<sss 
seen so many such large potatoes taken from 
a single hill. Considering the rot affecting 
other varieties, and considering the many 
valuable features ot' the Dakota Red, I con¬ 
sider it the most promising variety for our 
section for a late potato. 
We find that a friable sod, not inclined to 
harden, is the most desirable for the potato. 
The soil should be deep, well drained, and in 
good heart. The best results, in this section, 
are secured by applying manure freely on a 
clover sod early in the Spring. The clover is 
permitted to grow ip through the manure 
until about June first, then all is turned under 
deeply, and the soil pulverized in the most, 
thorough manner; then a dressing of from 
throe to five hundred pounds of phosphate per 
acre is applied. The ground is then marked 
three feet apart each way and the seed drop¬ 
ped. As nmeh of the potato as possible, and 
from one to two eyes are planted in each hill. 
We have practiced different methods of plant¬ 
ing, and have succeeded by plowing furrows, 
dropping the seed, and covering with a plow, 
ut where planted in hills as indicated above, 
we conclude that the hoe is the best implement 
for making the hill and for covering. We 
have found that too deep planting is disas¬ 
trous. especially if the season proves wet. 
When planting late.the potatoes maybe plant¬ 
ed deeper than if planted earlier. 
The object in planting late is that the pota¬ 
to comes un in a short time, and makes a j 
rapid growth, and the soil, not being subjected 
to heavy storms, is not compact, aud remains 
loose throughout the season with proper cul¬ 
ture. The potato cannot develop to its best 
state unless the soil is loose and friable to a con¬ 
siderable depth. This friable condition of any 
but. sandy soil cannot be maintained except 
by late planting, and by the loosening fur¬ 
nished by the clover sod. On snndv soil such 
treatment, mav not lie necessary. Our soil is 
clav mixed with saud with a tendency t,o 
harden. We have applied Bradley's fertiliz¬ 
er in the hill at the rate of a large spoonful 
per hill on rich soil, and the results were satis¬ 
factory. providing the potatoes were not per¬ 
mitted to come in contact, with the fertilizer. 
The potatoes were not affected by growing in 
close contact with the fertilizer, and vet, I do 
not consider this method of applying the fer¬ 
tilizer the best, as the roots of the potatoes 
soon get far beyond reach of it when dropped 
int.he hill. 
We hoe the j>otatocs as soon as they appear 
above the ground, and liefore the weeds have 
attained sufficient size to impede the hoe to 
any extent. At this stage a few brushes of 
the hoe do the work completely. In less than 
a week after the potatoes have pushed up 
several inches, a shovel-plow will coverup any 
weeds that have appeared since. Soon after, 
the cultivator is set to work leveling down the 
ground. My theory has been that level cul¬ 
ture is the best method, but, having practiced 
it enthusiastically for several years, and hav¬ 
ing each year been beaten in yield bv an Irish 
laborer upon our place, whose potato patch 
was adjacent to mine, mv confidence in level 
culture is somewhat shaken. The Irishman’s 
method of ridging with a shovel-plow proved 
more disastrous to the weeds with less labor. 
I am not prewired to sav positively that hill- 
culture gives the best yields, hut, desire to get 
further light on the subject. It is a fact that 
a broad-winged shovel plow will cover up and 
destroy more weeds at nmeli less expense than 
any other method. Since I have experimented 
with the shovel-plow, I hnve followed it imme¬ 
diately with the cultivator, loosening the 
ground to a considerable depth. This I deem 
of vital importance, if not done too late in the 
season, so as to disturb the roots. 
We have found no better method of prepar¬ 
ing the soil for strawberries and other small 
fruits that require freedom from weeds, than 
by thoroughly enriching the soil and planting 
early, to early varieties of potatoes. The pota¬ 
to crop can Ik* dug in August, or the first of 
September. After having received thorough 
culture, the grouud mav lie cultivated there¬ 
after. Tliis gives thistles, Quack Grass and 
other wtH'iIs little chance for securing a foot¬ 
hold. and rings the death knell of the weeds, if 
pursued with energy. The ground can lie 
planted to strawberries in the Fall. or. if not 
free from weeds, cultivation can be continued 
at frequent intervals until Winter approaches, 
and the ground lie planted the following Spring. 
The past two seasons we have dug our pota¬ 
toes with n strong shovel-plow with broad 
wings, to which we attached two horses, and 
applied a heavy weight in the shape of a stone. 
This made the plow rim dee]). The horses 
walked between the rows, and the shovel-plow 
passes 1 under the row of potatoes, throwing up 
and exhibiting to sight nearly the whole crop, 
and destroying scarcely any. The potatoes 
were immediately picked, and after the whole 
field was secured in this manner, and the vines 
collected, we cultivated with a two-horse cul¬ 
tivator and picked over again, and then har¬ 
rowed and picked over again, if any were 
found upon the surface, We found that this 
was an easy way to harvest the potatoes, and 
the soil was thoroughly cultivated by the 
process. 
We are not troubled to any serious extent 
with insects. Usually one application of 
Paris-green at the time when the young beet¬ 
les begin to be destructive, is sufficient. If a 
rain occurs after applying the Paris-green, we 
are obliged to give a second application. 
Rochester, N. Y. 
VERMONT POTATO NOTES. 
1st. The most profitable potatoes, all things 
considered, in this section, are the Suowflake 
and Landretli’s Garfield. Buyers for Boston 
market will pay from five to ten cents more 
per bushel in the Fall for them, than for any 
variety you can mention. 
2d. We always select good-sized potatoes for 
planting when we Lave them. If the tuber is 
quite large we cut it into four pieces, and 
put one piece in a hill. If the potato is about 
the size of a hen’s egg, I should prefer to drop 
oue in a hill, providing I did not plant in drills, 
5th. We use farm manure, soil day loam; 
plant in hills 2^ by 2 ! <j feet, cultivate both 
ways. 
6th. Flat cultivation will not do here. We 
cultivate and hoe twice during the season. 
8th. Potatoes should be sorted and picked up 
as soon as they are dug; it is well, of course,to 
let them dry off first, aud they should bo dug as 
soon as they are ripe, and not be left in the 
ground. 
9th. The best time for farmers to sell is in 
the Fall by all means. 
11. Average yield in this section is about 
200 bushels to the acre. o. h. Alexander, 
HISTORY OF THE POTATO. 
REV'. L. J. TEMPLIN. 
The early history of the potato is involved 
in obscurity. It has been supposed that the 
plant was first found by Europeans in Vir¬ 
ginia, and that Sir Walter Raleigh carried it 
theuce to Eugland in the year 1586. 
Raleigh never visited Virginia. He only fur¬ 
nished ships and means to aid in planting a 
colony there. The most probable theory to 
my mind is. that Sir Francis Drake, returning 
from explorations in the Pacific Ocean, coasted 
along the western shores of South America, 
one of the native habitats of the potato, and 
while in that region procured some of the 
tubers which he canned with him to England. 
Ou his homeward voyage, he touched on the 
shores of Virginia, and took off the dis¬ 
couraged colonists and conveyed them back to 
the mother country. If this is correct, then 
this introduction probably oeemred as early as 
1565, this being the date of Drake’s return 
from the West. The potato was doubtless 
known to Europeans at an earlier date, ns 
Columbus, during one of his voyages, found a 
root cultivated ou the island of Cuba, that was 
used for foot! by the natives, and this was no 
doubt, the potato. 
Early European voyagers and travelers 
found the potato growing in the Andean 
forests and along the Pacific coasts on both 
sides of the equator, through several degrees 
of latitude. It was also found in cultivation, 
the natives testifying that it had been in cul¬ 
tivation as an article of diet from time imme¬ 
morial. Spanish and Portuguese adventurers 
probably introduced the potato into those 
countries at a very early day, whence it 
probably made its way into Italy. It is quite 
certain that it was cultivated in Spain as early 
as 1550. The time of its introduction into 
Ireland, where it has become so important as 
an article of food that a general failure of the 
crop results in a famine, is in dispute, some 
claiming that it was from Spain bv a sea 
captain in 1565, others that it was procured 
from Raleigh in England. 
Germany received the potato in 1710. The 
Government gave great encouragement to its 
culture, even using compulsory means, in 
some instances, to promote its cultivation. 
Its importance iu Germany as an article of 
diet is second only to what it is In Ireland. In 
France, where the potato was introduced at 
the beginning of the 18th century, it had to 
fight its way to popularity against great oppo¬ 
sition. The National College of Physicians 
pronounced it poisonous. The Catholic priests 
pronounced it an evil root because it was not 
mentioned in the Bible. 
Through the address of a courtier King 
Louis XIV was interested in the plant, and it 
was introduced into the royal gardens. The 
example of the sovereign was followed by the 
nobles and thus it soon became popular. 
It seems strange to us that a plant that has 
so many qualities to commend it should have 
required 350 years to make its way to general 
popularity, but such is tho case; and it was 
not till the beginning of the present century 
that it came to In* appreciated as its merits 
deserve. 
Canon City, Col. 
ILLINOIS POTATO NOTES. 
The early varieties now in highest favor in 
this section are the Early Ohio, Early Ver¬ 
mont, and Earl}' Rose, standing in the order 
named. The Beauty of Hebron is highly spok¬ 
en of by those who have grown it, but neither 
the time nor the extent of its being grown here 
justifies its unqualified recommendation. The 
Early Ohio matures earlier, yields more, is of 
better quality, aud keeps better than any 
other variety grown here. But from my ex¬ 
perience with other varieties, I would say that 
it would not do so well in other localities. 
Late potatoes are not extensively grown. Our 
Summers are too dry and warm. The late 
potatoes almost stop growth during the latter 
half of June, an l during July and August, 
and if they do not start again in September 
the yield is very light; while should they make 
a second growth, very frequently they fail to 
mature before frost, and as a result are of 
poor quality. 
Potatoes require a loose, lively, light soil. 
Hence we avoid clay and select a soil with a 
good percentage of sand and humus. For 
late potatoes we prefer a northern slope; for 
early potatoes a southern slope. Sod, if well 
rotted, is much better than fallow. The sod 
should be plowed in the Fall, and re-plowed, 
or cut up with a pulverizing harrow, in the 
Spring. I prefer the latter. Harrow the 
ground until it is thoroughly fined, but do not 
roll or drag it. 
The only fertilizer that I have ever used, or 
have known anyone else to use in this section, 
is barn-vard or stable manure. It. should be 
thoroughly rotted. Potatoes will stand heavy 
manuring. Of the varieties grown here. Early 
Rose should lie manured the heaviest, and 
Peachblow the lightest. If the grouud were 
fallow, I would use manure liberally; and 
though a heavy sod, I would yet. manure. In 
either case I spread the manure on the sur¬ 
face after plowing, and harrow it in. 
I find that the man who can store potatoes 
conveniently and keep them properly, nearly l 
always makes money by holding them till 
February or March. If you have a cellar that 
is thoroughly ventilated, cool, and dark, put 
the potatoes in it at once, though they are 
harvested in July, being careful to put them 
in bins raised from the floor,and not more than a 
foot deep in the bins. If you cannot observe 
every one of these points, put the potatoes in 
some airy (but as dark as possible) out-build¬ 
ing. Moisture and light are the two agents 
most destructive of potatoes. Potatoes may 
be stored in boxes or barrels, raised from the 
floor; but I prefer shallow bins. This, of 
course, applies to storing in cellars. I 
have always succeeded in keeping potatoes 
well in pits. 
Early potatoes are a decidedly profitably 
crop with us. The average yield is nearly two 
hundred bushels to the acre. I have raised 
altout four hundred bushels per acre. But my 
late potatoes oftener proved unprofitable than 
profitable; and this is the common experience. 
The average spring price, for the last 20 years 
has been fully 50 cents per bushel. 
Quincy, HI. JOHN M. stahl. 
MAGNUM BONUM AND RURAL BLUSH. 
I have tried or grown thirty-five varieties 
of potatoes. Magnum Bornun. White Ele¬ 
phant and Rural Blush yield the best. Early 
Mayflower, Early Telephone and White Ele¬ 
phant are the best flavored. I planted a small 
plot of ground in the garden to Magnum Bo- 
num and Rural Blush; the Magnum Bonum 
yielded at the rate of 1,292 2-15 bushels per 
acre, the Blush yielded 1,030 bushels per acre. 
I put hen manure and wood ashes quite heavily 
on the ground, plowed the ground six inches 
deep, and raked it fine. I planted the potatoes 
one foot apart each way, and gave them two 
hoeings only, and left the ground level; planted 
one small piece in each hill; I think a fungus 
produces scab; the worst scabby potatoes I 
ever raised were on ground that bad no wire- 
worms in it. 
Onarga, Ill. h. h. Clark. 
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