The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-08-31
E. A. Drown. Barre. Vt
vINELEss POTATOES.
westerner Tells Of a wonderful Achieve
ment.

@ANANe
w. d. Darst, who up to six years ago
was a resident Of Chicago well known BY
many persons, informs friends here that
he has made a discovery which promises
not only to bring him a Rockefeller for
tune, but to revolutionize the method
Of production Of potatoes the world over,
The inventor OF this marvellous pro-
cess as a cook by occupation, and at this
time resides at 215 Eighth st. South,
Great Falls, Mont. Those whom he has
admitted to his confidence in this matter
aver that he is q man fully worthy of
eredenee as to whatever lie seriously as
serts.
In brief, Darst's claim is that he has
perfected a process by which an indef-
mite quantity Of potatoes may be forced
to grow on any tract of ground at a
cost not exceeding 50 a ton. He asserts
that he can easily raise 10000 bushels
of potatoes to the acre every 60 days,
and that he is satisfied that a much
greater yield can be secured.
Something concerning the experiment
has heretofore been made public, but
Mr.. Darst has refused to permit his
name TO be used. He now declares that
he has been notified by the United Sta
ties Patent Office that his application for
patents has been approved, and he says
that as soon as patents have been receiv-
ed he will reveal his secret and viii DEM
onstrate to the public that he is telling
the truth.
1t is half a dozen years since Darst
became a resident of Montana. He was
employed in Helena for more than three
wears, and about two and one-half years
ago went to Great Falls as chef at the
Hotel Grand. He recently gave up his
position and has been devoting all his
time to gardening and to perfecting his
potato raising process, it being his de-
sign to raise potatoes entirely under
ground, without permitting any sprout
or vine to appear above the surface. He
claims he has done this, and that he can
cause potatoes to grow wholly under
ground, one layer Of potatoes on top Of
another
He says he has caused potatoes tc
grow in this way with layers to a depth
Of is feet, in which depth there would b.
enough layers to produce 10000 bushel:
| of potatoes to the acre, and he declares
there is no reason why they should moi
II
be planted to a much greater depth, witt
corresponding increase in the yield o.
Ian acre
Darst declares the secret lies in Thu
composition Of preparation that takes
the place Of soil 1t is upon this mix
ture that he claims to have secured 3
patent He says that layer of this
mixture, three OF four inches deep, may
be placed in d box with eyes Of potatoes
on this first layer may be placed another
| layer Of the mixture, with potato eyes
scattered through it, and SO on until the
box has been filed. Then the mixture
| may be heated, he declares, and growth
Of potatoes will commence and progress
rapidly in each Of the numerous layers
He claims that all that is necessary is To
keep the mixture at growing temper.
allure and to water it every two weeks
and within 60 days dfrom the time Of
planting the eyes there will be croI
of perfect potatoes in each layer Of the
box, all the tubers being about the size
of hens egg. All this, he claims, vii
result without vine or sprout appear.
\ ing above the surface.
In his experiment Darst has heated the
contents OF his box by means of a steam
coil, but he declares this is unnecessary