Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-03
THE FARM.
IMPORTATION UPON AGRfCULT-
URG AND HORTICULTURE.
Best Method of Planting Potatoes
Alfalfa and Straw Mixed
Other Topics and Notes.

The Petaiuma Courier has the following
upon potato growing:
Frank W. Lewis. who is farming in Two Rock
valley, in this county, brought to town last Sat-
urday some Of the largest and best-iooking Irish
potatoes of the red or Bodega variety that we
have seen this year. One of them weighed two
and three iourths pounds, and they were all
large, merchantable potatoes aud had the best
color OF any reds we have seen this season. AS
an experiment, MIR. Lewis planted half an acre
this season, using the whole potato for seed in
stead of cutting it rs usual The result was
sixty-five sacks of large, merchantable potatoes
and at least twice the quantity he raised on
other parts of his 45-acre farm from cut seed
and of far superior quality. He says the vines
were healthier, kept green longer appeared
more thrifty, and yielded at the rate of 1870
sacks TO the acre, while the rest of his field of
equal richness only turned out 40 sacks of tub
ers, much inferior in size and color to the half
acre raised from tue whole potatoes planted as
seed. He viii next year plant whole pota' oes
in hills, from three and onehalf to four feet
apart, and anticipates the most satisfactory re-
suits He says it makes no difference as TO the
size OF the tubers you plant, provided you plant
the whole potato without cutting.
The last statement of the above will be
found sadly at fault in principle. 1t does
make difference what sized potatoes are
planted, and persons who have not only
experimental, but had much experience,
know it very well. 1t is not because the
potato is planted 10h0le that makes the
favorable difference which Mr.. Lewis has
discovered, but the strength of the tuber
and its ability to retain its organic force to
be drawn upon in the shape of vitality and
moisture during the early growth of the
new plant. Under fair test it will be
found that one-half of a large potato will
produce nearly as good vine as whole
potato of the size of the half. OF course,
when the tuher is not cut in two its
Juices are better protected, and il
Will generally remain in the ground
without deterioration, longer than when
cut. Were it not for this fact, the half
would produce just as good results as a
whole one, containing only the same
amount of solid contents as the half 1t is
the amount of the tuber, therefore, which is
planted. and not the fact that it is uncut,
which gives strength to the new vine This
is demonstrated by the fact that large
tuber will produce a much stronger vine.
as general rule, than another whole one,
but small in size. Mr.. Lewis, although re-
ported as stating to the contrary of this,
Will find his error by further experience as
1t has long been among the ascertained
/.
and it is not to be presumed that even the
glorious climate of California will re-
verse SO plain principle of plant growth.
GOOD HAY OUT OF STRAW.
The Colusa SIN has the following:
The Sum- for the last six years. has been irving
to get some one to stack straw with an alternate
layer of alfalfa. fresh cut aud not allowed to
cure at all. John Boggs informs us that he
stacked in barn last year well cured hay with
an alternate layer OF freshly cut alfalfa, and
that 1t worked like charm. Horses eat up
every scrap of it. All the aroma of the alfalfa
is retained Amos Roberts informed US also
OF dairyman III one of the Bay counties, who
tired 1t last year with straw, and he says it is
better than green alfalfa. as there is no danger
from COWS eating it. They eat the straw up
! clean. This gentleman does not pasture his
alfalfa, as he finds it more profitable to feed il
in this way. An acre of alfalfa will feed more
than double as much stock by cutting it and
stacking it with straw MS it will to pasture. We
are glad that the experiment is being tried. and
thit we can announce Its success. The follow
ing of this plan will create immense wealth.
All the straw now burned can be made as good
as the best hay.
This is matter of the utmost import
ance TO farmers and the State, for if the
straw, which has heretofore been burned OF
permitted to go TO waste, can be thus util-
lied and made available as good hay, il
will not only increase the marketable pro
ducts Of the farm, but double the capacity
of the State for cattle growing, and this
as the San well says-means immense
wealth. OF course it is not all sections OF
the State that can produce alfalfa without
the aid of irrigation, but if the plan OF
mixed food be established as successful, il
would well repay farmers upon uplands to
go to considerable expense, if need be, to
irrigate if but very few acres, to enable
them to raise sufficient alfalfa to thus con-
vert their straw stacks into good merchant
able hay, either for purpose of sale or tc
enable the keeping of a largely increased
herd of stock Let the matter have a gen
eral trial
A MoAT FOR THE BUGS.
r NJ Ta1ono tho b1s-oloris+ ovl,;L;+e an,