The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-01-03
THE FARn AND GARDES.
KEEPIEe SWEET POTATOES.

and observation we conclude he is right,
and that any one may safely adopt his
ideas At any rate, one trial would be
likely to satisfy most farmers as to whether
IT is the best plan. He says:
| For three years, at Denison, Texas. the
writer has kept sweet pototoes in excel
lent condition, though from October to
May, in large quantity with trifing loss.
and in smaller lots till August, in dry,
we'll ventilated cellar.
A bin built of boards, five feet wide.
three feet deep, running around against
the dry stone wall, laid upon siIIs four
inches thick, with halfinch cracks be-
tween bottom boards for ventilation, was
hlled heaping full of potatoes. During
very mild days of Winter thorough ven
tillation was given by opening the win
dows and doors Of the cellar. The crack
IN bottom of bin allowed fresh air to en-
ter below The warmth developed by the
mass of potatoes warmed the air coming
In from the bottom and made 1t rlse, car
~ tr &
rying off extra moisture, which is SO IA
vorable to rot or fungous growth. In
bin holding $50 bushels, kept till May l,
there were not over five bushels of loss
in shriveIed and rotten potatoes.
lt was commonly remarked Of these
potatoes, when taken to market, that
they looked as bright and plump as
though just dug. They were very mealy
$40 per bushel, while at digging time
they would bring but 25 cents.
In the Fall, when the nights are qnite
cool and frosts are expected, and but lit
tie growth can possibly be made, select
fair day when the soil is in good working
condition, the drier the better. A team,
with plow, straddIes the rows and drags
away the vines-sometimes collecting a
ton under the beam before emptying-
then swings off to one side, drops its load
and sets in fresh If there is danger of
frost, all the plantation is gone over be-
fore blowing out, SO that vines will not
become frozen, and when thawing out,
carry the soured juices to the potatoes,
carrying decay sooner or later.
rRIMMISG GRAPE VINES.
The Scuppernong grape vine should be
trimmed, when il needs trimming, soon
after the leaves fall in Autumn. Imme-
diately after freeze in November or De-
cember is good time. II seldom needs
trimming only where the vine has been
neglected. Where it grows in punches,
and the branches crowd each other, it
should be cut out, the vines straightened,
and the little wiry ties that wind them
selves around the vines and choke them
should all be cut loose, and the vines re-
lieved. Give each branch a good chance
to extend out on the arbor running
straight out from the comtnen centre.
Other varieties of grape may be pruned
any cold time from November to. Febru-
AIRY, always before the sap starts in the
Spring.
ACID SOILS.
1t is well known that lands which pro-
duce pine, whortleberry, sorrel, etc, are
acid, and will not produce sweet grasses
and valuable fruit crops and fruits until
the acidity is destroyed by lime or ashes,
or something that will neutrAlize or de-
stroy the acidity.
Prof G. II. Reed, of Hudson, Ohio.
lately gave to the Ohio State Agricul
turaI Convention an account of field
Iywhere the soil was so acid that nothing
bat sorrel would grow. But chemis-
try" says he. g suggested the application
Of lime and ashes, and one belt aeross the
field was treated with lime and another
With ashes. The Geld was again seeded
A heavy crop Of grass came on the two
belts, while the rest remained sorrel. The
reruainder was covered with lime, and all
the borlel disappeared. This was s,yer
twenty years ago, and the iseId has re-
manned very productive eyer since.
/ COOP srAHIEs.
| SoasApesfer1s RrssJyteFiaa: Give
| yssar abimals good dwslTngs The m
mates of stables and sheds rcd light and
vsntilstioa faIly = much = The deniaens
Of our hAndsOme hOusea. Aud yet thou-
sands Of horses. upon whose work men
| and families depend for their livelihood,
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