THE GENESEE FARMER. 



83 



As soon as the rows could be plainly seen, I passed 

 orep them with the three cornered harrow in the 

 manner before di'scribod. 



From the acre planted with the Ohio variety I 

 harvested 130 busiiels of cars of sound corn, of 

 which, three half bushels of ears, would pve a busnel 

 of shelled corn, makincf nearly WT bushela ef shelled 

 corn per acre. The Dutton yiehkJ about the SuTnc 

 number of bushels of ears per acre as the Ohio 

 variety, but not as many bushels of shelled corn. 



The third experiment was on five acres of land 

 from which I had taken a crop of wheat strati- — (he 

 midge havino; destroyed nearly all the grain. About 

 the middle of May, I spread out on the land a good 

 coat of manure, and plowed it under, full ten inches 

 deep, together with a good start of young clover that 

 was sown the previous spring. I then harrowed it 

 till it was finely pulverized, which required far less la- 

 bor than in the former case, where the land was plowed 

 in the fall. The land was then furrowed and pianttd 

 . with the same varieties, harrowed and cultivated, arid 

 1' top dressed, as in the second experiment. The yield 

 1 vfasjive bushels per acre more than in the previous 

 trial with fall plowing, and which required mort? 

 attention than this. S. IJavidson. 



Greece, .V. F. 



ON THE CUXTIVATION OF POTATOES. 



The cultivation of the potatoe has, for the lasi 

 few years, become of vast importarice to those 

 farmers who are situated near a market, and has 

 proved very remunerative. So important has it 

 become, that time spent in the investigation of best 

 methods of caltiva'.ion, and best varieties, is well and 

 profitably spent. There exists a very great diversity 

 of opinions in regard to the manner of cultivation, 

 quantity of seed used, time of planting, and the 

 varieties most profitable. Almost every kind of soil 

 will produce a — large ' or small — crop. The soils, 

 however, which are best adapted for the cultivation 

 of potatoes are sand loam, chestnut loam, and 

 gravelly loam. Dry land is the surest to produce a 

 erop of sound potatoes. 



To prepare a field for a good crop of potatoes, 

 select a sandy loam, seeded with clover, which was 

 mowed, or pastured the year previous, if such is on 

 the farm, and plow it twelve inches deep, about the 

 middle of May; by that time the clover v.-ill have 

 started well, and it will furnish a good coat of 

 manure to turn under. After plowing is done,»ro]l 

 with a heavy roller, and then harrow thoroughly; 

 after which, mark out the field with a small corn 

 plow, in straight rows, both ways, about three feet 

 apart, and as deep as the plow will run and not 

 disturb the sod. The field is then ready for planting 

 which should be done immediately. The potatoes 

 may be cut a few days before planting, to save time. 

 About six or eight bushels to the acre should be 

 planted. Cut a middling sized potatoe into four 

 pieces, and put two pieces in a hill. Drop them by 



>. hand, and cover with a hoe three or four inches deep. 



'■ Before the potatoes break through the ground, 

 harrow the field thoroughly with a light harrow to 

 distroy all the weeds that may have started, which 

 will greatly facilitate the first hoeing, and disturb the 

 potatoes but v^ little. 



For the first hoeing use the corn cultivator both 

 ways between the rows, and if the weeds are not to 



be feared, let them grow a few days longer and culti- 

 vate attain, and follow with the hoc, putting a very 

 little dirt up to the potatoes, and leaving a flat hilL 

 The second hoeing, use a shovel plow, or a horse 

 hoe, which will throw up the dirt on each side of the 

 hills, and leave a peifect hill and very little to be done 

 with the hoe. After this the ground should be kept 

 clean from weeds, and if very dry weather, the horse 

 cultivator should be used between the rows as ba- 

 foi-e. 



The kinds to plant for fine quality and that 

 command the highest price in market, are Mexicans, 

 Purple Mercers, Carters, and Blue and White Fink 

 Eyed. For early potatoes. White Mountain Junes, 

 and Early Junes. For late crop. Long Johns, English 

 Whites, Flesh Colored and Bound Pink Eyed. 



Some farmers plant in drills, and it is a very good 

 method, and m.ay produce larger crops than planting 

 in hills. For drills, mark the ground one way three 

 and-a-half feet apart, and about four or five inehta 

 deep, and drop the potatoes, one piece in a place, 

 about a foot apart; two good eyes in a set is enough, 

 and if the grouiid is rich, one eye is sufficient. They 

 may be covered very expeditiously and well m\h a 

 small plow; and just before they come up the ground 

 should be harrowed, as before described. After 

 cultivation, the same as when planted in hills. 



Late planting is almost sure to produce the largest 

 crops; but early planting is the best preventive of the 

 disease. I have rai^pd Early Junes for twenty years, 

 and never knew thenr diseased. My experience, since 

 the rot commenced, has been that early planting, on 

 dry ground, gives the soundest crops. The Purple 

 Mercer, with me, are the most liable to decay. 



• Many new varieties of potatoes have been, and arc 

 being introduced, and some of them may prove a 

 valuable acquisition to our already well tried stock, 

 and otherr^i, like the Rohan may run well for a season 

 and then sink never more to rise. The Fluke Kidney 

 lately brought from Europe, and circulated through 

 the 'Patent Office, and by the New York State 

 Agricultural Society, two years since, bids fair to be 

 popular, and should be placed on the list that 

 " promise well." I recpived a few tubers from B. P. 

 JoRKSON, Secretary of the State Agricultural Society, 

 two years since, and the first year ihey were not fairly- 

 dealt by, and were quite small, but 1 planted them 

 again with better success, though they received no 

 better care, and this spring I mean to plant and care for 

 them, the best I know how, and bee what they will do. 



1 have another variety, which promises well, that I 

 obtained at the State Fair, and from two potatoes 

 planted, I dug a bushel of fine large potatoes. They 

 are called the Oregon. I intend to try them another 

 season, and if they meet my expectation, you shall 

 hear from me. Eve«y new variety should be well 

 tried before recommending to the public. No new 

 kind should be recommended unless, on trial, it prpves 

 to be superior to some of the old varieties; nothing 

 is gained by multiplying varieties unless superior, and 

 tben five or six are as many as will be profitable to 

 plant. The same variety does not always do as well 

 one year as another, and for this reason it is better to 

 plant more than one variety. % 



Harvest as late in the fall as frost will permit, and 

 if buned in pits cover M'ell with straw, and a little 

 dirt, then another coat of straw, and, finally, a heavy 

 coat of earth. E. S. Hayward. 



Brighton, Monroe County, JV. Y. 



