Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-11-06
Characteristics of Potatoes.

Different kinds of potatoes vary wide
ly in their habits of growth, and these
must be understood if they are to be
grown with success. Some need to be
planted farther apart than others.
Some require deep planting, while 9TH
ers set their tubers at about the same
depth wherever the seed cutting may
be put. The old fashioned Peachblow
had wide-spreading roots. that pretty
fully occupied the soil from hill to hill,
If planted in rows three feet apart each
way. Most Of the newer kinds of pota-
toes, especially of the Rose family,
bunch their tubers all in a heap, MAX
ing them easily dug. With the Peach
blow it was nard to tell when all the po-
tatoes belonging to hill were secured.
If the earth were not piled up conicaIly
about the plant, then roots with large
tubers attached could often be found
foot from the hill, or even in the mid
die of the rows. The Peachblow also
usually set pretty deeply, while the
early Rose is apt to be sun-scslded or
greened, no matter how carefully the
earth is piled around the hill. In case
OF rot. the depth at which the tubers
naturally set is matter of much i'm
portance. The White Star and other
deep-settlng potatoes do not rot so
quickly as those which set at or Just be-
meath the surface. The spores of the
disease which causes rot fall from the
vines to the tubers, and in case of
heavy rains they are carried down to
those beneath. Often when digging po-
tatoes that were rotting badly, we have
found the only sound ones deep down
at the bottom of the hill.
A great difference exists among vari-
Gus sorts or potatoes in withstanding
moisture
thin-skinned, or rather tender skinned,
and rot easily. The late Beauty of He
bron and the late Rose are specimens of
this class. 1t is said that both these va
rieIies were originated by sports one
from the early Rose, and the other
from the early Beauty of Hebron.
They are very strong, rampant growers,
and in dry seasons will yield heavily,
but always ripen late. So far as our
experience goes, potatoes that are
equally vigorous and prolific, but which
originated rom the seed ball, are less
likely to rot than these two varieties.
The Peerless and the White Star came
from the seed, and are good keepers,
but the Monroe Seeding, which much
resembles the White Star, and is
thought by some to be only sport, rots
very badly. 1t grows more vigorous
ly than the White Star, and the
cause of it's poor keeping qualities may
be 1mmaturity, leaving its skin thinner,
and more liable to rub off in handling.
Whatever may be the cause, potatoes
that have been kept wet all summer are
difficult to save from rot in the fall.
This is especially true where the pota-
to blight came as the tubers were only
half grown, and kept them from matur-
ing. american Cultiuator.
Presenting Favorable Appearance.
In marketing anything much depends
upon looks. There is common OBJ
lection to putting the best side out that
1t is deceptive, but if the whole amount
is of good quality, no harm can come
from such deception. 1t is expected by
customers, and if no fraud is intended
none will be done. It is on this srcund
that we have favored the coloring of
butter. The improved appearance
makes good butter when colored taste
better than if not colored Most farm
ers on this ground color butter that is
used on their own table if made in win
ter, when the color is not good enough