The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-08-31
POTATO DIGGING.
How nm Extensive south jersey
Grower Handles His Crop.

Grower Handles His Crop.
Nh lica Hill, y. J.. is said to be the
greatest little potato market in the
country. The farmers shipping from
that station raise large crops of early
potatoes. and digging time makes live
ly business all through that section.
A short time ago Rural New Yorker
representative went down there to see
how the potatoes were dug and han
died. On Mr. Atkinson's farm digging
was in rapid progress. The only dig
ger at work was a potato pillow with
prongs at the side. This threw the
potatoes out fairly well, but did not
separate them from the vines. 1t was
necessary to harrow after the potatoes
in sight had been picked up. This
harrow brought UP 81 worth or more
of potatoes to the acre. Mr.. Atkinson
has tried all the cheaper potato dig
gers and says that he has found moth
ing equal to the pillow with side prOngs.
Many diggers are made with a stand
ard in the center, throwing the soil
anu Nihto bOAH hds AAtoI w hot
work well In south Jersey. The center
standard is sure to clog SO that the
potatoes will not be thrown out The
true principle is a share or scoop with
no center standard or a pillow at one
side to throw the soil in one direction.
Mr.. Atkinson does not want a digger
which takes every other row. A dig
ger to suit him must take one row
after another and leave the potatoes
on top of the ground in narrow row.
The fayorite digger through this sec
ton is the old fashioned Pruyn. This
scoops down under the tubers, runs
them up over the revolving separator
and drops them on top Of the ground
behind. This digger works to perfec
ton in south Jersey, where the soil is
light and the potatoes are planted
about three inches deep. In other sec
tons, however, the digger proved a
failure and it is said that hundreds of
them are scattered through the coun-
try, resting in fence corners or in other
places, where they are rapidly turning
into old junk. The company that man
ufactured them has gone out of bust
ness, and even the molds from which
the castings were made have been de-
stroyed. Mr.. Atkinson has used up
three Of these diggers.
There WAS one old veteran reposing
among the weeds in the barnyard. coy
cred with rust and supposed TO be out
of commission. la order to show how il
operated Mr.. Atkinson oiled it up,
hitcbed on to it and drove to the pota-
to field. 1t was still and rusty and the
draft was heavy, but it threw out the
potatoes and left them properly on top
of the ground. Tie south Jersey farm
ers still believe that the Pruyn is bet
ter suited 10 their peculiar conditions
than any other.
The plan Of operation on this farm is
to start the digger ahead, throwing out
perhaps eight or ten rows. Peach
baskets are scattered along the rows at
intervals, and the pickers follow. They
make two sizes, the larger potatoes GO
ing as firsts and the second larger by
themselves. Usually the very small
potatoes are left on the ground, az
there is no particular sale for them.
Mr.. Atkinson has about ten Italians
working in the potato field. and they
pick up the third size. They are pick
ing at cents basket, and it pays to
have them make three sizes. as other
wise they would throw in too many
small potatoes with the others. AS the
baskets are filled. bunch of vines is
thrown over the top to protect them
from the sun. The wagon with high
rack is driven through the field and the
baskets are packed in it.
They are driven directly to the sta
ton, where the barrelers stand on the
platform and fill their barrels directly
from the baskets, taking out any very
small tubers that may have gone in by
mistake. The barrels are filled and
heaped up, well shaken down and the
top covered with a piece of sacking
with the upper hoop driven down over
| 1t. These growers use the peach bas-
ket almost entirely. as this package
suits them better than any other. They
/ have tried the square crate often de-
scribed by potato growers in other
sections. but they rejected 1t in favor
of the basket. as this Is lighter and
easier to handle.