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THE N E W G E N E S E E FARMER, 



V 



OL. 



2 



Catting Clover, &c.->By Wm. Garbutt, 



Mkssrs. Editors. — In my remarks on Grasses and 

 Clorer in your 3d number, I find there is on idea con- 

 veyed wbich woe not intended, owing to my error, or 

 year's, or the printer's. It says that the small kind of 

 clover "should be mown early, and it may be cut a se- 

 cond time in October, or it will afford good pasture in 

 autumn. This is an advantage to those who have time 

 to make hay before harvest." Thus it would be in- 

 ferred that I usually cut the large kind afur harvest, 

 wbich is not the case, for it should be cut in July; 

 and last year was the first lime that I have cut it so 

 late as August. It is my present impression, howev- 

 er, that it would be a good plan for us to pasture a part 

 of our large clover pretty late in the spring, and then 

 cut it for hay after the bustle of harvest is over. 



But the idea I meant to convey is this: — When the 

 Boil is moist, or the season wet, the small kind of clo- 

 ver yields more pasture in autumn, or it may be cut 

 twice in o season, which is an advantage to those who 

 have time to cut hay in June and October. But for 

 my part, I have no time to make hay in these months. 

 In June my time is fully occupied in hoeing corn, &c., 

 and breaking up land for wheat; and in October I am 

 always very busy securing my corn and root crops, 

 fall ploughing, &c. The time for haying is July and 

 August, and I generally find it best to be occupied 

 about one thing at a time, as much as possible. 

 1. Yours, &c., 



W. GARBUTT. 



Wiheatland, March 15<A; 1840. 



For tht New Genesee Farmer. 

 8eUing Rohan Potatoes—By John Xorth. 



Messrs. Editors — In your last paper, R. Harmon, 

 Jr., expresses considerable surjjrise at the high price 

 which I obtained for my Rohan Potatoes; and sajs 

 he should be glad if I would inform him how I dispo- 

 sed of them to so good advantage. You will there- 

 fore please inform Mr. Harmon, that in the town of 

 Alabama, Genesee county, which is nearly fifty miles 

 from Rochester, there was never such a thing seen till 

 last year, and but very few persons had ever heard oi 

 them. Some had known them sell, or had bought one 

 or two at about 25 cents each. All were astonished 

 at their productiveness; so that they willingly offered 

 and gave the prices which I mentioned. It should be 

 borne in mind also, that the Genesee Farmer is but 

 little known in that neighborhood, and Mr. Harmon's 

 advertisement had probably not met the eye of any 

 there; so that they did not know at what prices the 

 potatoes were selling here. 



Those engaged for the west are going to a neigh- 

 borhood where a very few were raised last year, from 

 seed which cost an enormous price; but so sotiefactory 

 were the results, that many can be sold now in small 

 lots, at very high prices, notwitlistanding they are sel- 

 ling so low here. 



Messrs. Editors — If all of our farmers would take 

 an agricultural paper; they would not only learn how 

 to buy Rohan Potatoes at the lowest price, but also 

 how to obtain and cultivate many other things which 

 would greatly increase their profits, and of which they 

 will otherwise remain in ignorance. I have induced 

 several to subscribe for the New Genesee Farmer; 

 and when I see a man pay over his fifty cents for it, 1 

 always feel that he is doing himself greater good than 

 he could possibly do with so small a sum in any other 

 way. It was by reading the Genesee Farmer that I 

 was induced to make a little outlay, which resulted in 

 a profit more than equal to the cost of your paper du- 

 ring an ordinary life time. 



I am, respectfully, yours, &c. 

 JOHN NORTH. 

 Rochester, March, 1840. 



Note.— The ;i.bove communlcatioiH were written for lost 

 Dpntb, but omittel Cor ntfX of room.— £iif. 



; For the New Genesee Farmer. 



The Root CnItare~The Potato. 



Messrs. Editors — I am not quite through with the 

 subject on which I commenced, which was the con- 

 siderotion of the Root Culture. To show to the far- 

 mere in the clearest possible manner, how much it is 

 for their interest to turn their attention to this system 

 of forming, I exhibited, in my former communication, 

 the circumstances in which they were placed, particu- 

 larly in relation to the high prices of mill feed. — 

 Wheat was their hobby, because it wos the crop, 

 which, more than any other, increased the amount of 

 their funds. So much, therefore, ol their land was 

 put into wheat, that it was impossible to keep stock to 

 much extent, without changing the system of farming. 

 And hence arose, among the Farmers of Western 

 New- York, the necessity of cultivating Roots; be- 

 cause a very few acres in Roots, properly managed, 

 will furnish the greatest amount of the best kind of 

 food for farm stock. 



One prime article ol this kind is the Potato ; be- 

 cause it is eosily produced, it is adopted to our soil and 

 climate, a large amount con be produced from a small 

 quantity of land, and because it will endure rather 

 longer for late feeding in spring, and summer. 



For six or eight years I have very eucccessfully culti- 

 vated the mercer potato, for various reasons, let. 

 Because, for the table, they are of the first quality. — 

 2d. They fetch the highest price in market. 3d. They 

 ccme very early to maturity, requiring only a short 

 season, and at the some time they are of the first qual- 

 ity to use late in the season, or before new potatoes ore 

 fit for use. 4th. They can be planted thicker than 

 any other potatoe, on account of the smallncss of their 

 tops. Each eye puts forth a shoot which comes very 

 early to maturity, and then dies down, without put- 

 ting out any side shoots like the Pinkeye, the Rohan, 

 and most other kinds. 5th. Though they are no bet- 

 ter flavored than the Pinkeye, yet in other respects 

 they are superior; their tops are so much smaller that 

 you can plant more upon an acre and produce more; 

 they are more easily harvested, because the tubers are 

 not scattered all over the hill like those of the Pink- 

 eye, but they lie close together in one snug family — 

 6th. You con also harvest them very early, and thus 

 have them out of the way of early frosts. 



But when potatoes are extensively grown, it is best 

 to cultivate two kinds, one kind for the table, and one 

 kind forearm stock. Should the Rohans continue to 

 maintain the extraordinary high character which they 

 have hitherto had, I should decidedly recommend them 

 for stock and the mercer for the table. 



Soil. — So far as my experience goes, potatoes flou- 

 rish on every kind of soil in this vicinity, except a 

 stiff clay. As often as I have plonted on a stiff clay, 

 I have lost my labor and almost all of my seed. — 

 Therefore, for the last two years, I hove avoided 

 planting on cloy entirely. And, in case there happen 

 to be any small patches of clay on my potato ground, 

 I plant them with some of the Royal White Bean. 



Preparation. — I select a clover sod. Early in the 

 month of April, haul on and spread twenty loads of 

 long manure to the acre. Plough under the manure 

 deep and clean, laying the furrow-slice over flat. Roll 

 it down and harrow it with the furrow. On or about 

 the first of May, work it with the cultivator till the 

 surface is finely pulverized and mellow. If y.iu in- 

 tend to plant mercer potatoes, mark out the rows shal- 

 low, with a one horse plough, three feet apart. But 

 if you intend to plant the Rohan, let your rows be full 

 three feet and o half apart. 



Planting. — Cut your mercers to three or four eyes, 

 and your rohans to only one or two. Drop ynur mer- 

 cers one foot apart in the row, and the rohans full 

 three and a half feet apart in the row, with only two 



fci 



eyes in a hill. Then cover the seed either with the 

 plough or hoe. 



After Ciillvre. — As soon as the Potatoes come up 

 two or three inches high, run the cultivator once or "'; 

 twice between the rows, and give them a dressing with H ' 

 the hoe, so as to slir the earth next to the shoots, des- i^-' 

 troying the young weeds, and earthing up the young s*-- 

 plants only a trifle. Then, before the potatoes are in ? ■■ 

 blossom, and before the younj tuberf begin to be form- *'■ 

 ed in the hill, go through, twice in the row, with fe" 

 a one horse plough and turn the earth toward* the ni' 

 potntoes; and then follow with the hoc, to complete [1 

 the eorthing up, to put the tops in the proper position,! iiiV; 

 and to destroy the remainder ol the weeds. After H- 

 this it is very improper tu be moving the soil around Jje 

 the hills, because, to disturb the young tubors aftei jfji 

 they are set and before they have como to maturity, i^ j, i 

 very injurious to their growth. y;; 



Harrcsting. — Never commence harvesting your po- im 

 tatoes till they have come to full maturity, or till th( ifii 

 frost has killed the tops down. While the tops an k'l 

 green, the tubers nre growing and improving: there meti 

 fore, unless you wish to harvest your potatoes fortbi iiij 

 purpose of malcing room for a wheat crop, let them re |itci 

 main in the ground as long as they continue to grow ijiji 

 In digging them, nse either the plough or the potat joje. 

 hook. As soon as ihey are out of the ground, le jgii 

 them be picked up. Never permit them to remain ou iilji 

 in the sun or air longer than you can possibly help.- ai 

 I am well aware that this direction is at once in oppci ^i; 

 sition to the rule of many farmers, which is, to a!lo> (i, t 

 their potatoes to remain out in the sun, drying as Ion es: 

 as they can, and yet have them picked up on the sair rss: 

 day they are dug, in order that as much of the earth i iai 

 possible may cleave off from them. This is very hi f;.; 

 management for potatoes designed for table use; b ^. 

 cause it renders them strong, or acrid in taste. . , 



Every attentive observer has noticed, that that pa ^...-s 

 of the potato which happens to be uncovered in tl , p-; 

 hill, changes its color to a dork green. This portic [eh 

 is very much injured in taste; in fact it is unfit for ue h;„) 

 because it has imbibed, 'firom the atmosphere, deleter Ly:i 



ous qualities. As soon as potatoes are dug and exp 

 sed to the light and air, this change begins. Eve 

 attentive observer hoe also noticed, that potatoes are 

 the best flavor and quality after they have come to K 

 turity and while they are yet in the ground. The Ic 

 ger they are dug and exposed to light and air, t 

 more of this high flavor is gone, till it is wholly lo 

 and they become unpalatable and unwholesome. ] 

 tatoes that remain in the earth where they grew, 

 winter, are in excellent condition for the table in t 

 spring. In view, therefore, of all these facts, let 

 prescribe a rule in harvesting the potatoes, which v 

 tend to perpetuate through the whole season, these 

 cellent qualities. As soon then as practicable af 

 digging, remove the potatoes designed for the table 

 a dark bin in the cellar. After depositing thus 

 whole crop, or as many as ore designed for the tab 

 cover them over with earth or sand, and they will 

 tain their excellent qualities till they begin to spn 

 in the spring, and require to be removed. Wl 

 shipped for seo, they ought to be put into casks i 

 covered with sand. 



Where potatoes are boiled for hogs, the water 

 which they are boiled should neter be given them, 1 

 thrown entirely away, because it contains deletere< 

 or poisonous properties. P 



Chili, March 15, 1840. 



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Important Discorcry.—A very important discovi 

 in Poris is spoken of. A gentleman has «occeededI 

 making very excellent bread from beet root, mi:l 

 with a small portion of potato flour. It is said tl 

 this bread is of very excellent quality, and can \ 

 sold to the public at so low a price aa two sous 

 pound. 



