The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-28
Large Potato Crops,

Correspondence Country Gentleman
Until the present year, have never sue
ceeded 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 portions of the field, the
average for the whole lot never having ex-
ceeded $50 bushels per acre. | will confess I
could hardly believe reports, which have been
published, of yields of four, five and even six
hundred bushels per acre. But shall be
more ready to believe such reports in the fu-
ture, as 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 five hundred bushels per acre. The
small ones, from the size of a hens
EGG down, were not picked up. We tried it
or several square rods, and in the presence of
I rsilable witnesses, so that we can prove it,
Ihls was he very best portion of the field,
SO far as we can judge from the vines A
measured quarter of ali acre, not all of it the
best, filled 102 bushei boxes with large
potatoes. The secret of the great yield is
found in the adjective large" twice used
IN connection with potatoes. When there
are several potatoes in hill weighing from
half pound to a pound each, and the hills
as close together as they will bear to be put
one does not have to go over much ground
10 get oushei There are two things that
can be done this fall which will help to make
potatoes, and consequently large yield next
year. will speak of these in particular this
time, and other points in due season.
The first thing is to select for seed good
sized perfect shaped, well matured tubers,
with large strong eyes, l know there is a
great difference of opinion on this point
single experiment may not show any decided
results in favor of the large, choice seed, par
tlcularly If it Is a very favorable season, or
the trial is made on very rich ground; but
any one who will select such seed as have
Crcn sk,1 i ELL. - r
ing as good care OF the crop in every other re-
spect as he does in the selection of seed, will
get his reward. Five hundred dollars is a
good deal of money for a farmer to get in
lump, but so sure am that am right on this
point that | would not take that sum in ad-
dltion to the market price for my seed pota-
toes 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 Ny way of selecting seed
IS to walk along after the diggers with
small basket and pick up tine choice pota-
toes, of perfect shape and with large eyes,
from these hills. When the basket is full, it
Is carefully emptied into a bushel box, and
the boxes are kept covered if the sun shines.
As soon as a few are filled they are taken to
the cellar and set away till the tubers are
poured) in barrels and covered up from the
air, not to be moved again till planting
time.
This is too much trouble, some one may
say. Well, my friend, if you are satisfied
with an average crop of say eighty or one
hundred bushels per acre of rather inferior
potatoes, do not read any further. II You
want TO raise big CROP and have fine pota-
toes, you will have to go to good deal of
trouble, but if you manage rightly you will
get well paid for it. The progressive, success
full potatoe 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 tempera-
ture, so they will be sound in the spring, and
the eyes just beginning to start when you
want to 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.