Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-24

L. Y : -.
We have repeatedly urged readers of the
Farmer to start few potatoes in the spring,
to fill the usual gap between the old and new
crop, and every farmers wife knows what
that means. 1t generally means poor, wilted,
unpalatable old potatoes from the last OF June
until about the first Of August prehaps just
when the family Is larger than at any other
season of the year, for many farmers hire ex-
ira help in July to secure the hay and grain
crops, who get along without hiring at other
times. Potatoes have come to be q necessity
with many families once or twice a day. all
the year round, and with such il viii pay to
take little.extra pains TO have good ones at
all times. The old crop can be kept good
for long time by repeated pouring from
barrel to barrel, or from basket to basket, to
bruise or break of the sprouts as they push.
II the tubers can be kept from growing, they
will retain their good qualities for table use a
long time, and weekly handling will accom-
plish this IN o measure, at least But then il
is such q simple matter TO raise q bushel or
two of new potatoes early in the season, to be
dug just before the regularly planted crop is
1T TO dig tH@5 Aa .-7
Last March we set q single milk pan in
the sunniest window in our library, and GOV.
cred the bottom with a single tier of small
sized potatoes with the seed end up, as CLOSE
~ togsthef as they would pack. They re-
manned there undistnfbed, day aud night, IN
Ill the 18th Of April, when they had turned
a very dark green, almost black, and the up
per buds had swelled into short, strong
sprouts with miniature leaves at the top, and
little suggestions Of roots at the bottom, next
to the skin Of the potato. They were then
carefully taken 70 The garden in the pan, and
the largest wore cut In halves and planted,
the smaller ones whole, in we'll prepared soil,
in the warmest corner OF the garden. Set.
ting the pieces In place, and drawing the soil
carefully over them seemed almost na much
like setting OUT plants as like planting, as
that term Is usually understood. The pota-
toes were up" Immediately, and every freez-
ing night We aimed TO draw just enough earth
over the sproRie 70 preserve them, but they
got slightlg froat. hitten two or three times
dqring April and the early part Of May.
One night the ground froze an inch deep,
but it did very little harm, az most of the
shoots we're veil covered. The plants grew
at bottom and top every warm day, and held
what they made during the cold spells, and
the result Is, that We began digging for the
table the first day Of July, with the vines
turning yellow with age. At this writing,
the seventh Of July, the vines are dying fast
and with an occasional hill entirely dead.
Nearly all early potatoes might be grown
from seed aprouted in the cellar, il sufficient
care Wefs taken not 70 brniAs the sprouts in
handling, but they are very tender, and
bruise from very slight rough handling.
For the main crOp, all this fuaslng is unneo-
essary, and would not pay, but for getting
few early potatoes Tor snp plying he table In
July, It will pay to set few quarts of aeed
in light, warm room, in early spring TO be
handled with care, and "set OUT as one
would set out little onions for the early crop
N. 10. Farmer. - fea F