THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
March 18 
198 
CUTTING POTATOES BY MACHINERY. 
It has always been supposed, up to 
within a few years, that cutting pota¬ 
toes was like milking cows—a job that 
must be done by hand. Within the past 
few years, however, quite a number of 
patents have been issued for potato cut¬ 
ters—most of them based on the princi¬ 
ple of slicing the seed potato by push¬ 
ing a series of knives down upon it. 
Last year we gave a picture of the Aspin- 
wall cutter. This cutter was made 
necessary by the success of the A spin- 
wall planter. That machine made it 
possible for farmers to grow potatoes on 
a very large scale, because it ended the 
slow and tedious work of dropping seed 
by hand But as the crop increased the 
trouble of cutting seed became more and 
more serious, and so the cutter was 
brought in to lighten this work. The 
cutter is simply a set of knives which are 
pushed down upon a whole potato, 
slicing it into four or more pieces. Of 
course these knives have no human in¬ 
telligence—they simply cut the potato 
where they strike it, without regard to 
its eyes. We have wondered how many 
pieces it left without eyes and what pro¬ 
portion of missing hills this meant. We 
therefore sent these questions to a num¬ 
ber of men who have had the cutter in 
practical use. 
1. I* It a practical tool? 2. How long does It take 
to cut a bushel? 8. In what respect are the pieces 
inferior to hand-cut seed? 4. About how manr 
pieces without eyes do you average in cutting a 
bushel? 5. IJow do the pieces work in the planter? 
(I. In your judgment, how many acres must a man 
plant in order to make the tool pay? 
1. Yes; very. 2. About 10 minutes. 
3. In none. 4. The number is so small 
that it amounts to little or nothing. 
The pieces are in first-rate condition for 
planting. 5. Excellently. 6. It would 
pay for use on one or two acres, as it 
would last for years. I can’t say too 
much in its praise ; it is perfection. 
Indiana. john lusher. 
1. It is practical in every sense. 2. It 
will cut a bushel in from 5 to 10 minutes. 
3. The pieces are not inferior to hand- 
cut seed, but superior in shape and size. 
4. I cannot say, but in planting I put 
only one piece in a place, and very sel¬ 
dom find a missing hill. 5. Finely ; no 
trouble at all. 6. It would pay for it¬ 
self in planting 10 acres. In my judg¬ 
ment it is a perfect tool and will cut the 
seed better than the average man can, 
besides making better shaped pieces, and 
as I use the Aspinwall planter it is quite 
important that the pieces should be 
chunky and nearly uniform in shape and 
size, if possible. j. s. dennis. 
Michigan. 
1. Yes. 2. About 10 minutes. 3 and 4. 
About four per cent will be without eyes. 
5. The pieces made plants that yielded 
200 bushels to the acre last year. 6. Three 
acres. If the seed is high-priced, or if 
the potatoes are small, I would not ad¬ 
vise the use of the cutter. It works best 
on medium-size and large potatoes. 
Michigan. n. F. buskikk. 
1. Yes; quite so. 2. Usually about 
10 minutes; though I have cut a bushel 
in six minutes. 3. In no respect are the 
pieces inferior to hand-cut seed ; indeed 
they are superior for several reasons : 
the machine cuts them more nearly 
square than can be done by hand, leav¬ 
ing no thin edges or sharp angles to dry 
up and be useless for the support of the 
young plants, and, being square, they 
are less liable to become wedged into the 
grooves of the planter, through which 
the pickers pass as they are rotated 
through the cut seed. 4. One can scarcely 
find one piece without an eye on it. 
I don’t believe I have seen half a dozen 
pieces without an eye apiece in cutting 
over 100 bushels. 5. The pieces work 
better in the planter than hand-cut seed 
for the reasons mentioned above. 6. I 
think the planting of five acres will war¬ 
rant the buying of a cutter; certainly it 
will if one has to hire extra help to cut 
the seed, or if he has an abundance of 
other work on hand. One man can cut 
as much seed, and in better shape, than 
four men can by hand. I hire out the 
cutter in connection with the planter, 
charging one cent a bushel for its use, 
and all are anxious to secure it. When 
ordering the machine I had no idea it 
would please me, and consequently or¬ 
dered it on condition of its giving satis¬ 
faction, but I had not cut more than a 
dozen potatoes before I was perfectly 
satisfied. It works fully as well for a seed 
cutter as does the planter for planting 
potatoes, each being a complete success. 
Ohio. F. E. FITCH. 
1. Certainly, it is a practical tool. 2. 
It can cut a bushel in 10 minutes. 3. 
The pieces that drop through the screen 
are thrown away, and so are thin slices 
from the blossom end. In cutting 20 
bushels, about half a bushel is lost in 
this way. 4. In cutting a bushel the 
number of pieces without eyes is just a 
trifle. The seed is just as good as the 
hand-cut kind. 6. A man planting only 
five acres can’t do without this machine. 
I am a farmer, and think my Aspinwall 
planter and cutter are the finest tools of 
the kind ever invented. The cutter is a 
complete novelty and gives entire satis¬ 
faction in every respect, c. B. leedy. 
Ohio. 
1. The Aspinwall potato cutter is one 
of the greatest labor-saving machines 
that has been put out for farmers’ use in 
a number of years. 2. It is eminently 
practical in every respect, and will cut 
the seed in better shape than any hired 
help on the farm ; and even the owner of 
the farm cannot cut it in as good shape, 
because his hands and eyes are soon 
tired. I cut the seed with it this year 
for 17 acres, and never knew the plants 
to come up better. I use the Aspinwall 
planter and plant about five acres a day, 
and one man easily cuts the seed as fast 
as another plants it, or 50 bushels per 
day. In the old way of . cutting to two 
or three eyes “ as the cutter cuts it,” 10 
bushels is a good day’s work for a man, 
costing $1 and board. In other words, 
one man with a machine will do the work 
of five men without it, and do it better. 
4. The number of pieces without eyes is 
so insignificant that no potato grower 
would take any account of them. I have 
had hundreds of bushels of seed cut by 
hand, and know that when I hire the 
work done, there are actually as many 
pieces without eyes as when the cutter is 
used, and the latter actually leaves them 
in better shape, always cutting from the 
heart, and they work better in the 
planter than hand-cut seed. The cutter 
will pay for itself in cutting the first 10 
or 12 acres. L. B. spencer. 
Michigan. 
1. It is. 2. Eight minutes. 3. The 
pieces are not inferior to those cut by the 
average help we have on the farm. 4. I 
have spent quite a large amount of time 
to ascertain this, but have failed to find 
any pieces without eyes, but suppose 
there may be a very few. 5. Quite satis¬ 
factorily, as I never had a better stand 
than when I used seed cut with this ma¬ 
chine. 6. Five acres. I think this ma¬ 
chine one of the best manufactured. 
Wisconsin. Kennedy scott. 
1. I consider it a practical tool and 
one that no one who has any use for a 
tool of its kind can afford to do without. 
2. It takes from 10 to 20 minutes to cut a 
bushel, but I believe a bushel could be cut 
in five minutes, depending on how fast 
the man works and the size of the tubers. 
The pieces average better than if cut 
by an ordinary hand, as they are square 
and blocky. The only objection is that 
about one piece out of 20 will be without 
eyes; yet this depends on the kind of 
tubers, but this has been my experience 
in cutting Burbank, White Star and 
such varieties. 3 and 4. There are some 
small clippings from the ends of the 
tubers, but they mostly pass through 
the screen that goes with the cutter, and 
are not much loss in any way. 5. The 
pieces work nicely in the planter—better 
than if cut by hand. I usually plant 
about 12 acres; last year I planted 27 
and to cut by hand potatoes enough for 
12 acres usually cost from $25 to $30 
besides the delay, while with the machine 
they can be cut for $2.50 or $3 and then 
they are all freshly cut before planting. 
From this one can calculate as to about 
the number of acres a man should plant 
to make the machine pay. F. groshon. 
In writing to advertisers please always mention 
The BUBAL. 
STANDARD REARS 
SUPERB TREES—CHOICE VARIETIES. 
An excellent oppoitunity to plant an orchard at 
a remarkably small outlay. Catalogue FREE. 
ELLWANGER & BARRY, 
N^^^^^^eHes^MICHKSTEIt^LY. 
MAILED FREE. 
8PRING CATALOGUE OF 
Orange County Nurseries 
Fifty Illustrations of all the 
good fruits and ornamentals. 
Our prices are right. Address 
T. J. DWYER, Cornwall, N. Y. 
SHUCKLESS 
STRAWBERRIES 
part readily from the shock, 
which remains on the stem in¬ 
stead of the berry. Vigorous, 
prolific and good. Write for 
full description and prices. 
All other best kinds cheap. 
THE HOOVER & GAINES CO. 
DAYTON, OHIO. 
.cee-AOn to SIDNEY TUTTLE A CO. liUKMUM.TOS, ILL. 
UflTIAF I The offer of the “Sir William’ 
NU I lUL i Potato, In issue of February 18,1s 
closed, but all those who expected to get them, but 
were too late, can secure samples for testing by mall, 
post-paid. Price, one pound, $1; three pounds, $2. 
R. D. BURR, Gloversville, N. Y. 
DHTATflCC ( OUR SPECIALTY : 
I U I A I UbU I All the newest varieties 
of the day. \ b y mal l. 
The Novelties of ’93. ' NEW TESTED KINDS. 
Columbian, of Bragg. Freeman, of Maule. 
World's Fair, from Wis. Am. Wonder, of Vick. 
E. Pride, of Vick. E. Northern, of Jerrard. 
E. Beauty of Elberton, Nepollan, of Hlgbee. 
of Gregory. 4 pounds, $1.00, I of each. 
4 pounds, $1.50, 1 of each. All post-paid. 
SPECIAL BARGAIN.— For a short time: Min¬ 
isters, E. Hebrons , Rural New-Yorker No. 2, Monroe 
Seedling, Crown Jewel, at $1 25 per bushel; second 
size, 90 cents. Pilce-llst of 40 kinds, by the barrel, 
free. V. 8TONEROD, Lewlstown, Pa. 
Kansas Home Nursery 
Say—The Kansas Is the largest and best Blackcap. 
Made the best record, approved by high authorities 
over a large area of country and climate. Send for 
Price Catalogue. 
A. H. GRIESA, Box J, Lawrence, Kan. 
BEST RFRRY P™ng 
Free Price List U k IIII I I RICES 
8LAYMAKER & 80N, Dover, Del. 
BERRY BOXES AND BASKETS 
WELLS HIGHAN CO., 
ST. JOSEPH 
MICHIGAN. 
fifll ntu n II C CII Raspberry Plants by dozen or 1000. 
UULUE.il 1|UECI1 Peach Trees, all sizes. Aspar¬ 
agus Roots, Osage Plants, General Nursery 
Stock. (Send list wanted for Spring.) 
JOSIAH A. ROBKHTS, Malvern, Pa. 
READER 
IF YOU 
LOVE 
choice only, address Ellis Bros.. 
Keene, N. II. It will astonish and please. PfEreei 
RARE FLOWERS 
Profits in Fruit Growing 
Will be made by all planting orchards of Japan 
Plums and Hardy Peaches. HENRY LUl’TS, 
Youngstown, N. Y., grows Pear, Plum, Peach and 
Quince Trees of the best quality. Descriptive Circu¬ 
lars and Price-List to all. Mention The R. N.-Y. 
CAD C 11 C —Vineyards In the noted Chautauqua 
run vNLta grape region, 10 and 13 acres. 
RUMSEY BROS., Westfleld, N. Y. 
Tfl ITT fill CUAQCQ —Good farm, fully equipped, 
IU LEI UR onnnEO. near New York City. 
Cnance for an energetic practical farmer. Address 
with references, VEBRINDER, 62 William Street, 
New York City. 
FRUIT FARM FOR SALE^or.^'. 1 .! 
fruit, grain and stock section of Virginia. Climate 
unsurpassed, near the great markets; 204 acres, 54 
in timber, 44 In vineyard, 7 In orchard. Large barn; 
Dwelling, seven rooms and cellar, Indian Bungalow 
style. Price, $4,575. For further Information as to 
this farm or section write to 
SaM’L B. WOODS, Charlottevllle. Va. 
BERRY CRATES 
AND 
CRAPE BASKETS. 
Write for Price List. Address 
COLBY HINCKLEY CO., Benton Harbor. Mich. 
- FOSTITE - 
PREVENTS 
Mildew and Black Rot 
— ON — 
CRAPES, FRUITS, ETC. 
Book sent on application to 
C. II. JOOSTEN, 3 Coentles Slip, New York. 
HD AQr UIUCQ For ?1 1 win mal1, P° 8t P ald 
Unflrt-I IRLu. treatise on “Grape Culture,’ 
(price, 25c.) and 9 first-class vines, 3 each Niagara, 
Brighton and Worden, best white red and black 
varieties, and 10 Gladiolus Bulbs, beautiful mixed 
colors. Safe arrival In good condition guaranteed. 
Price List Eree to all. 
J. H. TRYON, 'Willoughby, Ohio. 
WILL BUY OUR NEW BERRY 24c. 
24c. CRATE, complete, with boxes for _ 
T. C. Avis Basket Company, Oxford, N. Y. 
PRAYYOURTREES.$|7fe!,W5.50 
Makes 3 Complete Brass Machines. Will Spray 10 A cres per Day. 
AUTOMATlC MlXKlt for ’93. Rest , Cheapest, and Easiest working[Spray Pump wind#. En¬ 
dorsed by the lending Entomologists of the U.S. A Valuable 111 d Rook (worth $o.00) Our 
.. .._ Trisect. Foes." given tneachpurchaser. Satisfaction guakan-i bed ok money refunded. 
Over 60.000 in use. One Farmer ngent has sold over 2000. Insect icides at wholesale prices. Ill d 
LlM cat. on spraying frees Mention paper. !*• (J» JLKWlfci CO.* Cutslull* ^ • x • 
OUR SPECIAL OFFER;— 
Below see sample letters from those who have accepted our Special 
Oiler for 1892, have got their Creameries and tested them, 
Lyons, Mich., May 6th, 1692 
I received the Creamery. Have tried it. Several neighbors have seen 
it, like it very much and want them at once. It gets all the cream. It pays 
to accept the Delaware County Creamery Co.’s offer. You get just what 
is recommended. Respectfully, A. A. CRANE. 
Syracuse, Ind., May 6th, 1692. 
Your Creamery came. put it to work. Have been 8 years in hard¬ 
ware trade. Have sold several makes of creameries, but yours is better 
than any I ever sold, shall want several. 
Yours truly, MAT. J. RIPPEY. 
THE DELAWARE COUNTY CREAMERY C0. , “ " , 'S I Ci , . r, ’« r ' 
$ 25.00 
Buys a GOOD ORGAN. 
This gives you an idea of our prices. We sell at manufac¬ 
turer’s prices— direct from the factory to the home. This 
means just half the retail price. You save the other half. 
We sell Oue Thousand Organs and Pianos per month, 
and can point you to an Organ or Fiano of our make in every 
County in the U. S. If you live within 200 miles of us, you 
can visit our factory at our expense, and see for yourself. 
Write at once for our new Catalogue. 
Free to any address. It contains beautiful colored illustra¬ 
tions, accurate descriptions and lowest prices of the latest 
and finest styles of Organs and Fianos. It will save you 
many times its weight in gold. 
Organs from $25.00 up. Pianos from 8175.00 up. 
For CASH, or on EASY CREDIT. 
All Instruments shipped on trial. No satisfaction no pay. 
f Re fere nets— Ft rst National Bank, your oum Banker , 
and all Commercial Agencies. 
Write for Catalogue to-day, and get our Special Offers. 
CORNISH ORGAN AND PIANO CO., 
Established 26 Years. WASHINGTON, N. J. 
