The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-28

cr a,a Tho Ground looked solid but when
7 drove on with a team and piow. the
horses went down In muh 10 tnelr knees
and the plow rolled UP mud marbles as
big as a pumpkin. l got out a. the other
side OF the patch. but didnt make any
more burrows. The GROUND was soiih
enough 10 bear me up IN most placer.
The season was Wen du'dhceu' anu 4
feared more rain.
rho NEXT morning took my hand hoe.
and keeping as near IN "A straight line
as I could I took out hoeful OF mud
e,,sr,, 70 mr. Il inches. When across the
LIT turned and made another row OF
holes hack 10 the place Of beginning
Then I dropped piece OF potato IN each
hole. then took the hoe ana pulled the
mud back over the seed piece / kept TINS
I'D TIN MAY 3. when I had the wtoie patch
planted. II was certainly SLOW way OF
planting potatoes. but IL was not eAac1-
IN tirne lost. for II vas too wet to do any
thing else. As soon as planted. fertilizer
,ras acafforsd along the rows. IL happen
cd that there was a lull in the wetness.
II only raincd a light shower ana was
fair weather again. on May = II was dry
enough 10 plow a piece Of ground lying
alongside the piece planted. that had not
been ploWed since 1872. This piece broke
I'D I'm very fair condition AMI was planted
at once Fertilizer was scattered in the
burrows. Then the wet weather set IN
again. and IL raincd, ana ralnedi AFTER
wards the dry weather came. and II dried.
and driedi But tho after fertliZing and
cultivatinR were the same for each plot
A. digging time II was not convenient
fo make exact weights or measures. The
crop was not a large one but there were
potatoes enough to make them profitable
and there were more tubers OF market
able size I'm the mud patch than ia the
dry patch This may be said 10 have ocen
an accidental experience. but II satisfied
me that a dry. friable seed bed IS not al
WAYS sure 10 be a success; and that mud
and packed groi I'd DO not In every in
stance mean failura-theories and prize
ESSAYS TO the contrary notwithstanding.
/ determined 20 make a real experiment.
In the fall OF 1898, a piece OF land was
| plowed i'm the field where l intended 10
plant potatoes the following spring. NJ
/ planting time piece was Dlo"ed on
/ each side Of this. and while the soil was
fresh and mellow. the potatoes were
| planted. The fall plOwed piece was FUR
! rOWcI without rcplowing, and planted al
! tho same time. This ground had all been
| used for POTATOES, beans. tomatoes. etc
! the previous season. The fertilizing, cul-
! fivating. bug picking, etc, were exactly
.he same for ALL / dug these potatoes
measuring them all IN the same basket
! filled tho basket each time alike. and
begun each row with the basket empty
The lows we're Of the same length. ] car
say positively that there vas no more
| difference in the quantity dug from rows
/ of the different plots, than in the quaint
~ dug from rows OF the same plot. As
! 20 size. appearance and quality. ! defy
| any one TO tell them apart. Tn short. Tho
! fall-plowod ground produced crop equa
/ I'm every respect 90 the crop from tu'
| spring-plowed ground. The season wa'
] very unfavorable. so that the crop did no
/ exceed $50 bushels per acre.
40 doubt different soils. seasons an'
/ conditions require different treatment
but one thing is certain Every one who
has worked Heavy clay land knows tina
a good soaking rain in early spring WI
make it Just as hard as before II wa
plowed. Now let potatoes be plante'
when the ground Is In as good condition
as "a possible 10 have II. Let heav'
rain come a few DAYS after. Tho groun'
runs together and forms a solid mas
about the seed pieces Can any one tel
why those potatoes will gro~ better thal
II they had been planted IN soil alread
compacted? II -hey will not, then 10 "
not waste time. In wet seasons, Wnel
time is precious. IN trying 20 get land d
what is considered good condition 10
nlanting2 Does not success. 80 FAR as IN
mechanical condition Of the soil is cor
cerned, depend wholly on cultivation
Ia any one cure that he knows just nov
20 raise potatoes?