1883.] 



83 



mm 



mm 



NEW POTATOES. 



"With the many new Potatoes introduced 

 every year aspiring to take the place of tho 

 old and degenerating varieties, the task of 

 determining their relative values becomes 

 more and more difficult. Although we have 

 grown in our experimental grounds, in jux- 

 taposition, over five hundred named- varie- 

 ties, we are not yet prepared to say that the 

 " ideal Potato " has been found. Whether it 

 is among those introducing themselves now 

 to public favor, those who give them a trial 

 will be able to determine 

 as well as ourselves. 



The most promising of 

 these are : 



Eosy Morn, a cross be- 

 tween Peachblow and 

 Early Rose. In appear- 

 ance it resembles the lat- 

 ter closely, but surpasses 

 it considerably in easi- 

 ness and yield. In com- 

 parison with all the lead- 

 ing early varieties, and 

 under the same con- 

 ditions, it was decidedly 

 the earliest fit for table 

 use. 



Rubicund, from the same ^11 

 parentage. This ripens 

 medium to late, and is es 

 pecially recommended for 

 its great productiveness, 

 good quality, and strong, 

 vigorous constitution. It is longish oval, 

 and of a peculiar coppery color, with pur- 

 plish lines about the eyes. 



Tyrian Purple is derived from the once 

 famous Comjiton's Surprise, of which it is a 

 sport. It is roundish oblong, of good, uni- 

 form, medium size, dark purplish-red color, 

 and the best quality. It ripens medium 

 early, and keeps remarkably well till late 

 spring. 



Jumbo was exhibited last fall at the New- 

 York State Fair, where its fine appearance 

 and extraordinary size attracted much 

 attention. It is medium early, irregularly 

 round, has white skin and 

 flesh, and is considered, 

 by those who grew it last 

 year, one of the very best ^MwMm 

 Potatoes for general cul- 

 tivation. 



Blush. — Introduced by 

 the Mural New-Yorker. It 

 is especially remarkable 

 for its drought-resisting 

 quality. The tubers are 

 of medium size, never 

 growing very large, and 

 yielding few small ones. 

 Its quality is first class, 

 skin white except at the 

 seed end, where it as- 

 sumes a rosy color, from 

 which the name of 

 "Blush" was suggested 

 to the originator. 



them in place. It should be twelve to fifteen 

 inches high, about four or five feet wide, and 

 of a length proportioned to the quantity of 

 Potatoes to be grown. This box is filled with 

 leaves, which are then covered with fresh 

 horse manure, direct from the stable, to a 

 depth of eight or ten inches. The manure 

 has to be tramped down firmly, and soaked 

 with water if too dry. After this, two to 

 three inches of well rotted compost or forest 

 mold is scattered over and leveled. 

 On this bed the Potatoes are placed 



enough for planting ; and before taking 

 them off, the bed should be well watered, so 

 as to disturb the tubers as little as possible. 



Managed in this way, a bushel of Potatoes 

 will yield from eight to twelve thousand 

 plants. Thos. D. Baied. 



\ 



ROSY MORN. 



closely, but not so close that they touch 

 each other. Smaller tubers are preferable 

 for this purpose, as they give a better yield 

 than larger ones. They may be planted 

 whole or cut in two lengthwise, placing the 

 cut side down. Four or five inches of light, 

 fine soil is then scattered over them, the de- 

 composed manure from last year's hot-bed 

 being well adapted for the purpose. By 

 covering the tubers this depth, the plants be- 

 come better rooted than when only one or 

 two inches of soil are iised. Boards are now 

 laid flat on the bed, and another tier on the 

 top of these, so as to keep off rain. 



sift 



BEDDING SWEET POTATOES. 



Raising Sweet Potatoes in Kentucky does 

 not require the labor and expense neces- 

 sary in the Northern States. At the begin- 

 ning of April, or later, we make a box with 

 boards by driving a stake at each end of 

 the boards and one in the middle to hold 



If the bed becomes too warm, the boards 

 are removed altogether ; and if there is not 

 sufficient heat, an old earpet is spread under 

 the boards. The soil should be kept only 

 moderately moist until the sprouts appear 

 above ground, after which water is given 

 freely and the boards are removed. 



To obtain as many slips as possible, they 

 must be "drawn" as fast as they are large 



PREPARING VEGETABLES FOR MARKET. 



It is one thing to grow a good crop and 

 another to sell it at the best prices. A run 

 through the market of 

 any large city is sufficient 

 proof of the truthfulness 

 lllw of the above statement. 



There the careful observ- 

 er will see the best qual- 

 ity of garden vegetables 

 left unsold, simply be- 

 cause they are not put up 

 in an attractive form. 



Last winter the com- 

 mission houses in New- 

 York received Celery of 

 very fine quality from 

 Michigan, but it was of 

 slow sale, and could only 

 be disposed of at a lower 

 price than was quickly 

 P" 1 " paid for an inferior qual- 



ity put up in a more at- 

 tractive shape. In this 

 case a knowledge of the 

 customs of the New- York 

 market would have been greatly to the ad- 

 vantage of the Michigan growers, who, with 

 their soil and climate so favorable for the 

 production of fine Celery, can compete suc- 

 cessfully with the best market gardens of 

 the East, the greater distance and additional 

 f re ight n o t with s t audi n g. 



Large quantities of Rhubarb are now sent 

 to market, and the long, tender leaf-stalks 

 can be packed neatly without extra expense. 

 Instead of tying up the stalks in awkward 

 bundles by placing the leaf portion all at 

 one end, it is much neater to place them half 

 one way and half the other, and thus make 

 an even, uniform bundle, 

 with the foliage of alter- 

 nate stalks at opposite 

 ends. 



Asparagus is one of the 

 finest products of the gar- 

 den in early spring, and 

 to sell to the best advan- 

 tage must be put up in a 

 neat and attractive form. 

 The bunches in the New- 

 York market are nine 

 inches long, and from four 

 to five inches in diameter, 

 made up in neat form by 

 means of a "buncher." 

 There are several forms 

 of bunchers, the simplest 

 of which is a board with 

 four tall pins, between 

 which the stalks are 

 The lower ends are all 

 cut on a level. There should be at least two 

 ties, either of stout t wine, or, better, strips of 

 bast matting. Such a bunch weighs about 

 two and one-half pounds. 



A neat label should go with each crate of 

 vegetables, giving both the name of the 

 sender and commission merchant fully and 

 plainly. Dr. B. D. Halsted. 



placed and tied. 



