1895 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
24i 
the cultivator should be used. After this, I go 
through them twice each way, with the hoi*se-hoe ; 
we usually put one day’s hand work to the acre. 
1 dig by hand. 1 have let my potatoes, to be dug 
by the acre, to the same man for 10 years. He digs, 
picks them up, sorts, and loads the crates on the 
wagon, for $5 an acre—and boards himself. I usually 
sell on the first market, and four times out of five, 
realize more money than I would by holding them. 
1 sold last year’s crop for 55 cents per bushel, and the 
preceding year's for 60 cents in October. 
COST AND COMPARISON OF POTATOES. 
Plowing one acre. $1.50 
Harrowing. 1.50 
Marking. 50 
Planting. 1.00 
Smoothing harrow (twice). 50 
Cultivator (twice). 1.00 
Horse hoe (twice). 1.00 
Hand hoe. 1.00 
Bugging. 1.00 
Digging. 5.00 
Drawing to market. 2.00 
Seed potatoes. 4.00 
Labor and seed.$20.00 
Fertility taken from soil with 150 bushels of potatoes. 15.00 
Interest on land. 5.00 
Entire cost for one acre.$40.00 
Average cost per bushel 27 cents. 
The potato business of the United States is a big 
industry. [Tn 1893 there were grown 183,034,203 
bushels, valued at $108,661,801. Eds.] Nearly $2 for 
every man, woman and child, but it drops into insig¬ 
nificance when compared with the national drink bill, 
which was $1,080,000,000—.$17 for every man, woman 
and child. The liquor consumed last year would buy 
all the potatoes we could raise in 10 years. The poor 
people who buy the liquor cannot buy the potatoes, 
and we have to sell them for what we can get. Liquor 
affects the price of potatoes much more than the tariff 
does. Do you say that the liquor consumed affects 
only the person who uses it ? When will the farmers 
get their eyes open ? p. herrick. 
Tioga County, N. Y. 
ARE POTATOES POTATOES? 
A SIMPLE TEST FOR QUALITY. 
In making brine for his beef, my father used to put 
a potato in the water, and stir in salt until the potato 
would float. This was considered a safe test, and I 
think it usually proved to be so. Hut I have since 
learned that if two or more potatoes are put in at the 
same time, they will rarely all come up at once. Even 
when the potatoes are all of the same variety, and are 
taken from the same bin, it takes considerable more 
salt to bring up some tubers than others. This means 
that some potato tubers have a higher specific gravity 
than others. Now, starch, the portion of the potato 
that makes it chiefly valuable for food, is heavier than 
water; hence the relatively heaviest potatoes, or in 
other words, those that have the highest specific 
gravity, contain the most starch, and so have the 
highest food value. They are also finest for table use, 
because they have the most farinaceous or “ mealy” 
quality when cooked. 
Here is a pointer for potato epicures.. Hy putting a 
bushel of potatoes into a barrel which is nearly full 
of water, and stirring in salt, the tubers of the lowest 
specific gravity, i. e., poorest in starch, will first come 
to the top. These may be picked off. Hy stirring in 
a little more salt, another lot will rise, and thus the 
bushel may be assorted into several qualities. Hy 
rinsing the tubers in clean water as they are taken 
out, they are uninjured, either for table use or for 
planting, and it is surprising to one who has not made 
the test, to discover how great is the difference in the 
table quality of the lightest and heaviest tubers. The 
former will be soggy and salvy, while the latter will 
be flaky and farinaceous. 
On discovering this marked difference in the quality 
of individual tubers of the same variety, the question 
naturally arose as to its cause. It has often been 
stated that pronged or knobby tubers are poorer in 
starch than others. The salt test easily shows this to 
be true. Hut some smooth tubers will usually rise as 
soon as the knobby ones, and it is an interesting fact 
that these light smooth tubers are often undistinguish - 
able by any external mark, from the heaviest ones, 
and this is true even of tubers that grew in the same 
hill. 
Some years since, I set about to discover the cause 
of this singular variation in the starch content of dif¬ 
ferent individual tubers. The first suggestion acted 
upon was that it might be due to heredity. Accord¬ 
ingly, a lot of potatoes was assorted into three classes 
by the salt method, and the tubers showing the high¬ 
est and lowest specific gravity planted separately. 
But no appreciable difference appeared in the specific 
gravity of the crops. The same line of selection fol¬ 
lowed another year showed no more definite results. 
The question next arose, whether the variation might 
not be due to the varying depths at which the tubers 
grew in the soil, and this appears to be the true solu¬ 
tion. Careful tests with several different varieties, 
and with different methods of culture, carried on 
through two consecutive seasons, showed that the 
tubers that grew nearest the surface of the soil, were 
lowest in specific gravity ; those that grew deepest 
were highest, and those that grew in the intermediate 
depth were intermediate in specific gravity. This 
fact suggested that the temperature of the soil in 
which the tubers grow, may have an influence upon 
their specific gravity, and that a comparatively cool 
temperature favors high specific gravity. In support 
of this view, it may be added that potatoes grown in 
level culture, averaged higher in specific gravity than 
those hilled, and tests have shown that level soil 
usually averages lower in summer temperature than 
that which is ridged. 
Potatoes grown closely in drills, were found higher 
in specific gravity than those grown further apart in 
hills—the more largely shaded soil of the drill cult¬ 
ure being thereby rendered cooler. The commonly 
accepted view that potatoes grown in comparatively 
cool climates, are usually of better quality than those 
grown in warmer climates, is supported by these re¬ 
sults, and we would expect that mulching potatoes 
during the hotter part of the season in the warmer 
climates, would tend to improve the quality of the 
tubers. 
The market value of potatoes should be based on 
their specific gravity. There is no reason why pota¬ 
toes containing but 12 per cent of starch should sell for 
as much per bushel as those containing 20 per cent ; 
yet such is the case under the present methods of 
sale. The latter are worth nearly double the former 
for food, besides being more desirable in every way. 
Variations as great as this in the specific gravity of 
potatoes, are not unusual. The salt test admits of very 
easy and economical application. All that is needed 
is a large candy jar or other wide-mouthed, capa¬ 
cious glass vessel, a hydrometer, a little salt and a 
few quarts of clean water. A dozen uninjured tubers 
may be selected as a sample, washed clean and 
placed in the standard salt solution, which will at 
once answer the question as to their average specific 
gravity and consequent food value. When the good 
time comes in which potatoes are sold on their merits 
as food, rather than on the amount of bulk that they 
fill, farmers will have some encouragement to pro¬ 
duce tubers that contain starch, rather than those 
that contain water, and potatoes will be more used 
for food, because their food value and palatability 
will be increased. [prof.] e. s. goff. 
Wisconsin Experiment Station. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name and address of 
the writer to insure attention. Before asking a question please 
see whether it is not answered in our advertising columns. Ask 
only a few questions at one time. Put questions on a separate 
piece of paper.] 
A “New Carman Potato.” 
C. E. K., North Bennington, Vt. —An agent for a seed potato 
firm said that he could get Carman No. 3 at $5 per bushel, and 
that they had No. 1, 3 and 4. Ha, ha ! I said there was no No. 4. 
Did I lie ? 
Ans. —The agent did not tell the truth. He could 
not get the Carman No. 3 potato at $5 a bushel. We 
do not think he could get it at .$10 a bushel—in fact, 
we doubt if he could get it at all. You are right, there 
is no No. 4. 
Treating Potatoes for Scab ; Weeders. 
G. W. If., Brewster, N. Y. —1. Is corrosive sublimate injurious 
to the hands of those handling the treated seed potatoes ? Can 
it be applied with safety to cut seed potatoes? 2. Should 
Crimson clover be sown before or immediately after the last 
cultivation of corn ? Would it pay to sow it when the land is 
to be replowed the next spring? 3. Can the “ weeders,” so ex¬ 
tensively advertised, be profitably used on stony or cobbly 
ground ? Are they not likely to tear out the plants where hill 
culture of corn or potatoes is adopted ? Are they not readily 
clogged' with the litter of coarse manure or weeds not plowed 
under ? Have they any weak points that farmers need to know ? 
Ans. —1. Not as generally used, unless the hands 
are badly chapped or cut. If the potatoes are shov¬ 
eled in and out of the water, and thoroughly drained, 
there will be little trouble. No, it is not safe to treat 
the cut tubers. 2. Our preference would be to sow 
after the cultivating, and then roll lightly. If this 
cannot be done, we would sow before cultivating. We 
do not recommend spring sowing of this clover. 3. 
The original “ weeder” came from a very stony coun¬ 
try. Among small stones they do fair work, but with 
bowlders or large flat stones, a smoothing harrow 
will do better. You will be surprised to see how 
little injury is done to growing crops by these tools. 
They act like a rake to gather trash, but are so light 
that a slight lift on the handles will clear them. Of 
course, these tools do their best work on smooth land 
that has been carefully prepared. They are not in¬ 
tended to rake stones or pulverize clods—simply to 
scratch over the surface. A neighbor used our weeder 
on early sw’eet corn and on potatoes planted on corn 
stubble. Ilis criticism was that where sweet corn 
was planted in hills, with manure in the hill, the 
weeder pulled out too much of it. lie also said that 
it pulled up and gathered too many of the old com 
roots. We think the latter trouble could have been 
prevented by lifting on the handles. 
Rolling Land for Potatoes. 
J. C., Cambridge, Mil. —Does The R. N.-Y. advocate rolling pota¬ 
toes after planting? Knowing that it objects to packing the soil, 
I am uncertain how it regards the roller. 
Ans. —No, we do not. One great principle of The 
It. N.-Y.’s trench system of potato culture, is to keep 
the soil as loose and friable as possible. To roll the 
soil, would upset just the effect we wish to produce. 
The roller is very useful on many crops—like grass 
seeds or grain. These seeds are planted very shallow. 
Hy firmly compacting the soil, we get a level surface, 
the earth is pressed close to the seeds, and moisture is 
brought to the surface to assist germination. We 
think that many lots of Crimson clover seed failed to 
start last summer because the surface was not firmly 
packed. In plowing a sod, too, the roller is useful in 
firming the soil, and thus enabling the sod to hold 
moisture better. With potatoes, however, the object 
is to leave the soil open and loose. As the tuber 
forms in the soil, it is evident that close packing is not 
desirable. 
The Black Paris Muskmelon. 
A. S., Kingston, N. J.— I believe that Tub R.N.-Y. recommended 
the large Black Paris muskmelon as the best. I expect to plant 
quite a big crop of melons, and wish the very best variety. 
Ans. —No, we do not recommend the Black Paris 
muskmelon as the best. We tried it last season for 
the first. The vines were exceedingly prolific of the 
largest muskmelons we have ever raised—too large, 
pirhaps, to be profitable as a market variety. Some of 
them weighed 14 pounds—about 13 inches long, and 10 
inches short diameter. The quality is not the best, 
but really excellent for so large a melon. Better try 
the Hackensack, Jenny Lind, Christiana, Emerald 
Gem, Miller Cream. Study the different catalogues 
advertised in The R. N.-Y. 
Strawberries and Crimson Clover for New Hampshire. 
M. B. S„ Wilton, N. If.— 1. Name three or four of the best early 
strawberries (perfect flowering) for successful growing on rather 
light, sandy loam, or pine plain land in southern New Hamp¬ 
shire. 2. Will Crimson clover do well in this latitude ? 
Ans. —1. We would mention Rio, Shuster’s Gem 
and Heder Wood. For later, we would mention Brandy¬ 
wine, Charles Downing and Sharpless. 2. We have 
not received any reports that would justify us in say¬ 
ing that Crimson clover would stand your winters. 
A Treatment for Pear Blight. 
Several Subscribers.— Has anything been discovered that will 
really prevent true pear blight? 
Ans. —No method of preventing pear blight has yet 
been discovered. The only thing that can be done is 
judiciously and thoroughly to prune it out. Mr. M. 
B. Waite, of the Division of Vegetable Pathology at 
Washington, is now at work on this bacterial disease, 
and will doubtless give us more definite knowledge of 
this mysterious blight in the near future. m. v. s. 
What Part of Corn Ears for Seed ? 
,/. II. J., Netawaka, Kan. —When shelling corn for seed, does 
it pay to reject the butts and tips, and save only the middle of the 
ears ? 
Ans. —About 10 years ago, the New York Experi¬ 
ment Station, then directed by Dr. Sturtevant, made 
some careful experiments to determine this question. 
Other stations and individuals have done the same 
thing. There seems to be little doubt, from these 
experiments, that it does not pay to remove the butt 
and tip kernels from the ear saved for seed. 
Lawn Grasses, Dwarf Pears, etc. 
l Subscriber, Connecticut. —1. Would June grass and Red-top, half 
and half, make a good mixture for a lawn? If not, will The R. 
N.-Y. give a formula for a good mixture, and also advise about 
sowing it? 2. Does it pay to plant dwarf pears, or would one better 
plant standards and wait a little longer for the fruit ? 3. What 
variety of dent corn would The R. N.-Y. advise me to raise in this 
section (northern Connecticut) ? The soil is a rather light, sandy 
loam. 
Ans. —1. Yes, either or both. Red-top germinates 
much sooner than Blue grass, but it does not make a 
sufficient growth to interfere with the latter. In our 
experience, we may hardly say which we would pre¬ 
fer if only one were sown. On high, dry land, per¬ 
haps the Blue grass would be preferable : in low lands, 
Red-top. These two grasses are the basis—the stand¬ 
bys of all the high-priced lawn mixtures. If both 
kinds be used, half and half of each would be about 
right, as either weighs about 14 pounds to the bushel. 
We would sow not less than three bushels to the acre, 
and after sowing half one way and raking it in, we 
would sow the other half crosswise, rake it in, and 
then roll. 2. Yes, it does, and it does not. There are 
a few kinds of pears that do admirably upon quince 
stock ; and come into bearing years before the stand¬ 
ards. For a permanent pear orchard, we would cer¬ 
tainly prefer the standards ; but it has always seemed 
to us economy to plant between the standards, cer¬ 
tain varieties of dwarfs which aie known to do well 
as such. As for instance, Anjou, Angouleme, Bartlett, 
Clapp’s Favorite, Lawrence and others. Large crops 
of pears will be borne by these before the standards 
come into bearing. As soon as the dwarfs and stand¬ 
ards interfere, the former could be destroyed. 3, 
Queen of the Prairie or some of its modifications, 
