The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-08


hcation, but as an evidence of good faith.
Potatoes Raised on Bet
E. S. Carman, editor of the Rural Ne,C
Yorker, conducts an experimental farm in
the interest of his paper at River Edge, N.
j. Here, saws the New York sun, he has
grown and tested all manner of farm crops
and garden plants, and conducted many ex-
perlments in the way of different methods
of cultivation. OF recent years he has OBJ
tanned unusually large yields of potatoes by
a method Of culture now known as the
French system, and all of these large crops
have been grown on special plot of land
which has been cropped with potatoes every
wear for the past twelve years. Last winter
Mr.. Carman wagered 500 that he would
raise 20 atoes this season, on a
part Of this special plot of
ground, at the rate of more than 700 bushels
to the acre, let the season be favorable or
unfavorable This was done to show tho
possibilities of profitable potato culture by
the French system, and it's superiority
over the ordinary method now practised by
farmers.
Journal, of Philadelphia, accepted the
wager for $50, the loser to pay the money
to some charity to be named by the judges
The contest plot of land is level and the soil
loamy, inclined to clayeY, very good, ap-
parently, and well drained. During the
past twelve years it has received occasional
blessings of barnyard manure, averaging
about four tons year per acre; also liberal
supplies of potato fertilizer" say at the
rate of 200 pounds per acre year. Now
and again lime, kainit. rawbone flour, and
wood ashes in limited quantity have also
been applied.
In the French system the drills are opened
in the form of trenches Is inches wide, and
not in the way Of simple burrows, as we
usually prepare ground for potato plant
Ing In this case the trenches are opened Is
inches wide and inches deep and feet
apart measuring from middle to middle
Potato fertilizer, at the rate of $50 lbs. to
the acre, was then strewn in the bottom of
the trenches, about inches deep of loose
soil drawn in ovAr this, and all mixed to-
gether by drawing a Hexamer hoe along
in the trench. The potato sets were
of soil was drawn in over the sets, and po-
tato fertilizer, at the rate of $50 lbs to the
acre. strewd over this and mixed as before
Also powdered sulphur, at the rate of 440
lbs. to the acre, was sown in the trenches,
which were then filed up level. The sui.
phur was used as prevention against wire
worm, which, Mr.. Carman asserts, is the
cause Of scab on the potatoes in the soil.
The sets were mostly medium-sized pota-
toes cut in halves, each half having two or
three good eyes. Summer care consisted in
keeping the ground clean. The drills were
not hilled up, but kept level. Shallow cul-
tlyation was practiced. Paris green and
plaster we're used against the potato beetle
Mr. Carman's theory about these trenches
is that they conserve moisture and supply a
Welding medium in which the tubers form
and grow with little resistance, while the
roots may penetrate at will the more COM
pact soil between the trenches Again, the
rain penetrates the trenches readily, and is
not shed to either side as in the old system
of killing up. The water goes at once to
where it is most needed.
The contest plot was planted on April 20.
man himself, and numbered respectfully 2,
8, and 4, were grown. These were set out
in rows SO feet long. OF No. only one
row was planted, and of Nos. g. and 4 two
rows Of each were planted, the five rows in
all making one lightweight part of an
acre, or one row the four hundred and
fortieth part of an acre, and SO the crop
was computed. The potatoes were dug yes
terday in presence of a committee of re-
sponsible gentlemen and expert judges.
who measured the land and weighed the
tubers as they were dug, allowing 60 pounds
to the bushel. The row No. 2 yielded at the
enormous rate of 1,076 bushels per acre. one
row of the No. 3 at the rate of 29S, and the
other row of the rate of 253 bushels per
acre, and one row of No. produced at the
rate of 6S3, and the other at the rate Of Cos
bushels per acre. or all FIVE combined at the
rate of $50 bushels Of potatoes per acre. So
Mr.. Carman lost his wager.
This shortcomipg, however, is partly at
tributable to the lateness Of the spring,
caused by the long continuance of the snow
OF. the blizzard on the ground, the cold, wet
May, and an unprecedentedly severe attack
of cucumber flea beetles upon the potato
vines in July and August, the vines of No.
having been completely killed by this in
sect pest as early as Aug l, Mr.. Car
man has used Paris green extended with
plaster, hellebore and water, buchach pow
der aud water, and Gishurst compound as
insecticides in the case of these cucumber
flea beetles, but without the least apparent
benefit.
Take Care of the Pigs.