Omaha daily bee., 1883-04-13

the markets In the entire country will
be produced In the extreme northern
portion Of IL. A region where 400
bushels Of potatoes can be produced
on an acre Of ground possesses great
advantages over one where only 80
bushels are produced. When very
large crops are raised II will pay to
send them q long distance to market.
A short season Is preferable to q long
n for raising potatoes. Less labor
Ia required In cultivation, and the
damages by insects and bad weather
will be less. Vegetable growth IL
more rapid whore the seasons are short
than where they are long. Tho quick.
or potatoes are raised the better they
are. The flavor Of quick grown pota-
toes is superior and they are generally
free from blemishes. A fair amount Of
moisture Is necessary tothe production
potatoes, but the seed should never be
planted on land that IL likely to be
water soaked during any portion Of
the growing season. Long continued
dampness causes the crop to be small
and the quality poor. Potatoes grown
on damp soil are very likely to rot II
they are not we'll managed after they
are dug. No variety Of potatoes Ia
profitable to raise for market that Ia
not quite productive. Few customers
are willing to pay for quality In pc.
tatoes. The quality OF potatoes IL
only tested after they are cooked, and
most persons select q lot on account OF
their size aad general good appearance.
Persons accustomed to potatoes OF q
certain variety will continue to pur.
chase them long after much better
varieties have been introduced. Sew
eral varieties of potatoes are now
selling readily on the reputa.
ton they acquired several years ago.
With rare exceptions there IL more
profit IN late than early potatoes. The
market Of all large towns Ia generally
overstocked with early potatoes during
their season. The frat that come 10
market bring the highest prices. The
first that appear come from the Bur.
muda islands, and these are followed
by those grown In Florida and the
other southern staten. Prices rap
idly decline by the time the earliest
produced In the United States are
ready to harvest. II dug while the
weather Is quite warm they will be In.
jured II they are not disposed of In o
short time. II not entirely ripe they
oAn not be shipped long distances on
account of the .thlnness Of the skinr.
Generally late varieties OF potatoes
are moro productive than early ones.
They have better keeping qualities
and can be shipped longer distances
without injury. Such being the case,
their sale at remuneratlve prices does
not depend on the condition Of the
market at Q certain time. Persons
who raise potatoes for the market
should be very careful about the 20.
lection Of seed. There IL Q vigor
about new varities Of potatoes that
old ones do not possess. They are
generally more productive and much
less liable to disease. Potatoes In.
tended for seed should be kept where
their eyes will remain dormant. II
they are stored where there are Don.
siderable light, heat and moisture they
will throw out sprouts that will never
develop Into vines when placed out OF
doors, and will take much OF the sub
stance of the tubers. They should be
kept where they will not sprout till
they are planted. If seed Is scarce
and high there IL enoonomy In cutting
potatoes to single eyes. II they are
raised In drills, and 1t is desired to
have a. few small tubers 81 possible,
1t 10 best to seed light, which IL most
easily done by cutting the potatoes for
the most part to single eyes.
On no subject connected with any
branch Of agriculture do opinions vary
80 much as In relation to the choice
aud preparation of soil for potatoes
and the method or planting and Guilt
waiting the crop. Some advise deep
and others shallow planting; some
advocate level and others hill culture.
The truth Is, no rule can be given In
regard to these matters that will be
best under all circumstances. Good
crops of potatoes are often raised on q
small scale by dropping the seed or
the green sward and covering 1t with
old straw or hay. When this plan il
pursued no cultivation Ia required OK.
oept to remove the vegetable covering
from the tubers. If the soil IL quite
dry and the elevation of the field 4
considerable there is good reason TO
planting tho seed quite deeI
and adopting level culture. II
on the other hand, the soil Is mois
and the surface quite "A 1t 1t 10 gener
ally better to place the seed near tn
top of the ground and to hill up tn
earth around the vines. Some season.
| are favorable and some unfavorable t,
/. shallow planting and level culture
As a rule land that has not been lon
under cultivation Ia best for potatoes
This statement, however, iz true |
q In relation to most crops
Land need not necessarily be we.
D subdued for raising o good GRO
of potatoes. Excellent potatoes ma
, be raised on soil that contains muc
partially deoomposed turf, Manur
! applied to land intended for potatoe
should be well rotted or it will tend I
: produce scab. Clean cultivation
q essential, but 1t is not desirable I
disturb the soil very deeply aroun
Q the vines after the tubers have con
fenced to form. Late In the seaso
1t IL better to keep down weeds an
y gress by Q OF q scufi, hoe than
Q pillow or oultivstor.
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Tha Maveriok National Rsnk