Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-02-02
Maine Farmer
HOW SHALL VIZ GROW PorAroEs'
srsL moLsRooE

Thl. 1. an importsn, qass,Ion Tor The
farmers OF Maine 10 false. Oar State not
Only IA. become famous fof her good sni
fast horses aud her noble oxen. bat she
IA. a wonderful fspauaiiou for the qaali'y
az her poiatOrs such l. our reputation
for ralsing good merchsntabie Potatoes aud
:, great 4. th- demand fof Msius potatoes,
th.t for years 10 cone sppr,hsui that
potatoes will be our leading crop, hay sx
cspted.
A f.s years ago 10 Was thought snf also
p,r.ch-i. ~ some Of oar best farmers that
% ,tato-. we're very exhaustive crop, aud
InAt the growing of them la large qianu'
tl.s should h. discouraged. Then oar So
loo. saw - through glass dimls; now,
by th~ light % science, We see things In
dir,rrnt way We nai not only by SCI
.uc-. Dot by practice. that POTATOES are no
more exhaustive - the soil than the ee-
rr.is. especially when grown unier -ys.
TEN OF rotation. The numDer OF acres OF
p,t.ts-- planted In Msins snuuslly 1.
.,,ut 20 OOO acres. aud Ne harvest aboui
90 OOO bushels. or grow them Al the rate
al ia Da.hrl. 70 tie scr-. This Il &C.
coraiug - the census OF l,s0. or course,
our nsighbOrs la Aroo-took County do
better than that. bat think this f.lr es'
timAie Ia the older counties.
Now here IL chance for improvement.
We shOald not be satisfied with ilt bash
els 10 the Acrs, neither with lJO bushels
but should aim 10 grt the largest amoaui.
Tue growing OF crops l. like the feeding oi
our domestic animals, II is the last poani
OF the last quart that pays Aud TIE qles'
tlou resolves itself into this, how can We
grow then successfully IL IL my oplnion
that The Early Rose or the Hebron. or those
that are closely related 10 them. rtqairs
more careful cultivation than other vsrle'
tls- dki years ago. That l.. yOu need not
expect large yield under sliPshod sys'
ten.
My systsm OF farming is mixed hus.
bsniry, and SO the raising OF potatues
claims Q part OF my attention. and my ei'
forts In that direction have been qnite sat
lsfactOry, and FOR the benedt OF your M.
m-roa- readers I will give my method.
will take land that IL under fair state oi
cultivation, and plough IL this fall, s..
ahOut seven inches deep. Next spring.
sc, 1 will apply 800 pounds OF phosphate
to the acre aud SOW with mixed grain.
AMER the grain IL taken on, plough the
land an inch deeper than the rrs, time.
10 the spring, 81, plough again. and spread
ou the surfsee rve cords OF manure. Tnen
harrow thorough; then l take large plow,
put on two horses aud fafrow deep by go
ing twice iu q furrow. Then drop rse
cords Of manure la the hill two feet sp.rt
Then drop directly on to the manure 5O0
pounds OF phosphate 10 the scre. and cov.r
the whole slightly. Drop the potato and
cover with q horse hoe. Aud when dous
4 have q level surface. and the seed will
be covered 1ye or slx inches deep, which
elslm is highly beneficial. by plsntlng
deep We get more strong and healthy
plant. and also it IL we'll known that tu'
Der. that grow deep are not 50 liable To rot,
a. the disease frst attacks the tops and
the spores 20 down 20 the tubefs, and
cons. qusntly those POTATOES that are neat
the surface viii sufr the most For seed
like . m-dium-siEsi potstoi cut on ths
seed end and plant the rect OF tbs
potato. I never plant my own seed mof'
Than two years. a. think 10 amply pays
IN change se-d. THIS opinion IL based on
ls years Of close observation.
As soou ss the potatoes are all up,
start The cultivstor, going over the neld
ouce. twice II the ground IL weedy. whsd
slx OF eight inches high. pat on the hors'
hoe, and by the help Of one man can bo'
ope acre in day. This noishss hoeins
untli the last OF July. when 60 over ths
Geld with the hand hoe. and cut up a.