I 860 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
73 
How to raise Early Potatoes. 
A FARM HOUSE— Residence, of Mr. Wm. H. Smith, Addison, N. Y. 
It is our intention to present from time to time 
a variety of plans for dwellings, including not 
only those of large and costly construction, but 
also those of small size, and involving but com¬ 
paratively little expense. We present herewith 
one of moderate size, but rather above the me¬ 
dium cost of well-to-do farmers’ dwellings. The 
expense of this structure was somewhat over 
$4,000 we believe ; it was built in 
a thorough manner, entirely by 
“day’s work.” The main walls are 
of brick, painted dapple gray. The 
roof and “trimmings” are of wood, 
the trimmings painted with “ burnt 
sienna,” and the roof with blue. 
The elevation plan as well as the 
internal arrangements are, we 
think, open to some of the same 
objections that were made to the 
plan published on page 297 of last 
volume (Oct. No.) The roof is too 
light, and the bay-windows and 
some other parts too heavy.— The 
Ground Plan shows an ample sup¬ 
ply of pantries and closets, which 
is a very desirable provision in 
every dwelling, and one not usually 
sufficiently looked after. The rela¬ 
tive position of the main rooms does not strike 
us as the best for a farm house where there is 
much work to be done, and a prominent end to 
be kept in view is to “save steps.” In the plan, 
bed-room, H, must here be used for a sitting- 
room, the matron of the house must be too far 
from the direct oversight of the kitchen-work. 
But not to go into particulars, we think that for 
our own use we could make an entire re-arrange¬ 
ment of the rooms, pantries, etc., with advan¬ 
tage. Others may think differently, and we leave 
each to study the plans, and derive such useful 
Fig. 2— Ground Plan. 
A Entrance. 
B Vestibule. 
L Hall. 
C Parlor. 
D Dining-room. 
E Kitchen. 
F Pantry. 
G Store-room. 
P Hall. 
M Rear Entrance. 
O Back Stairs. 
H Bed-room. 
/ Dress-room. 
K Closet. 
R Verandah. 
S Bay Window 
fig. 2, the kitchen, E, is too far separated from 
the Dining-room. There are two objections to 
this ; first, the cooked food, dishes, etc., must be 
carried through two or more doors and a hall in 
passing to and from the dining-room and kitchen; 
and, second, as either the dining-room, D, or the 
hints as they can. The Chamber Plan, fig. 3, 
has five bed-rooms, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5—the cross lines 
showing the positions of the beds; 6 is a bath¬ 
room ; 7, stairs ; 8, chamber-hall. The supply of 
closets is apparently ample. The special arrange¬ 
ment here, we understand to be that of the pro¬ 
prietor—the architects claiming that with the 
same general plan of structure, a great variety 
may be made in the internal arrangement of 
rooms. This building, which was designed by 
Messrs. Saeltzer & Valk, architects of this city, 
is given by them as an illustration of what they 
propose as a “ new American style.” We must 
frankly confess that we are not pleased with it, 
but since they call in question our individual 
taste in architectural matters, we have given 
them another opportunity to lay their plans be¬ 
fore the public for a verdict. Whatever is wor¬ 
thy will be found out and adopted. If the “new 
style ” gives general satisfaction we shall be 
disappointed, and acknowledge our want of taste. 
If a miscreant sets a stain upon your character, 
you can’t wash it away with his blood ; the foul 
fluid would pollute rather than purify the stains. 
A dish of new, mealy potatoes, 
about the middle of June, is not to 
be despised. They are good upon the 
table, and by no means bad in the 
barrel, on their way to a lively 
market, at one to two dollars a bush¬ 
el, and upwards. There is a difference 
of a month or two in the time re¬ 
quired by different varieties to ma¬ 
ture. This fact is often overlooked 
by farmers, and they continue plant¬ 
ing only the late sorts, and have no 
new potatoes until August. Early 
varieties are a first essential in 
getting an early harvest. The Mer¬ 
cer or Chenango will mature in about 
twelve weeks, and with forcing, in 
ten. It is not so apt to rot when 
forced, as when planted late. The 
early Sovereign, Carpenter, Studley’s 
Seedling, Wendell’s Seedling, Dyk- 
man, and the early June, require a 
still shorter season, say from six to 
twelve days. In almost every section of the 
country there are early potatoes, probably quite 
as good as any of these. 
There are several methods of hastening their 
maturity. A favorite method with the German 
market gardeners is, to bring the seed potatoes 
in barrels into a warm room, about the first of 
March. The eyes start rapidly, and in about 
two or three weeks they are ready to plant. 
Another method, which we have practiced for 
some years, is to start the potatoes in a gentle 
hot-bed, about the middle of March. The tubers 
are cut in halves, and laid flat side down upon 
the bed, as thick as they can be placed. They 
are then covered with about two inches of gar¬ 
den mold, and the sashes are put over them. As 
soon as they are up two or three inches, they are 
ready to transplant. They should be removed 
carefully, separating the roots with as little 
breaking as possible, and put in the drills where 
they are to grow. As they do not yield a full 
crop under this treatment, they can be planted 
closer, than in common field culture, say in 
drills thirty inches apart, putting the hills twelve 
inches apart in the drill. 
A warm, sandy loam, sloping to the south or 
southeast, should be selected for this crop. It 
should be well manured with horse dung, about 
half of it applied in the drills. Some manure their 
grounds for early potatoes in the Fall, and this 
is, we think, a good plan for that part of the 
manure which is applied broadcast. Fresh horse 
dung in the drills raises the temperature of the 
soil, and hastens their growth. 
Remark. —To the above, written by one of our 
associates, we will add that we have succeeded 
well on a small scale, thus : Two or three weeks 
before the time when it will probably do to plant 
out, take pieces of turf or sod, say four to five 
inches square, and put a piece of potato in each. 
These are set closely together where they can 
be watered as needed, and can be exposed to 
sunshine. Whenever there is a cold night, ot 
‘‘cold snap,” straw is put on to keep them from 
freezing. They sprout and fill the turf with roots. 
At the proper time the pieces are set in the open 
ground, one piece in a hill, and the growth is 
hardly checked. The turf itself also acts as a 
manure to aid the growth. In this way two to 
four weeks maybe gained —Pub. Ed.] 
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Question for discussion by the (N. Y.) Farmers' 
Club: Is the use of hose beneficial to aqj-rx f 
