raw subsOil, and cov-
oroI xxsift, tho ,,invyy iS nfta,, InUo Tho
roots wants to penetrate downward as we'll
as laterally. This puts them beyond the
reach Of even as severe drouth as the one
just past. If, in addition, the surface of
the Soil is kept stirred SO as to form fine
mulch, a superior crop is assured every
season, ift!lc soil has good drainage so as
to carry off the water in a wet season.
/ have not been growing potatoes of
late years, but rs so much was said about
the deterioration of the Early Rose, and as
the market seemed to confirm it, planted
some the past spring as a test. The soil,
an Old sod, was prepared last fall, and an
early working given in the spring when
the planting was done. Selecting the
soundest seed could find, planted some
in the usual way, covering 9 or 3 inches
deep, others and 8 inches. The first
were a failurc--a few small potatoes in q
hill and poor quality. This agreed with
the general crop of the neighborhood. II
was 4 matter of gratification-and to the
neghbOrs surprise-.O see the fine,
bright tuberS that came up when the
deep planted were dug-which was the
middle OF Junc-those covered six inches
ripening earlier, as they also came up car
lier after planting. They were clean and
sound, and when cooked were white,
mealy and sweet, with no rank unhealthy
odor.
The objection TO deep planting, that it is
more expensive to harvest the crop, holds
good so for as the digging is concerned,
but it is in no way an Offset to the other
advantages of a longer, sountier and more
uniform crop, take one season with an
other, drought having much less effect.
The greater freedom disease, which re
suits is 4 point that can hardly he overes
timated in view of the wide spread, un
sound condition of the tubers, fcr there is
less chance for rot with deep planting il
weli-dlaineG soil, the tubers being farther
down and better prOtected-at least there
is greater success.
So much l can say for the Early Rose
from my own experience. Grown in the
way described, dug as soon as ripe, ant
stored III cool, dry place, they will keep
sound and sweet during the summer and
through the following winter, comparing
favorably in the spring with the late sorts
Care must be taken when dug and put
away to keep the cellar cool and not toe
dry, by keeping the windows open in coo
weather, usually evenings, and shut wber
warm, double windows being better pro
lection against heat. This is the way :
cellar should be kept, not only for pota
toes or fruit, but for all purposes. Neve1
dig potatoes under scOrching sun. As
soon as dry take to the cellar, handle care
fully, reject all hacked, bruised or imper
feet ones. and put in barrels Or bins, ant
close. We a,e too rough and careless will
our potatoes.
Can't Preach Good.
No man can DO good job of work, preacl