Democratic messenger., 1881-04-02
FARM AND GARDEN.
POTATO CULTURE.

planting whole potatoes, though the
majority of farmers cut the tubers in
pieces containing two eyes. On the ex-
perimental farm of Cornell University.
New York, where a series of expert
ments in planting whole and cut tubers
was made, best results were gained with
medium-sized potatoes cut to two eyes,
two pieces in hill, planted deep and
receiving fiat culture. Long experience
appears to have justified the rule of
selecting fair specimens for seed, avoid
ing extremes of large and small sizes
and cutting in pieces large enough to
insure subsistence to the young plants.
Both hill and drill planting are prac-
ticed by successful farmers. The dis
tance apart in either hill or drill de-
pends on the character of the land and
the variety of potato planted. Growths
with large tops require more space, and
under any circumstances there must be
room enough to admit of thorough cul-
ture. The usual rule, when planting in
hills, is three to three and half feet
apart each way drills are made three
to three and half feet distant, with the
seed about one foot apart in the drills.
The ground for potatoes should be
carefully prepared. An exceedingly
good plan is to plow the land deeply
in the fall, lightly inthespring, turning
under such plant food as may be re-
quired and narrowing until the earth is
fine and mellow. Old lands especially
call for liberal fertilizing. Fresh barn
yard manure is to be avoided; it affects
somewhat the flavor of the tuber and
induces an undue growth of tops at the
expense of the roots. When, therefore,
stable manure Is used it must be thor
oughly decomposed. Many farmers
omit it altogether for this crop, selecting
land naturally rich or that which has
been highly manured for some previous
crop, and apply to the potato crop salt,
ashes and gypsum. A dressing of salt
and unleached ashes applied during the
growing season not only acts as stimu-
liant but is thought to be preventive
of the grub so prevalent in richly-ma-
nured soils. Bone dust is yet another
valuable fertilizer for potatoes. The
benefit of good wood ashes to this crop
Is well known to experienced potato
growers.
A clover soil is admirably suited to
the growth of good favored and sound
potatoes. A slightly sandy soil fur
nishes tubers of excellent quality. and
calcareous soil also produces a fair
grade. Heavy soils are to be avoided
for this crop, for these induce 4 watery
insipid tuber. All wet lands are, OF
course, unsuited for potato culture.
Potatoes should be cultivated from
the time the vines appear above the
ground until they begin to bloom.
Sprouting potatoes for seed in hot
beds, or in trays set in some warm
place is much practiced in localities
where early potatoes are liable to be
injured by spring frosts, and advances
the crop about fortnight.
Potatoes for vigor and healthfulness
should be planted just rs early as the
ground can be put in readiness. To
kill the young weeds a light steel.toothed
harrow may be run over the field length
wise of the rows; this will permit the
crop to get the start of the weeds and
will break up Jumps and leave the
ground ready for the cultivator. Tf
the Colorado potato beetle makes its
appearance the vines ought to be busted
with Paris green mixed either with
about eight parts of plaster or in water,
two tablespoonfuls of Paris green to
bucket of water. When mixed with
water it may be applied with a small
brush or broom and the mixture should
be stirred frequently or the Paris green
will settle at the bottom of the bucket.
Two or three applications during a sea-
son will usually suffice to clear off the
beetles.
Prominent among early potatoes too
well known to require an introduction,
are the Alpha, which natures its crop
some fourteen days earlier than the
early Rose; the early Ohio, one of the
seedlings of the early Rose; the early
Vermont, more hardy than the early
Rose and therefore succeeding in many
localities where the Ohio fails; early
Snowflake and Beauty of Hebron. The
Beauty of Hebron has pure white skin
and flesh, and ranks with the best early
potatoes yet in the market.
Numbered with early potatoes for
which seedsmen claim unusual merits,
but still new to farmers at large, is the
extra early Peachblow, a Seeding of
early Vermont crossed with white Peach
blow. In yield 1t is nearly double that
of the Alpha, and it is almost as early.
The flesh is of pure white and of good
flavor. The Pride of America, resem-
bling the Snowflake but ripening few
days later, is said to be adapted to
diversity of soils. The American Mag
mum Bonum, according to reports from
various quarters, appears to be quite
distinct from the English potato of the
same name. 1t natures very soon after
the early Rose and is said to surpass it
in productiveness.
For general crops in this section of
the country early Snowflake, Burbank's
Seeding, Dunmore and Roses Magnum
Bonum are popular sorts.
late potato for which many excel.
lencies are claimed is late Snowflake.
sprout of early Snowflake, ripening
some three weeks later. The late Rose
is also hardy and productive and a good
keeper. This variety was produced
from seed-ball of the Garnet Chill.
fertilized with pollen from the white
Peachblow So far as has been tested
the White Elephant has proved salts
factory and yielded large crops.