The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-07
Formula for Irish Potatoes.

Stable azure 80 pounds; virgin
sol. frsm hsmm OK, 600 pounds; acid
phosphate or diss lived bone, $50
pounds; muriate Of potash, $50 pounds;
making a ton Of 1000 pounds.
The muriate of potash must be dis
solved in warm water and sprinkled
upon the other ingredients as the heap
is prepared.
Directions On rainy days, or other
idle time, prepare the compost under
shelter, by spreading down a layer OF
stable n four inches thick, then
scatter CD a layer of virgin soil three
inches thick, then scatter on a proper
tionate part of the acid phosphate,
then sprinkle OIL this a part of the So
luton Of the muriate of potash, then
a layer OF stable manure, and SO on in
the above order until you have finish
ed then cover the heap two or three
inches in depth, and in three weeks
the a will be thoroughly fermented
then cut down with a sharp hoe, apd
mix thoroughly with a shovel. 1t il
then ready for use.
d%eprecate the use of cotton seed
in their green or decomposed when the
oil has not been expressed from them.
Phosphate Of lime and ammonia being
the only iertilizing elements in cotton
seed, and these being contained exs
cluslvely in the hull and cake, the oil
which is larger per cent, of the seed,
contains no element whatever Of plant
food; but, to the contrary, the oil out
weighs the benefits to be derived from
the lime and ammonia therein, in hav-
ing a deletrious effect on the potato
by causing it to become watery and
then o to rot after being dug. The
seed would answer well if we could
get rid of the oil. for which we have
not the appliances now.
Again, cotton seed attract and prop.
agate the troublesome cut-worm, which
are very injurious to the potato, more
than any other known manure. They
hybernate in the lint and feed upon the
kernel. Nothing pays better for field
crops than cotton seed as a fertilizer,
but when you carry cotton seed to
your garden. you carry trouble.
Vegetable mold, composted with
oak ashes and a standard super phos
phate, is the true fertilizer for tn.
kitchen garden.
Preparation. Select light gray soil
with a clay subsoil, clear of the plat
plllng and burning all rubbish. Lay
off in lands and use a good turn-plow
with a large mold board, running as
deep as possible. Follow close to the
turn pillow with a subsoil scooter, run
ming in the same furrow. called dou.
BILE the furrOwing, un.il finished har.
row we'll both ways. The first warm
days after Christmas begin planting by
running off rows, with a double-wiDg
shovel, three feet apart; scatter the
above compost in the bottom of this
furrow, at the rate of one thousand
pounds to the acre, and drop the cut
potato twelve inches apart, then cover
with two burrows run with a straight
shovel. When the vines are two or
three inches high, run a straight shov-
ell fuirow Cd each side of the row, and
10 two weeks after break u the en-.
tire middle with a turn pillow, using
the large mold board, wrapping the
dirt high up around the potato vine;
this ~dispenses with hoeing, and the Gull
tiyatlon is now finished.
In ninety days after planting, the
potatoes should be dug. | prefer the
Early Rose or Extra Early Vermont to
all other varieties for size, early mat
urity, and for shipping. The Peerless
is more productive, but too late for
shipping.
WI. VAsoN.
tallahassee Fla, Dec. IA. 80