RAISING EARLY POTATOES. Ill 



while in the meantime, new varieties possessing decided superiority 

 would have appeared. Even were it possible to state the earliest 

 and best, be3'ond doubt and without question, — the annual selection 

 of seed, the mode of cultivation, the winter storage, and many other 

 matters differentl}' managed by different farmers, would soon show 

 that there was no longer any standard of super-excellence In the 

 hands of one man there might be an improvement ; in the hands of 

 many men there certainly would be deterioration. Those who have 

 been long engaged in raising earh^ potatoes have doubtless observed 

 that the seed "runs out," to use the common expression. Some of 

 the reasons are very plain. In the first place, as a rule the tubers 

 are dug befoul they are fully ripe. The large ones are sold and the 

 small ones are kept for seed. Whatever ma\' be established as to 

 small versus large potatoes for seed in general field culture, I am 

 certain in my own mind that in the matter of strictly earl}' potatoes 

 there is a preference in good size. 



If we w^ere to plant some of our early sorts late in the season for 

 seed expressly I will waive the exception. This should be done. A 

 tuber that ripens in Jul}' must remain in storage two months longer 

 than one ripened in September. And these two summer months are 

 the most trying to its vitality of any in the year. As to the im- 

 portant matter of keeping through the winter, reference may be had 

 to Prof. Balentine's valuable paper on that subject. 



The next thing to be considered is the soil and its preparation. 

 AVhat is termed old ground is best. The best results, cost considered, 

 are to be achieved on land naturally well drained, strong and well 

 pulverized. Well rotted stable manure should be plowed under in 

 the fall. The field should be replowed in spring. If at the time of 

 planting there should have been a superabundance of rain, after 

 plowing, harrowing and furrowing it is well to put a small forkful of 

 horse manure in each hill for warmth and drainage. Manure so 

 used should always be covered with a little earth. If no manure be 

 used a handful of phosphate should be applied to each hill, scattered 

 over a circle a foot in diameter and mixed afterwards with the soil. 

 Early potatoes can be raised upon undrained wet lands by preparing 

 in the previous autumn as follows : 



Plow old ground deeply and pulverize thoroughly. Furrow and 

 put out manure as for drill culture. With a large plow turn two 

 furrows over the manure, one on each side, so that what are to be the 

 rows the next year will be well ridged up. If necessary, trencli 



