Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-03-01
rxf eorAro csos of sgwKEa xlasg.
An Interesting eapsr From Pref c. W. car
.a, ieador, Of Hs1osrsoHriiis.
Gailatin Examiner.

| An Interesting Paper from Pref G. w. cal
Z .a, iea0ar, Of Hs1osrsoHrilys.
Gailatin Examiner.
. During the early potato season
there was shipped from the Western
portion of Summer 20. an unpreee
dented crop. An Unusually laf.t
area had been planted, the yield
was full average, and had prices
been even moderately fair. and ok
penses no greater than In former
4 years, the potato would have made
\ satisfactory profit. The result was
| far different, Many farmers lost
! largely, few, II any, made money.
4 Owing TO the euuusually high prices
OF both first and second crop p0ta-
toes, in 1882, the country, went ia
ter crazy" Corn was neglected to
an unusual extent. large tracts OF
land much of il not suited to this
crop, were put in many persons so
planting were inexperienced in cui-
tivatiUg. handling and shipping.
Wages went up to a figure no far
nler in Tennessee can afford TO pay.
The barrel makers sprang their
\ prices from %, 27I, to 35, 371 and
even 40 cents. The hands and the
.c0opers got all the profit, in The
most eases, OF this yeaF'sspring crQp.
TO make the situation still worse
counties and States south of US
caught the same craze. from the
same causes. They planted very
extensively, anxious TO share the
expected 'phenOminal prOhts."
Such sections put their. crops upon
the market weeks before ours were
in profitable shipping condition,
and frOmthe large eamount they had
on hand, ''smashed the Market"
and kept * "smashed" the whole
of the shipping season. Instead of
the expected 50 to 81 per bbl. many
car loads were sold at 80 TO 40 cts.
per bbl. Many acres were not dug
at all, and some fine crops are still
in the ground. "Pis an Ill wind,u
says the old Scotch iYroverb, 'stlsat
blows nae gude." There are val
liable lessons TO be learned from
every disaster. Nov what lesson
does the experience or the ptst esir-
ly potato season teach the farmers
of Sumner l. think IL first of all
teaches us to never ride on booul.
Any Que of US can call TO mind cas-
es similar to that Of this springs
potato crop. Some yearssiuce broom
coru was very high aud in active
demand. Prices ranged as high as
10 to 274 cents. All grades fine and
coarse, red and green. straight aud
crooked readily sold: at prices very
profitable TO the grower. The yesr
following these prices, saw an enor-
NOUS crop of broom corn planted.
1t seemed as though nothing else
was worth tilling. Some farmers
had in scores. yes hundreds of acres.
The crop of one planter in William
son county was reported al 1000
acres. The crop was good, but tho
price OF IL sank to I to- | 4 cents 'Afor
the estgrades, inferior and lcrooked
not wanted" The county has had
similar experience with wheat aud
with barley. The habit OF so many
farmers OF changing annually from
crop to crop as demand ana supply
varies prices Is ceftainly not prot
liable one. Too Anany men, seenl
to think that IL they have Succeeded
with an acre patch for home use, bf
cabbage broom corn, potatoes or
any other crop, therefore they can
plant, cultivate and ship
aT hundred times as. much, AS
we'll might a corporal assume the
The ability to command brigade.
A man must have experience 20
aud sell to a profit large
crop of any sort. BY persistentIy
putting in the same crop year by
year in such Quantities as careful
of profitable demand
int supply may render prudent,
he farmer may learn to so manage
my crop as to make "A large fair
profit when prices and season flIvor
him. Another important lesson is
aught us by the disasters of thia
.rop in 1885,, Never plant any crop
ipori soil 'tiffsufted 10 IL. IL is no
lse to expect to make nfOneyby
potatoes in cloddy clay
ground. The yield upon such soil
5 small and the tubers rough and
nishappen, such potatoes sell slow
v IL AT all, and too commonly fall
lnder class ''not wanted." "A light,
oose loan i think best for potatoes.
t is warm, quick and friable.
Again we learn the need of fertiliz-
ng. Even upon land commonly
allied good it will pay largely 20
manure heavily If to be planted in
potatoes. The potato is a gross
eeder. Barn yard manure should
,e freely supplied. Potash in some
orn, most economically In wood
shes, is absolutely necessary. Com
nercial fertilizers are very advanta-
.eous. My Maine correspondent
ellis of 1900 to 500 bushels per acre"
nd paying well at 15 TO 25 per
'ushel. If we in Tennessee average
Ialf this yield we are boasting OF IL
n every corner. But finally to sum
p. Farmers generally made little
n nothing this past spring ON pota-
oes. Hands, co0pers, railroads and
merchants devoured the profits.
We should learn not 10 be governed
nthinkiugly by the last seasons
rice but always hold to our spec
llty in pitching crops. Prepare
litable soil in suitable manner.
'ertilize with suitable manures aud
-ust to the Lord and do good.