The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-05-06
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Early Potatoes.


1t will soon be time for putting in early
potatoes, and the old favorite, Early Rose,
still holds its place at the front 1t may
be inferior to some of the new varieties,
but there is one thing in favor of the Early
Rose that all viii admit, and that is the
usual certainty of a crop. There arc but
few exceptions regarding TIE reliability of
the Early Rose, and ii must be very I'M
favorable season, indeed, when they do not
reward the grower for his trouble. An
other peculiarly is that when the tops are
dead the potatoes are there, and this can
not be said Of all Others The Peachblow,
whick is a late variety, first gives very
vigorous growth Of vine, and form the po-
tatoes afterward. At times they show no
signs of tubers until almost at the period
of maturity of vine, and they seem to hurry
up the tubers as if they had been forgotten,
They are GOOD keepers, and are hard 10
beat IS late variety. The bugs are very
partial to the Peerless, and attack that
variety in preference to others, yet slight
inc none. With the first growth of the
potato above ground the bugs begin work.
AT this stage the bugs should be picked in
preference to sprinkling with Paris green,
as the poison is somewhat injurious to the
vines when very young. If hand-picking
becomes too difficult, which is noticed ON
the appearance of the Matching of the eggs,
the Paris green must be applied. Always
mix it with fine dry plaster in preference
to -four, as the plaster is very beneficial to
potatoes. We formerly alluded to the fact
that some growers claimed that their crops
had been increased by the use of Paris
green. What really increased them was
the plaster and it is doubtful question
as to whether the bugs are a. INJURY or
benefit, on that secoARt They have
brought plaster into sse on potatoes, and
the consequence is we produce more pota-
toes than formerly, despite the bugs In
using phster always put sprinkling on
the ground around the plant as well as ON
the vine. It win be an additional benefit.
Ashes are excellent for potatoes, and should
be bruadcasted after the seed Is in on heavy
ground or scattered on the rows ON sandy
soil.
Regarding the new varieties, it Is best to
procure only pound for experiment.
Try them side by side with old-establsshed,
well-known varieties. The reason is that
no farmer can recommend to another at a
distance which IS the more preferable yari-
ETY., as soils and other conditions may not
be the same A Western paper publishes
a new method of getting the best results
from potatoes which is worthy Of trial
We give it only for what it is intended BY
the one who discovered it. which is that
others would use it and report results 1t
Is wellknown that early potatoes are not
always fully matured, and the larger ones
are often taken from the hill while the
smaller ones are left This robbine pro-
cess injuries the growth Of those left, and
they never arrive at perfection. If she
grower, however, viii dig mp all his pOta-
toes-large and small--he can select the
larger ones and market them, and then inn
mediately use the small ones for seed by
putting them in the ground for second or
late crop. They should be cut in half and
put in thickly, as many of them win not
sprout. After they are up they must be
thinned ont il too thick IF put on the
same ground as the first crop fertilizer Is
required in addition to that originally
applied.
Potatoes sheald be kept clean, and gTass
and weeds not allowed even 70 sprout.
They require at times certain amount of
moisture. and If weed gets place among
them il appropriates not only the moisture
but the nousishment- The ground should
be kept as loose as possible without disturb
ing them The common practice Of entire
u digging up the Hill or row Is too radical,
for the roots. when torn 70 pieces, mus
stop TO shoot out in other directions, which
more or less checks the growth Of tubers.
In sandy soils plant deep aud hill up well,
destroying the crab grass that 50 persistent
" shoots up. In selecting the seed see that
il Is sound and good, cut TO two eyes, let
dry for day or two, sprinkle with plaster,
and plant In heavy soils. especially, put
the manure on top, especially If II Is coarse,
a. it assists TO keep the surface loose, and
in light soils it is a partial protection agalns
drought and extreme heat. That Is the
reason why the top application Is preferred.
Manure for potatoes should be good, but
the best results viii be obtained when well
rotted manure is mixed with coarse litter,
or anything that hghtens the soil Never
use fresh manure Fertilizers are better
for potatoes than anything else Philasiet-
phsa Record,