The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-09-14
Raising Pototoes.
now TO SUCCESSFULLY RAISE a LARGE
CROr--nlNrs TO poTArO RAtsHRs.

R"ioiue 1UtVbOtt'
now TO SUCCESSFULLY RAISE A LARGE
CRor--ulNrs TO poTArO RAtsRRs,
Until the present year, have never
succeeded in raising more than two
bushels of potatoes to the square rod, or
320 bushels per acre, and that yield
has only been reached on small por-
tons of the field, the average for the
whole lot never having exceeded $50
bushels per acre. | will confess ] 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 future, as | have
just measured the ground and picked
up and measured the potato, where
they yielded over three bushels of large
potatoes to the square rod, or five hun
dred bushels per acre. The small ones,
from the size of a hens egg down,
were not picked up. We tired it on
several square rods, and in the presence
of reliable witnesses, so that we can
Prove it. This was the very best por.
ton of the field, so far as we could
judge from the vines. A measured
quarter OF an acre, not all of it the best,
filled 102 bushel boxes with large po.
tatoes. 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 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 to make potatoes, and
consequently large yield next year
will speak of these in particular
this time, and other points in due sea-
son.
The first thing is to select for seed
good sized, perfect shaped, well matur-
ed tubers, with large, strong eyes,
know there is a great difference of
opinion on this point. A single expert
ment may not show any decided results
in faver of the large, choice seed, par
ticularly 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 described, and follow it 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 lump, but so sure am l that l
am right on this point that l would
not take that sum in addition to the
market price for my seed potatoes this
fall, latter 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 sew
eral large, fine potatoes in them, while
their neighbors will not yield half as
well. My way of selecting seed is to
walk along after the digge,s with a
small basket and pick up the choicest
potatoes of perfect shape and with
large eyes, from these hills. When
the basket is full, it is carefully omptied
into bushel box, and the boxes are
kept covered if the sun shines As
soon as few are filed they are taken to
the celler and set away till the tubers
are through sweating, when they are
laid (not 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 80
Or 100 bushels to the acre of rather in
ferior potatoes, do not read any fur
ther. 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 sue
cessful potato raiser makes money. The
average" one will have to figure close
ly to show any profit. Whether the
tubers for seed are kept in pits in the
field, or in the celler, the point is to
keep them at low, even temperature,
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 cellarinto the ground
without warming them up any more
than we can possible help. They are
brought from the cellar, cut and planted
usually, the same day.-Country Gen
tLenldn.
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