The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-12-11
THE Farm.
POTATO GROWING.
Manures and Their Application.

tracts from another chapter of T. B..
Terry's little book GU Potatoes. The
farmers may profit by studying the ex-
perience of master on the subject.
Mr.. Terry says:
On my farm, the best returns, on
the average, come from using rotten
stable manure, or compost, rotted in
such way as to lose as little as posi-
BILE of the valuable ingredients from
teaching or evaporation, and applying
it in the fall. If it is sod ground, no
more need be done to it than to spread
it evenly with a manure spreader, and
let it lie till spring. If it is spread by
hand it will lie we'll to harrow or brush.
1t until the Jumps are all pulverized
If it is spread on stubble ground it will
pay to harrow or cultivate it into the
soil, as then there will certainly be no
danger of loss by washing during the
winter. The rains and melting SHOWS
OF SIX months will work this manure
into the surface soil in the best possible
manner. You need fear no loss, even
on the sod ground, if the application is
made early enough so that two or three
soaking rains occur before the ground
freezes up. They will carry the most
of the fertility into the soil, where it is
safe. This we believe to be the very
best way Of applying manure for the
patato crop. In the spring, before you
pillow, give the surface of the stubble
land good cultivating and narrowing 3;
and then when you turn it over you
put this mellow soil, saturated
with manure water, and mixed
with Fl; ely pulvelizel manur, dow n
where the potato-roots naturally seek for
their food. Some crops, like corn, and
squashes and other vines, want the ma
nure just beneath the surface, as they
love warmth but potatoes want it down
where it is cool and moist
have not had as good results from
the application Of fresh manure in win
ter or spring, as rule in dry season
it has even seemed to be positive dam
age to the potato .,rop, although show.
ing very good effects, of course, on after
crops. La one instance we put on fresh
manure about the first of March, so that
there would be time for the rains to
soak it into the soil well before blowing.
1t happened to be worry wet season.,
and the result was perfectly satisfactory.
The potatoes planted were of an early
variety, but they seemed to get hold Of
the manure just before the time when
they ought to have died, and took new
lease of life, and perhaps did as we'll as
though rotten manure had been put on
the fall before. From six acres we sold
1918 bushels. If one could be sure OF
wet season this would be an excellent
way, as it is much less trouble but as
general rule, the good things of the
world do not come without considerable
trouble and the easiest way is not al
ways the most profitable. In 1881 we
had two lots, each one containing six
acres, in potatoes, except about half an
acre in one lot in squashes. The squash
es yielded just about the same per acre
as the potatoes. One of these lots was
MANFRED in the fall with rotten compost
which had been carefully managed so as
to prevent loss, and the compost was
worked into the soil the best we possibly
could. The other lot was MANFRED with
fresh manure, right from the stable, in
February and March. 1t was of good
quality, and no long straw in it. Both
lots were plowed and planted and cult
waited alike, and the same varieties of
potatoes were used for seed in each one.
Early in June we had good rain, and