The potato crop has never been as much attended to in this region as
in New York, and New England. We believe, however, that its value is
becoming apparent, and that potatoes will be produced to a much
greater extent than hitherto. Reserving some remarks of our own to a
future number, we insert the methods of cultivation, employed by
eminent cultivators.
SPURRIER’S METHOD OF CULTIVATION.—“Be careful,” says he, “to procure
some good sets; that is, to pick a quantity of the best kind of
potatoes perfectly sound and of a tolerably large size; these are to
be prepared for planting by cutting each root into two, three or more
pieces, minding particularly that each piece be furnished with at
least one or two eyes, which is sufficient. Being thus prepared, they
are to be planted in rows not less than eighteen inches distant: if
they are to be plowed between, they must not be less than three feet,
and if four feet apart the more eligible.
“The best method I have found by experience is to make a trench either
with the spade or plow, about five inches deep, and put long dung or
straw at the bottom, laying the sets on it at their proper distances,
which is from 9 to 12 inches apart, covering them with mold. They must
be kept clean from weeds.”
MR. KNIGHT’S PLAN.—“He recommends the planting of whole potatoes, and
those only which are of fine medium size—none to be of less weight
than four ounces. The early sorts, and, indeed, all which seldom
attain a greater height than two feet, are to be planted about four or
five inches apart in the rows, centre from centre, the crown ends
upward, the rows to be from 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet asunder. The
late potatoes, which produce a haulm above 3 feet in height, are to be
planted 5 or 6 inches apart, centre from centre, in rows 4 or 5 feet
asunder. The potatoes to point north and south and to be well
manured.”
MACKENZIE’S PLAN.—“Work the ground until it is completely reduced and
free from root weeds. Three plowings, with frequent harrowings and
rollings, are necessary in both cases, before the land is in a
suitable condition. When this is accomplished, form the drills; place
the manure in the drills, plant above it, reverse the drills for
covering it and the seed, then harrow the drills in length.
“It is not advantageous to cut the seed into small slips; for the
strength of the stem at the outset depends in direct proportion to the
vigor and power of the seed-plant. The seed-plant, therefore, ought to
be large, rarely smaller than the fourth part of the potato; and if
the seed is of small size, one half of the potato may be profitably
used. At all events, rather err in giving over large seed than in
making it too small; because, by the first error, no great loss can
ever be sustained; whereas, by the other, a feeble and late crop may
be the consequence. When the seed is properly cut, it requires from
ten to twelve hundred weight of potatoes, from 12½ to 15 bushels,
where the rows are at 27 inches distance; but this generally depends
greatly upon the size of the potatoes used; if they are large a
greater weight may be required; but the extra quality will be
abundantly repaid by the superiority of the crop, which large seed
usually produces. Plant early in May.”
BARNUM’S PLAN.—“Plow deep and pulverize well by thoroughly harrowing;
manure with compost, decomposed vegetables or barnyard manure; the
latter preferable. When coarse or raw manure is used it must be spread
and plowed in immediately. Stiff clay soil should always be plowed the
fall previous. Lay your land in drills 27 inches apart, with a small
plow, calculated for turning a deep, narrow furrow running north and
south; lay on the bottom of the drills 2 inches of well-rotted
barnyard manure, or its equivalent, then drop your potatoes, if of the
common size, or what is more important, if they retain the usual
quantity of eyes—if more, they should be cut to prevent too many
stalks shooting up together; put a single potato in the drills or
trenches 10 inches apart, the first should remain uncovered until the
second one is deposited, to place them diagonally in the drills, which
will afford more space between the potatoes one way, than if laid at
right angles in the rows. The covering may be performed with a hoe,
first hauling in the furrow raised on each side the drill, then
carefully take from the centre of the space the soil to finish the
covering to the depth of 3½ or 4 inches; by taking the earth from the
centre of the space on either side to the width of 3 inches, it will
leave a drain of 6 inches in the centre of the space and a hill of 14
inches in width gently descending from the drill to the drain, the
width and depth of the drill will be sufficient to protect the plant
against any injurious effects of a scorching sun or drenching rain.
The drains in the centre will at all times be found sufficient to pass
off the surplus water.
“When the plant makes its appearance above the surface, the following
mixture may be used: for each acre take 1 bushel of plaster and 2
bushels of good ashes, and sow it broadcast as even as possible; a
moist day is preferable for this operation—for want of it, a still
evening will do.
“The operation of hilling should be performed _once_ and _once only_
during the season; if repeated after the potatoe is formed it will
cause young shoots to spring up, which retards the growth of the
potatoe and diminishes its size. If weeds spring up at any time they
should be kept down by the hand or hoe, which can be done without
disturbing the growth of the stalk.
“My manner of _hoeing_ or _hilling_ is not to haul in the earth from
the space between the hills or rows, but to bring on fresh earth
sufficient to raise the hill around the plant 1½ or 2 inches; in a wet
season the lesser quantity will be sufficient, in a dry one the larger
will not be found too much. The substance for this purpose may consist
of the scrapings of ditches or filthy streets, or the earth from a
barnyard that requires levelling: where convenient, it may be taken
from swamps, marshes, the beds and banks of rivers or small sluggish
streams at low water. If planted on a clay soil, fresh loam taken at
any depth from the surface, even if it partakes largely of fine sand,
will be found an excellent top-dressing. If planted on a loamy soil,
the earth taken from clay pits, clay or slaty soil will answer a
valuable purpose; in fact, there are but few farms in the country but
what may be furnished with some suitable substance for top-dressing,
if sought for. The hoeing and hilling may be performed with facility
by the aid of a horse and cart, the horse travelling in the centre of
a space between the drills, the cart-wheels occupying the two
adjoining ones, thereby avoiding any disturbance or injury to the
growing plants.”
Mr. Barnum’s method has attracted great attention, from the fact that
he actually raised from 1,000 to 1,500 bushels of potatoes to the
acre! When this was first published it was received with great
incredulity; calls were made for the method of cultivation, which drew
forth an elaborate article from Mr. B., of which the above is but a
morsel. It afterward was stated, and the most authentic and
unquestionable evidence adduced in proof, that Mr. Barnum raised, upon
experiment, _at the rate_ of more than 3,000 bushels to the acre. Now,
although the labor and the great amount of seed required would prevent
the cultivation of many acres of land thus, yet it is worth a trial in
a small way; and if one acre can be made to produce 1,000 bushels, it
will be as much as is usually dug from _five_ acres; and it is
questionable whether the labor and seed for five acres are not more
than that required by Mr. B.’s method for one.
MR. A. ROBINSON’S PLAN.—He says: “If I plant low ground, I plow my
ground in beds in a different direction for the water to drain off,
then harrow lengthwise of the furrows and small lands; having a number
of them, side and side, I take a light, sharp horse-harrow, and harrow
crosswise of the beds, which pulverizes the ground and fits it well
for planting, leaving a small space between the rows, which answers
for two purposes, one for a guide for the rows for dropping: this is
done by dropping in the middle of the tracks of the harrow, which is
easily and correctly performed, by any small boy. It also serves
completely to fill up all cracks or holes, the seed lying fair and
easy. I then drop my manure directly over the seed potatoes, and when
covered up, the seed is safe from inundation, by being some inches
above the surrounding surface: the seed lies warm under this manure,
the rains drain into the middle furrows; I plant three feet distance;
it takes the most of the surface that is pulverized to cover the
potatoes, and by the time they are twice well hoed, my hills are as I
want them to be. They naturally rise high above the surface in the
form of a sugar-loaf: this hill is to turn off heavy rains, and it
naturally keeps the potatoes from being too moist, and they are often
injured thereby. I have found that three feet each way is the most
proper distance to insure a good crop; I plant three common sized
potatoes in the hill; it is no use to cut them: if cut small, the
vines come up small and weak, grow fast and fall down.”
The following method we take from an able writer in the _Louisville
Journal_, signing himself “Grazier:”
“The ground selected for potatoes should be dry, where no
surface-water will rest. It should be rich; if not naturally so, it
must be made so by a sufficient quantity of good manure. It should be
plowed twice, and at least twelve inches deep. After the first
plowing, it should be harrowed and cross harrowed; and after the
second plowing, harrowed again, and if not very friable and free from
clods it should then be rolled. The mold cannot be too fine, as on the
depth of the plowing, and fineness of the earth, depend the _retention
of that moisture_ so indispensable to the health and maturing of all
bulbous roots in particular. The ground thus prepared, should then be
opened off in _drills_, three feet from the centre of one to the
centre of the other, and, if practicable, running north and south.
When opened, if manure is to be applied, it must then be hauled in
carts; the horse going down between the drills, the bed of the cart
will cover two drills, where the manure can be pulled out at
intervals, in quantity sufficient, not only for the two drills
described, but for one on each side in addition; all of which one
hand, following with a fork, can easily distribute and spread in the
four drills.
“This done, the ground is ready for the seed. I shall first describe
the whole of the cultivation and harvesting necessary, and then speak
of the seed and its preparation separately. The seed should be dropped
in the manure, twelve inches apart, and as quickly as a drill is
planted, the plow should follow and cover it in. The _double
mold-board_ plow, which is the proper implement for the business, will
cover two drills by going once up and once down the field; if the
single mold-board plow is used, it will of course cover but one drill
by the same operation. When your ground is thus gone over, your land
will all be in high drills, and can rest so for about one week, when
you must take a two-horse harrow, and harrow your drills _across_,
leaving your field as level as before your drills were opened. There
is no danger, as some would suppose, of disturbing your seed.
“In a few days, when you can see your plants distinctly above ground,
from one end of your drills to the other, you must take your one-horse
plow, and go up and down each drill, running the _land side_ of your
plow as close to the plant on each side as you safely can, throwing
the earth _away_ from it, which operation will leave your field in
raised drills between your plants. In a few days after this you take
your _double mold-board_ plow, and go down the centre of the blank
drills, covering all your plants nearly out of sight, observing as you
go along that the weight of earth is thrown _against_, and not _on_,
the plants. Then, in some days after, when your plants are well over
the top of your drills, take your scuffle, an implement not unlike
your cultivator in this country, and for which the cultivator can be
substituted, and go over your whole field between the drills, giving
the earth a good stirring, and not be afraid of encroaching a little
at each side on the drill. At this stage, a boy should follow the
scuffle, and pull up any weeds that appear on the top or sides of the
drills. In a few days after this, when your plants are strong and well
up, you go down the centre between the drills, with your _double
mold-board_ plow, the wings well apart, and throw the earth well up to
the plants. This must sometimes finish the cultivation, if the vines
have spread and are closed too much, but _generally_ the vines will
allow it, and the crop be much benefited by one more scuffling; but
this time take _particular care not to disturb the drill at the
bottom_, as the bulbs are now forming and spreading; then gently run
your _double mold-board plow_ through the whole field again,
_narrowing the wings of it_, which will have the effect of adding the
earth, and compressing it to the _bottom_ of the drill, where the
bulbs are forming, rather than throwing it up to the stalk at top,
where there is sufficient already. This finishes the cultivation.
“To prepare the seed you must select well-shaped, even potatoes, not
too small nor too large. Cut them, leaving one good eye at least to
every set; prepare them from two to three weeks _at least_, before you
plant; and each day, as you cut, roll your sets in pulverized lime,
and spread them on the barn floor to dry: when dry, heap them in a
corner till taken out to plant. If this plan is pursued, and the
ground selected and prepared as directed, you may rest satisfied that
so sure as the laws of nature are invariable, and that like effects
follow like causes, as sure will a _good_ and _sound_ crop of potatoes
be produced in this climate with no variation in the result, except
what may be occasioned by the vicissitudes of the season.
“Ten tons of potatoes, two thousand two hundred and forty pounds to
the ton, is considered a _fair_ crop in Ireland. Twelve tons an
_extra_ one—equal to three hundred and seventy bushels the first, and
four hundred and forty-four bushels the second, allowing sixty pounds
to the bushel, which I have found to be about the average weight of a
bushel here. I have grown four crops of potatoes in this country, in
two different situations and latitudes (six acres the smallest
quantity cultivated any season). Each crop was treated in every
particular as here described, and in three instances out of the four,
I got a little over four hundred measured bushels to the acre. The
fourth crop was only about three hundred and fifty bushels to the
acre, caused by the peculiarity of the season, which produced an
almost entire failure with my neighbors, under their management.”