Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-04-30
farmfrs' Column.
AL About Potatoes.

Years ago the potato crop was i'm
mense Huge bins in the cellar, OF
underground receptacles in the field
were necessary to store the produce OF
very few acres. The common crol
was 400 or 500 bushels per acre; ant
often it rose above that IA hundred
bushels or SO.
Now the average crop goes from 100
to $50 bushels, and more than this il
an extra good yield.
Years ago the potato could be re
lied upon from year to year as a sur,
keeper, good from the moment it Wa.
taken from the ground until new pota
toes came again.
Now we hear constant complaints as
to the loss by rot, and the quality is 3
subject Of constant suspicion, especi-
ally after lying during the winter.
Does the blistering scab destroy al
once their quality?
The late Rose has held its place for
some time; but what are we to do DOW
that the ''red lines" are destroying the
late Rose quality? How many ques-
lions press upon US in connection with
the potato; for it is one of the grear
staple articles of the worlds food.
Undoubtedly the condition Of the
soil accoupt for the diminished crop.
We hear occasionally now of large
yields on newly cleared lands, where
the hard wood forest has been cleared
away, and the brush burned. But the
potato elements have been eliminated
from the soil so generally, that We
cannot expect again the quantities OF
other years.
The rot ha. come from the same
cause, the want Of some element in
the soil that shall give hsalthfulness
to the entire plant aud furnish the
tuber with every element needed to
perfect its keeping qualities.
Much room remains for the work OF
science here. All the professors a,
our Experimental Stations and Agri-
cultural Colleges seem thus far in the
dark. Their practical experiments
and tests Of perfect fertilizers have
proved but little more than that the
work is still inviting them. If they
will concentrate their attention Oh
this subject, however, we may expect
solution IN time.
Meanwhile we want TO learn of the
coming potato, to take the place of
the Rose. Many potatoes are on the
market, but they are generally prolific
only in certain localities. Some of
them lose their best characteristics on
the table, if not grown in a peculiar
soil. The Rose. like its many popu-
lar predecessors, has received its death
blow; and already its quality as first
class is gone. 1t breaks to pieces be-
fore it is sufficiently cooked, and has
hard, soggy places in it. Whoever
can give us potato which will open
like flour on the plate, white aud
meaiy, OF good flavor. medium sized,
fairly prolific, adapted to all local.
ties, and good range of soils, will
prove to De no small beneiactor to his
countrymen.
In other lands the poto has been at
the base of some OF the grayest politi-
cal troubles, aud forced upon govern
ments questions which have involved
the most serious issues of peace or an
archy. A good crop of potatoes mod
ifiss considerably the urgency Of the
Irish question; while its failure means
famine and fury. We trust, however,
it will hold no such powers IN our
land; still We hail most heartily the
incoming of the best potato, the ideal
potato Of the future Nwy7aHd Far
naer, for April.