Daily Republican., 1883-09-17
A c. RIC L TU r AL
RAISING LARGE CROPS OF POTATOES

RAISING LARGE CROPS OF POTATOES
Until the present year, l have neve
succeeded in raising more than two
bushels of potatoes to the square rod
or 800 bushels per acre, and that yield
has only been reached on small por-
lions of the field, the average for the
whole lot never having exceeded 25O
bushels per acre. will confess could
hardly believe reports, which have
been published, of yields of four, five
aud even six hundred bushels per acre,
But shall be more ready to believe
such reports in the future, as l have
just measured the ground and picked
up and measured the potatoes, where
they yielded over three bushels of large
potatoes TO the square rod, or 800 bush.
els per acre. The small ones, from the
size Of hens egg down, were not
picked up.
We tried 1t on several square rods,
and in the presence Of reliable wit
nesses, so that we can prove it. This
was the very best portion of the field,
so far as we could judge from the vines.
A measured quarter OF an acre, not all
of it the best, filed 1902 bushel boxes
with large potatoes. The secret Of the
great yield IL found in the adjective
large" twice Used In connection with
potatoes. When there are several po-
tatoes in a hill weighing from half a
pound to a pound each, and the hills
are as close together as they will bear
to be put, one does not have to go over
much ground to get bushel. There
are two things that can be done this
fall, which will help potatoes, and
consequently large yield next year.
| will speak of these in particular this
time, and other points in due season.
The fist thing is to select for
seed good sized, perfect shaped, well
matured, tubers, with large, strong
eyes. ! know there is a great difference
OF opinion on this point. A single ex.
pertinent may not show any decided re-
suits in favor of the large, choice seed,
particularly if it is a very favorable sea-
son, or the trial is made on very rich
ground but any one who will select
such seed as l have described, and fol-
low 1t up for ten years, taking as good
care of the crop in every other respect
as he does in the selection of seed, will
get his reward.
Five hundred dollars Is a good deal
of money for farmer to get in "a lump,
but so sure am that | am right on this
point that would not take that sum in
addition to the market price for my
seed potatoes this fall, after they are
selected, and run the risk of buying
new seed Every one has probably
noticed, when digging potatoes, that
some hills, without any apparent cause
perhaps, will have several large, fine
potatoes in them, while their neighbors
will not yield half as we'll
My way of selecting seed is to walk
along after the diggers with q small
basket and pick up the choice potatoes,
of perfect shape and with large eyes,
from these hills. When tho basket is full
it(is carefully emptied into bushel box,
and the boxes are kept covered if the
sun shines. As soon as few are filled
they are taken to the cellar and set
away till tubers are through sweating,
when they are laid (not pOured) in bar
rels and covered up from the air, not to
be moved agaiu till planting time.
This is too much trouble, some one
may say. Well, my friend, if you are
sail SIZED with an average crop of say
80 or 100 bushels per aero of rather aim
ferior potatoes, do not read any further.
If you want to raise big crop, and
have fine potatoes, you will have to 60
to good deal Of trouble, but if you
manage rightly you will get well paid
for it. The progressive successful pota-
to raiser makes money. The "aver-
age" one will have to figure closely to
show any profit. Whether the tuberS
for seed are kept in pits in the field, or
in the cellar, the point Is to keep them
at low even temperature, so they will
he sound in the spring, and the eyes
just beginning to start when you want
10 plant. We take pains to get them
from the cellar into the ground without
warming them up any more than we
can possibly help They are brought
from the cellar, cut and planted, usually
the same day.