Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-05
THEORY THAT POTATOES MIX IN
THE HILL.

fhC TILL.
PROPAGATION FROM sCioNs OR BUDS
DO NOT MIX. RUSTY TOOLS Run
HARD. soil FOR TOMATOES.
The theory IL still believed by some
farmers that potatoes mix In the hill, y
as IL Is termed. never heard man
say that he could cause such mixture by
intent, or that he could explain the
philosophy Of the occurrence. The
claim, believe, Is that the new potatoes
are not always like the parent potato
planted. bot may resemble more or less
some other variety that may be growing
near. and that the variation WAS caused
by the association Of the different
varieties.
When II can be proved that jet black
hair on q mans head is liable TO turn RED
by working At a bench or In the field
with a red-haired man, or that blue and
black eyes Can exchange color by such
association, then will believe that po-
stoes OF a certain variety viii produce
tubers unlike themselves IN consequence
uf similar association. Potatoes as
usually grown are the result OF simple
bud-development. There Is no seed
planted. What we call seed, the tuber
planted, either whole or cut in pieces, Is,
ootsnically speaking, a scion or the
BUD of A SCION.
The new growth OF vine, leaf and tuber
is simply an extension Of individual
growth Of the potato OF piece OF potato
planted. II IL WAS an early white Va
riety planted. the new crop could not be
a late red one, more than could scion
from Porter apple tree bear late red
BSldwins.
When rose bushes or grape vines are
by LAYERS or cuttings, the
new plants are but extensions OF the
grow IN OF the original bush or vine from
which the layers or cuttings were taken.
IL the new plants are placed under more
favorable conditions as TO soil and locs-
tiou the results may be more satisfactory,
but ss no new blood or new Characters
ties have been introduced, there can be-
no blood or variety changes.
Every plant produced from seed must
carry, yisibly or otherwise, Characters
ties belonging 10 two distinct individuals,
except in cases of self fertilization, which
sre comparatively rare. Plants grown
from seed show a great deal OF evidence
Of mixing In the hill
CORN SHOWS 1T
frequently the same year the seed is
produced. and some claim that the In
fluenee Is noticeab in the straw berry the
first year in the size or quality of the
fruit
Plants or species of plants vary con-
siderably In the tixedness or stability OF
character. | once believed that two or
more scions or buds from tree or vine
would each surely produce new plants
exactly like the parent plant from which
they we're taken. As a rule this Is true,
but there may be exceptions. The buds
of tree have Individual characteristics.
Some are at the tip Of twig and are
strong and full Of vigor, while others are
small and feeble.
A bud or scion taken from the inside
of a tree, where the growth Is much
wea 4. ned by dense shade, would be like
ly tn lack vigor when transferred 10 u
new stock. 10 buds of trees may vary
in their ability to produce new growth,
why may not two potato buds or two
pOtatOe- from the same vine not vary In
value for planting: Men have long
known that species OF grain can be i'm
proved by careful annual selections OF
the best seed for sowing. Not necesssri-
lv by selecting the plumpest kernels, but
by tskiug seed from the most prolific
plants. Every observing farmer knows
that there il always marked difference
in the character OF the yield OF different
hills In a potato field, differences that
cannot be accounted for by variation In
soil or culture.
An OCCASIONAL HILL
may De found containing ten or dozen
smooth tubers Of uniform market size,
while Others near oy will show few large
ones. but perhaps large number too
small for table use. A few farmers
noticing these differences have made a
prsctice of selecting tuoers 10 plant from
these best Welding hills, and more would
do so were il generally believed that
such selection would pay for the work.
For those who make potatoes lesdiug
erop. believe that such care would pay
aud pay well. il followed for number
OF wears. Straw berries are propagated
chiefly by runners, but not all runners
from the same plant are equally Vaius-
Die for planting out for new bed
There are runts among plants as among
~uimsls. and they are not wise who use
either for propagation. There Is con-
slant complaint that varieties run out
after A few wears. Most Of this Is doubt
les due 10 csrelessDess in the selection
OF material for propagation. Among
POTATOES the mixing is In the bin rather
than in the hill.
CARE or FARM IMPLEMENTS.
When YOU get through using plow
cultiystor. shovel, hoe, fork or Other
farm implement, wipe it clean before the
dirt dries on. IL IL is not 10 be used
soon. i, should be finished of with liz
tie oil or grease on the cloth. Rust al
WAYS makes tools run hard. Aplow lefl
In the furrow, in some soils, while you
90 to dinner. will have the surface OF the
mouldboard tarnished enough TO make u
hold 10 the soil. IL is only the polished
mouldboard that will run easily and turn
the turrO" pfiitetS'
TOMATO PLANTS.
MANY persons fail every year VIII
their tomatoes BY setting the plants In
unsuitable situations. The tomato Is
plant that needs long season TO mature
its fruit. All paying plants are startet
In the house or in hotbeds in the spring
70 give them a longer season than wouie
:. possible were the seed planted in tn
open ground. Ii is rarely that opel
ground planting gives more than
Cluster or two of ripe fruit before iros
kills the vines. IL the plants are set it IL
rich, damp soil, there is a tendency q e
.rox vine and leaf, but little fruit. Ii
syerage seasons dry knoll, not very
rich. hur With little well-rotted msnur'
x..ii u ,ha hill will give the hes