Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-25
AGltICULTt \ RAJ.
cutting Potatoes for seed.
From the New England Falmcr.l

cutting Potatoes for Seed.
From the New England Falmcr.l
Mr.. John ,Barden, of Wells, Vt, sends
the Farmer an interesting account of
some experiments made by him last sum-
mer in planting cut and uncut potatoes.
Three rows, each long enough for 125
hills, were planted to Burbank seedlings,
one row with whole seed, one with one
piece to the hill, and another with two
pieces in hill At digging time the sin
gle-piece row yielded six bushels the
two-piece row, eight bushels while the
row planted with uncut potatoes, produc-
ed ten bushels.
These were very marked results, yet, in
order to have an experiment of this kind
teach all we would like to know about
planting cut or uncut potatoes, we ought
to know whether the hills were of uni
form distance apart in eacn case, and also
whether the pieces were cut to single
eyes, or whether they were large potatoes
cut in two. The whole seed, we believe,
was from large, selected potatoes. Now,
as prices ruled last season at planting
and harvesting timei it might still be a
question which seed was most economical
to plant Again, seed cut to single eyes
should be planted with great many more
hills to the acre, than would be iudicious
if using largo whole seed. If Mr.. Bar
den dropped his single eyes two or three
feet apart in the row, we should suspect
that he used too little seed to obtain a
full crop
The question Of whole or cut seed is
one that is surrounded with too many diff
fculties to be answered at cnce, and for
lol1 4 ln Il
cussing tke question, rather to study the
laws which control the growth OF the po-
tato, than to attempt to lay down infalli-
BILE rules, as guides for action. If one
understands the nature of the plant he is
cultivating, he will be better able to adapt
the conditions to each other that may ex-
ist ut the time. All potatoes are SO cheap
this spring that those who wish to expert
ment with large, whole seed can do so
with little extra cost. Our preference is
for single eyes, if all other conditions are
within control, and we would profet the
pieces should be cut from large, smooth
| seed but if the price was high, we would
not object to those which were Just below
, market size. But in either case we would
want the soil rich, and in the very finest
} state of tilth, so that every piece would
start and make an early and strong
+ growth. The potato is like the constitu-
l ton of some men, able to endure great
' deal of abuse, but that is no argument il
favor of abusing..either
> Small Fruits.
r The family should set apart small
Y piece of land especially for growing smal
$ fruits for family use, because it will be
luAurv he can well afford He has th'
| land, and 1t will be used for good pur
1 pose If lie sets out n strawberry bed ant
'cvotes Il plot to raspberres and one t.
a hllckherfieG, aud also sets out come goose
= berries of course, The crrraut will fin,
! place on every farm without my urgin!
!. its claims. Grape vines are neglected b.
# flr too many farmers. There are now 81
4 great n lumber of varieties, that it wonl,
II seem that one could find some that woul,
= thrive in his owl locality, and therefore
h the farmer is neglecting Il duty tEat h
g owes to his family, if he fails to set fey
If viucs, and take good care of them. Hi
= wife and children will thank him for it
V Who does not like good grapes Is
IS not {, pleasure to grow them for HON
y consumption ? If you should happen f
d grow few more :, Il are wanted foryou
h family's use, lucy r'.r readily be dispose
~ of in the neiyliyol houd or the village
V Apples are 10 u, round on most farms, t
5. n greater OF icou . rlt, utwhat per cen
IL of the FARMERS VINO read the -Ncr Eng
l. innd FarE;,-:, $685. you, grow nfull SUP
-s ply of small fruits extending through tn
rs Whole seasCn, o. 10y ought to? 1t l
r said that Inc, a,s ru productive that the
can be grown proftably on land wort
u $1,000 per acre be this as it may, how
g ever, | am well g.. Eied that they can b
Il profitably growl =. i.ihily use.
a The strawbe.yc =. he fruit to come ii
r the spring. enur- $50 the most tempt
IS ing to the tar,c. :. . ing to the writer
J. opinion, ana me bs.aSperry bed ought t
e. lie found in all gardens, however smal
" they may be. II d; g; not require larg
70 bed to supply tsr i with an occasiona
N dish OF berries. { I year ago last sprin
I set Just six T.: = J zee what the
l. would do, and i:-' * son they furntshe'
10 us with six pint N line strawberries
le and plants ot.c. much better tha
is this. Of cou,n. needless to gro'
D. strawberries VI. wing them care
rs The ground should be well prepared
e. and clean cultuio ..,olutely necessary
v, rnd if they alo 49,. Il with great dea
l. of water, tho yield will be largely increas
Of ed. For family use pelect the finest tiaN
10 ored berries that produce well ; but Il
n, market the principal point is to select
IS large, showy variety, the quality not be
o. ing SO important as consumers will loo
" mole to the appearance of the berry, tina
of they will to the quality. II large be
,h is planted, they should be set in rows, IA
es enough apart to admit Of horse cultivi
al ton. In the autulnn, just as late as ma
~ l. l.n ltfTl
ia winter protection of hay and in sprin
IT, uncover the plants, leaving the hay o
ge the ground rs n mulch. and to keep Il
,e- berries clean. Iprefer to set new be
,r- every spring. as it is legs work to do tn
IT. than it is to keep the old ped it"" ''ol
b. weeds.
rs Following the strawberry comes Il
"a raspberry. For red sort, l like Il
gu Cuthhert It is large, productive, fl
re- favored aud perfectly hardy with m
ps Last fall I planted out one dozen OF Il
St Hansell, wishing IT, .est that variety.
he is said to be the earliest aud most profit
ith BILE Of all raspbcrries. 1t is OF toI
il bright crimson color, and highly recol
~ mendei by eminent horticulturist. Att
She berries are gathered. the old can
siuuil l'p cut ont, rs they are Of no IL
ther use, the new growth being that viii
nv. will bear fruit the following year.
81 properly pinched back they will reqni
" no stalking. Raspberries or blackberrl
de- do not require excessively rich ground
ent any good corn ground being plenty n
nst enough. | recently saw it recommend
to in one of my papers to select the blac
'h' berries from the seedlings that grow
'an the woods or along the roadside. | shor
cry not endorse this. would procure s