Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-06-02
IRISH POTATO CULTURE AND ITS PROFITS
IS A CROP PRODUCT.
Maj. A. j. MeWhirter, Commissioner of A.
ricnIture etc. Nash Vile Tenn

Maj. A. j. Mcwhirter, Commissioner of Ag
rculture ETC., Nashville, Tenn:
DEAR SIR-Your favor of the lSti,
inst. received, contents noted, and
herewith give you with pleasure
the information desired in regard
TO the cultivation of Irish potatoes
in Middle Tennessee as a crOp
product for early export to northern
and eastern markets.
On the 9TH of March, 1871, L inn
migrated from the neighborh0od Of
Cincinnati, o., where | had been
engaged in fruit and vegetable cul.
ture. After enquiring in regard tC
the climate and soil OF Tennessee
became convinced that it was adapt.
eel to the business which | proposed
following. 1 therefore located that
spring in the vicinity-oi Nashville
rented land and planted II acres in
Irish potatoes. My neighborS were
amazed, and many of them predict.
ed that L would become bankrupted
and would return to Ohio; that j
would never be able to sell SO large
a crop of potatoes: have, however,
survived that first crop of potatoes,
and have increased my little CAPT
tai year by year since until now
find myself full tledged Tennessee,
an, having invested my little capital
! in real estate in Sumner county
where expect to spend the remain
d Ar of my life.
The citizens of Tennessee who ]
have had the pleasure of meeting
have treated me most kindly. i
have never known kinder or bet
ter people. number among them
many warm and valued friends.
A part of the farm | now own has
been in cultivation over seVenty-five
years. Any newiand will produce
fine crop of potatoes, but that
which has been cultivated for yeas
in corn, cotton or wheat in this
limestone section should before be-
ing planted in potatoes be sOwn to
cover and be permitted TO run in
clover three years. If our farmers
would clover their land every three
years | don't believe il would ever
go back on any crop. The Oldest
fields on my place yielded as good a
crop of potatoes last year, under the
above treatment as my new land.
To grow potatoes protitably the
land should be plowed deep, har-
rowed well, pulverized as thorough
~ as practicable before planting.
The potato, If possible. should be
cut leaving two eyes to each piece ;
the rows should be three feet apart
i'm the drill or two and half feet
each way in checks. The Early
Rose is decidedly the most protita
BILE potato to raise in Tennessee. 1t
differs in growth from all other va
rieties; they should not be planted
deep, rs they grow much better and
are much more prolific when plant
ed near the surface. They can be
planted in March and be ready for
shipment in June. The small ones
can be planted on the same ground
in July, and even until the tifteeth
of August, which will mature be-
fore frost, and this second crop
makes the best seed for spring plant
ing.
The first time | ever attempted
to grow a second crop the same year
was in 1878, and in 1874, the year
that will be long remembered for
its drouth, especially around Nash
Vile. 1 planted a few barrels of
the second crop of 1873 which | had
saved alongside of the northern
seed. / cultivated both paintings
alike and | found that the second
crop seed stood the drouth better
than the northern seed. At digging
time the second crop made larger
and twice as many to the acre as
the the northern seed. This eX-
pertinent convinced me that it
would pay to grow my own seed,
which | have done ever since. For
the first two or three years / tried
to sell my neighbOrs whatever
might be left after planting my first
crop, but they preferred to plant
northern seed, as they had been ac-
custOmed to doing, even at 50 per
barrel, rather than take my advice.
They have learned better now and
it is impossible to get them to buy
northern seed if they can find the
second crop of Tennessee, Kentucky
or even Ohio.
| am glad to learn that the states
south of us are approaching the val
ue Of Tennessee second crop as
seed potato. Eight years ago we
RENTED thousands of dollars north
for what we have learned to grow at
home.
| enclose you statement of my
potato crop for 1882 and net profit
derived from same. This | have
taken from my books of 1882: