VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 57 



GROWING POTATOES IN VERMONT— CLOVER THE 



FOUNDATION. 



Delivered at Burlington, Aug-. 25, 1899, by T. B. Terry, of 



Ohio. 

 To get the best results for a term of years potatoes 

 should not be grown oftener than once in four years on the 

 same land. Blight, rot, scab, etc., are more likely to make 

 trouble where this crop is grown continuously, or even two 

 years in succession. Where potatoes are to be made one of 

 the main crops, the following rotation will give the best of 

 results : Clover, corn, potatoes, small grain and clover sown 

 with it. In other words, divide the plow land into four equal 

 parts and have one part in each crop every year. Mow the 

 clover but one year. I know this is quite contrary to the gen- 

 eral practice in Vermont, but where the land can be plowed 

 readily it is the wisest way. Of course, steep side hills and 

 very stony land must be managed differently. Put the stable 

 manure on the clover sod for the corn ; then it will be in just 

 the right condition for potatoes the following year. It is not 

 well to use fresh manure for potatoes ; they like old, decayed 

 fertility better. You will notice that I have put in clover as 

 the foundation crop in the rotation. Do not leave it out. Do 

 not substitute timothy. Timothy feeds on the soil and leaves 

 it poorer. Clover gathers its nitrogen and mineral matter 

 largely from the air and subsoil and actually makes the soil 

 richer. Timothy hay is not nearly as good for cows giving 

 milk, for young growing animals, for sheep, etc., etc., as is 

 early cut and well cured clover hay. And by cutting clover 

 twice in a season one can get much more hay to the acre than 

 he can from timothy. It is useless to say that clover can not 

 be made to grow in Vermont any more, for the writer saw on 

 the farm of Mr. C. F. Smith, last August, as dry as was the 

 season, the second crop of red clover that would make about 

 two tons of hay per acre. If Mr. Smith can make it grow, 

 you can by following his plan, and it will pay you grandly. 

 Clover sod is good for potatoes ; they may be planted directly 

 on it with the best of results; but most farmers want to grow 

 corn and so I would put the corn on the freshly manured sod 

 and let the potatoes follow. At first it may be well to use a 

 little fertilizer for the potatoes and small grain, particularly 

 acid phosphate and potash, but in due time one can certainly 

 get along with very little and perhaps without any, if all ma- 

 nure, liquid and solid, is carefullv saved. I particularly urge 



