Charlotte home and Democrat., 1882-06-30
AGRIC URAL.
Irish Potatoes to Get a Fall Crop

IrlSA fOtaLOeS-dOW 10 UeJ rdll UrOp
1t is often The case that success in GER
tain branches OF horticulture depends upon
apparent insignificant circumstances which
are derived only from practical expert
ence. There is little difficulty in pro-
ducing good crop of Irish potatoes from
the Spring crop, if the planting is done
early, in thoroughly prepared and well
manured soil. The Irish potato requires
an abundance of moisture, and this Is
usually secured for the Spring crop. In
deed, this can be secured independently
of seasons by mulching heavily with wheat
straw or pine straw-the former to be
preferred.
The principal trouble, however, in our
slimate is in keeping the first crop through
our long summers. They either sprout or
shrivel, or both, before winter, and be-
come worthless as food. The question,
then, is how to get supply for winter
use from our own gardens.
This has been accomplished with ut
most satisfaction by bedding the small
potatoes from the spring crop just as the
sweet potato is bedded for slips in the
spring. When the spring crop is dug,
Gull out all of the potatoes from the size
of hen egg down, and expose them to
light, but not to the direct rays Of the
sun, for several weeks. This will prepare
them for sprouli"g without producing
rot. About the first of August prepare
bed at some point convenient to water,
aud bed them just as sweet potatoes are
bedded, except that no manure need be
used to force them. Spread the potatoes
thinly-not nearer than an Inch of each
other-and cover with three inches OF
wood mold or light loan. The wood
mold or loan is recommended because
they will not form crust over the bed
after watering. Keep he bed moist but
not saturated with water lest rot be pro-
duced. When the bed is watered, wet
thoroughly to the POI atoes rather than
give lIght sprinkle daily, just moisten-
ing the surface.
When the plants appear above the sur
face OF the ground, take them up with the
potato adh.ri"g and transplant both. If
more than one sprout comes from the
same tube, cut between them and set the
parts in different hills. Have the land
ready and Triumphant every few days as
fast as sufficient number of plants appear
to justify attention. If the ground is dry,
pour pint of water into each hill around
the plant, using care to cover all mois-
tened soil with dry earth, to prevent
baking.
By this means full crop of potatoes
may be grown with as much certainty az
crop of sweet potatoes. The only diff
Guilty about growing full crop rests in
getting the potatoes to sprout in time to
make before frost. This may be done
generally by mulching heavily just after
q ram to retain the natural moisture, but
with nothing like the certainty Of the
plan here proposed. The potatoes planted
for the second crop should not be cut as
for the spring crop, on account of the
greater tendency to rot in warm weather.
The crop planted, as here directed. is cul-
tivated in the usual way, but need not be
dug until needed for use, as they do not
become watery as the spring crop is il
left IN the ground.
AS they approach maturity, however,
aud before severe frost occurs, enough
earth should be thrown upon them to pre-
vent freezing. They may, however, be
dug and stored for use during winter if it
is preferred We have had abundant
crops grown in this way to supply all
needed for the table during the winter
and spring, and to plant the spring crop
for five years. Any farmer or gardener
who will follow the directions here given
may become entirely independent OF
Northern growers, both for the table and
for seed. The seed might to advantage
be renewed from the northeast once in
five years to secure earlier maturity, but
for no other reason. Those intended for
planting tn. spring crop should be dug
several weeks before planting to allow
them to dry we'll, but. we have dug aud
planted the same day with most salts
factory results. The quality of the fall
crop is far superior to that of those grown
in the sprung, and we think better than
any We can buy on the market.