1835;] 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



81 



succeeding crop**. I would also add that I believe 

 it generally acknowledged, that rotation in most 

 kinds of crops is desirable, but none more neces- 

 sary than potatoes, even a second crop on the same 

 ground well prepared will be found to degenerate 

 in quality and quantity. 



Location. 



The district of country in North America best 

 adapted for their growth, taking into consideration 

 quantity and quality, is situated between the 2d 

 and 10th degrees of east longitude (Irom Wash- 

 ington) and between the 42d and 50th degrees 

 of north latitude; they are grown to a very con- 

 siderable extent much farther north, south, and 

 west, but in diminished quantities and inferior 

 qualities. 



Soil. 



A rich marl or clay is perhaps the most pro- 

 ductive; a strong moist loamy soil, (the newer or 

 less it has been cultivated the better) is the most 

 convenient and least expensive soil to grow them 

 on. Most soils common to our country will pro- 

 duce them in great abundance and perfection, the 

 more rapid the growth, the better the quality. 



Season for planting. 



In this respect they are a most accommodating 

 crop, allowing the tanner in the southern and cen- 

 tral part of the designated district, 20 or 30 days to 

 perform the operation: the particular part depends 

 in a very considerable degree upon the climate. In 

 the region of my residence) the 44th degree of 

 north latitude, they may be planted from the 10th 

 of May to the 15th of June. At the extreme 

 north of the described limits less latitude is afforded 

 for seed time and harvest. The good husband- 

 man in that climate should make all practicable 

 preparation for his crop in the fall, and plant as 

 early in the spring as the ground is sufficiently dry 

 and warm; here the growth is extremely rapid, 

 not requiring more than from 90 to 110 days to 

 perfect it; the quantity will not be quite so great as 

 with us, but superior in quality. 



Kind of seed to be planted. 



This is a question of too much difficulty for me to 

 answer satisfactorily to myself, or instructive to the 

 numerous inquiries of my correspondents; the 

 kinds and qualities in a single neighborhood are 

 too numerous and their names too local and varia- 

 ble to admit of an intelligent reply. 



The female of this plant, like most of her sex, 

 is so jealous of her rights and privileges and so 

 tenacious of cultivating a friendly intercourse and 

 connexion with the neighbors, that the blossoms 

 in fields at 200 yards distance, planted of different 

 kinds of seed, are frequently found contributing 

 liberally with each other, by the aid of a gentle 

 breeze, a portion of their generating Farina, which 

 is generously received and kindly nourished; the 

 product of this connexion slrongly partaking of 

 the properties and appearance of both, many of 

 them in apparent equal parts. Plant this mixture a 

 few years in a place of safety and it will be found 

 that the weaker plant will gradually yield to the 

 stronger, until the one most productive and best 

 suited to the climate will be produced in its origi- 

 nal and unadulterated puritv< The fact goes far in 



Vol. Ill— 11 



satisfying me of the cause of our frequent disap- 

 pointments in not finding seed at all times produ- 

 cing its kind. We have abundant means with a 

 little care and patience of supplying ourselves 

 with every variety of potatoes, "the growth of 

 which is adapted to our climate. 



The wise provider of all good things has kindly 

 furnished us with the means of providing ourselves 

 with innumerable kinds and qualities of this vege- 

 table. The ripe balls or seeds from a single stalk, 

 will produce by three seasons' planting, almost 

 countless varieties of every color, shape, size and 

 quality, which the country has heretofore produced, 

 and something new, in addition. 



The first season's planting they will be small and 

 tender, the second larger, and the third of suitable 

 size for field planting. 



The only answer I can give to the inquiry for 

 the right kind of seed, is to recommend to the 

 farmer that kind to be procured in the vicinity, 

 most productive, except a small quantity if he 

 possesses them, of a superior quality, for table use. 

 In changing seed, which will occasionally be found 

 beneficial, if removed from any considerable dis- 

 tance, should be taken from the north: the growth 

 will be more rapid, consequently, the quality bet- 

 ter, and in southern climates the quantity greater 

 for the first season, at least. 



Time for gathering 



This ought to be done when the potato is ripe 

 and not before. The idea so generally entertained 

 that an early frost which nips the top and destroys 

 the vine, prevents the further growth of the pota- 

 to is a mistaken one, and ought to be exploded; on 

 the contrary, if it has not at this time attained its 

 full size and weight, it grows more rapidly; the 

 nourishment required for sustaining the top is 

 transferred to the root. From a knowledge of this 

 fact, satisfactorily tested, I am inclined to believe 

 that by clipping the bushy part of the top with a 

 scythe or other instrument, after the ball has at- 

 tained its full size, the crop would be greatly ben- 

 efited by the operation. I have made a few ex- 

 periments of the kind, all tending to confirm my 

 belief, but not sufficient to warrant me in making 

 the broad unqualified assertion of the positive cor- 

 rectness of my opinion. I hope agriculturists in 

 different sections of the country will lend a help- 

 ing hand to aid in testing the correctness or incor- 

 rectness of my doctrine in this particular. The 

 green tops are excellent food for cattle or swine; if 

 left on the field will produce no injury, but serve 

 to enrich the soil. 



Housing and wintering. 

 The erroneous practice pursued by our best far- 

 mers generally, induces me to state the manner I 

 have pursued for years with unvaried success. To 

 preserve 5 or 600 bushels, I make a box or bin 

 four feet wide, three feet high, arid sufficient length 

 to contain the required quantity — have the joints 

 well fastened and made as tight as possible, put 

 into the cellar on skids, raising it three or four inch- 

 es from the cellar bottom; if the potatoes are in- 

 tended to be taken out at different times, two or 

 three partitions should be put in cross wise of the 

 bin, to prevent such as are not required for imme- 

 diate use from exposure to the atmosphere. After 

 this preparation is completed, the next operation is 

 gathering and housing them. Here I must again 



