Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-13
WOoDLAWN AGRICL. SOCIETY.
Reported for the Alexandria Gaze

| ] HlS asSuClaliOI ilcI vi tuC 'ti lL!SetHp "
VIM. Hunters, jr., Woodlawn Mansion. In
the absence of the president, John Ballen
ger was chosen chairman with y. w. Pier
son, secretary.
The question for the day, How to prepare
for, and raise a crop Of early potatoes ? was
responded to BY each member in rotation.
The general opinion OF ali those whose
farms are in the "Horsc Shoe" valley, was
that their land was not suitable for raising
| early potatoes for market at profit. After
repeated trials, taking the utmost pains TO
insurea crop, they had failed in growing
! more than was needed for their own use,
and had directed their main efforts 10 raise
late crop for profit.
The princina! difference Of opinion, was
| in the kind OF seed 10 plant. The majority
| would procure their seed potatoes from the
North every time; while others had planted
| the earl Y rose many years in succession
raised on their own ground, with just as
good results, and in some instances with
better success with their own seed than with
that from the North. Some members had
raised second crop from potatoes grown
the same year, and considered these much
better seed for the year following, as they
would keep without sprouting or withering
The origin Of the potato, from Husband
| ~ in colony times in the January Century
is III place here
The potatoe, originally South Ameri-
can plant. was introduced to Virginia by
Sir John Harvey in 1929, though it was un
known in some counties OF England hun
drcd and fifty years later. In Pennsylvania,
potntoes are mentioned very soon after tho
AZ vent OF the ?uakcrs they were not among
New York products in 1886, but in l775 wo
are told Of eleven thousand bushels grown
on one sixeen-acle patch il this province.
Potatoes were served, perhaps a. an exotic
larty. III = IIarvcd installation dinner in
1907: but the plant was only brought into
culture i'll New EngIand ut the arrival of
| the Presbyterian immigrants from Ireland in
lTlS. Five bushels were accounted 4 large
cr0i, Of potatoes for Il Connecticut farmer
for il was held that, if Il man ate them
every day ha could not 1.-Two boyond ooron
years"
Isaac Snowdcn read the following paper
| on the cultivation of early potatoes and the
| best kinds Of seed and fertilizers TO be used:
The patato reGuies cool aud moist eli
| mate and !. rich, mellow, sandy SOIL The
poatoo produces best in the extreme north
ern States as in Maine and Vermont, and
portions OF Canada 1t is also said TO do
well in Montana and Minnesota Early
potatoes grow nicely near Norfolk. Vast
quantities are shipped to tho northern mar
kcts. On the eastern branch Of Potomac,
near Washington, also fine large potatoes, as
other vegetables, are successfully grown.
'.ThG potato is said to be a native Of the
tropical valy Of America from Mexico to
Chill and was discovered early i'll the six
tceuth century, being first carried to Europe
| By the Spaniards. Authorities differ as to
| how and when it was first sent to the United
States. 1t has now become universally cul
| tivated and seems 10 be almost an indis-
pensable vegetable for the farm and table.
Various methods are adopted in planting
ami cultivating. In New Jersey the truck
crS, prefer having rich compost, made
very fine OF horse manure, green sand mari,
and rich earth and apply some fifteen TO
twenty loads OF the compost TO the acre on
the potato after being planted in the row.
"Herc in Virginia, owing to soil or climate,
SO much manure seems to invite the worm,
| or bug and the potatoes are often rough
and unstable. I would choose 4 piece Of
ground that had been in several crops Of
sweet potatoes and where the manure had
| been we'll mixed in the soil or good rich
| clover sod, made mellow by fall plowing
and again repowcd in the spring. In fact
both pieces Of ground would be better for
! fall blowing I would have the ground
well meilowed by tho Acme harrow and
| lay the rows three feet apart and apply
from six to eight hundred pounds of
good fertilizer to the acre. | would plant
| from to II inches apart and use the early
rose and early Ohio potato, cutting out and
planting but one eye to hill
"a good fertilizer would be 500 pounds of
dissolved bone ash, POO pounds Raenit 200
pounds of dried blood, 200 pounds dissolved
S. G. rock and 600 lbs. plaster Cultivate
we'll aud often"
A gentleman present from the State of
Maine, said, the only crop of potatoes raised
in his section was the early Rose planted
about the middle of May and harvested in
the fall. These are the potatoes used for
seed in the South, provided they can be
shipped before freezing weather. Alter
they arrive here they are sometimes stored
in places where they become heated, which
destroys their vitality, and causes many
failures and diSappointments in planting
them.
The critics reported the horses and cattle
of the host in average neighborhood condl-
ton. but thought that If his COWS were fed
more grain, it would be to his advantage.
The wheat was looking as well as could be
expected from rather late sowing; had I'M,
nroyed in appearance very much the past
few days. He had done considerable to,
ward clearing up the waste places, OF the
farm, and with large stock of health, en-
ergy, and pluck in reserve, they. would IN,
vite him to keep up and doing, for ne Whe
holds out the longest, receives the reward
The next meeting of the club will be held a.
Walter Walton's, March 10th. r
The Critical Committee are: w. Hunter, Jr,
w Blunt and L. Gillingham.
After supper, the members Of the club Jonee