BEPORT OF GREENE COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 151 



light and heat. Now we are prepared with a stock of seed tubers to 

 commence raisinir potatoes right. 



As to soil, I think it unnecessary to say much, as soils are as 

 diverse as opinions of men, and some may disagree with me and be 

 more correct than I. Each one must use such as he has. and any good 

 corn land, if properly enriched, will produce a good crop of potatoes. I 

 think a sandy loam is best. Plow as early in spring as possible, at 

 least twice for early varieties, and for late varieties plow the frround 

 and smooth with a harrow about each fortnight until 10th to last of 

 June, and mark both ways 2^ by 2^ fee<:, with a marker so constructed 

 as to mark several rows at a time, and then run a narrow shovel plow 

 in the mark both ways and pretty deep, and if it is desirable to obtain 

 the greatest yield for the seed planted, cut to single eyes, and if it is 

 desired to secure the greatest yield for the land, plant medium and 

 large tubers, whole. Drop one eye or tuber in a hill, and cover two or 

 three inches deep. 



Take up the seed tubers from their winter quarters a week or ten 

 days before planting, and spread them in the sun, or some open, airy 

 place, to dry and wilt, and absorb the elements from the atmosphere 

 that puts them in a condition to sprout more readily and evenly. If 

 they are not dried and wilted, some tubers will be a week or two later 

 sprouting than others. Cutting should be done at least twenty-four 

 hours before planting, and if rolled in plaster or dry ashes, they ad- 

 here to the moist cut surfaces, and assist in drying and healing them, 

 and act as fertilizers to the young plants. A tablespoon full of any 

 of the artificial fertilizers, or a shovel of compost in each hill is very 

 beneficial, and to realize the best result it is necessary to give the 

 best of 



CULTURE. 



Before the plants are fairly up, drop a handful of ashes on the hills 

 and harrow both ways, which may injure afev/ plants, but will be very 

 beneficial in mellowing the soil and destroying weeds that are germin- 

 ating. When the plants are fairly up, cultivate with a narrow shovel 

 plow run deep and near the plants both ways, and follow with a hand^ 

 hoe to destroy weeds left in the hills ; and in about ten days more cul- 

 tivate with a double shovel pretty deep, but not so near the plants as 

 before. And all subsequent culture should be shallow and as often as 

 is necessary to keep the surface thoroughly pulverized, followed with 

 the hand hoe each time to destroy anj- weeds that may have escaped 

 the cultivator, until the tubers commence forming. A clean and well 

 pulverized surface is as good if not the best mulch for all sorts of grow- 



