Money in potatoes. 400 bushels to the acre as a field crop

i alii iret, Puankitn Wows Go.

MONEY IN POTATOES.

400 BUSHELS TO THE ACRE AS A FIELD CROP.

()

A COMPLETE INSTRUCTOR FOR THE POTATO GROW ER.
OUR NEW SYSTEM FULLY EXPLAINED IN SEV-
EN'TEEN CHAPTERS AND FORTY LESSONS,
WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS. AP-
PENDIX. THE NEWER VARIE-

TiS, THEIR MERITS AND
FAULTS.

————————————)

BY TUISCO GREINER (JOSEPH).
O

“FROM DAY TO DAY THE NUMBER OF MOUTHS TO BE FED
FROM EACI£L ACRE IN OUR COUNTRY INCREASES
LEY US NEGLECT NO MEANS TO MUL-
TIPLY THE PRODUCT OF _jppetinniiese
en ea, at
OUR LAND.” aah er uoy 7}
JS?” eQPYRIGHT

c

wip

1885.

Peay Oe.

It cannot be the intention of the author (who himself feels
the responsibility for a small part of the modern potato litera-
ture) to deny that the subject treated in the following pages
has received its full share of attention by the agricultural
press during the last decennium.

Here are many valuable suggestions relating to potato eul-
ture presented to the world, but being seattered over a wide
space of time and territory, they are not accessible to the
general reader.

No apology is deemed necessary for the attempt to collect
and sift all this matter, and present what is good of it (incor-
porated into our own original method) in a handy and inex-
pensive form. We have been guided by the desire to teach
common-sense methods, expose erroneous notions, and tell, in
plain words, how we have attained suecess, and how the
general farmer can easily reach it.

Is not the average potato yield ridiculously low? More
knowledge on the subject is what the farmer needs to double it.
May this work contribute toward making two potatoes grow
where formerly grew but one; that is the heart-felt wish of

THE AUTHOR.
NAPLES, N. Y., February 1st, 1885.

CHAPTER I.
SELECTION OF GROUND.

Desirable Soils. Soils to be Avoided. Virgin Soil. Clover Sod..

Success in potato culture is obtainable not only in different
climes, but also in a very great variety of soils. Under other-
wise favorable conditions, the tuber will grow as well in clear
sand as in stiffclay. The happy medium is generally the best.
Lesson 1.—Soils varying between « sandy and cluy loam, if

naturally drained and otherwise in proper condition, muy
be relied on for a profituble crop.

A thin layer of fertile surface-soil, resting upon clay subsoil,
whieh isimpervious to water, should never be used for potatoes,
not even if thoroughly underdrained.

The tubers are more apt to rot in heavy, sticky soils, par-
ticularly in a wet season, than on light sandy or gravelly ones.
LESSON 2.—Avoid all soils so stiff that they cannot be perfectly

jined and pulverized,

{tis a very common practice with farmers to plant potatoes:
on clover-sod, plowed in the spring. This selection is a “ood
one, provided, however, that as in the case of young and rank-
growing clover, the sod is such as to admit of thorough pulveri-
zation, or that the field ean be plowed early enough during the
summer or fall previous to give ample time for the sward to
rot and thus make cross-plowing practicable. Otherwise, when
the clover field is old and the roots of grasses and weeds sre
woven into a tough, thick sward, which cannot be easily broken
and pulverized, it would be advisable to have a crop of wheat,
rye, oats, or corn precede the potato erop.

6
»

6

An admirable selection: For Early Sorts—Clay loam, very
rich. For Late Sorts—Sandy or gravelly loam, of medium fer-
tility. Naturally drained, loose and mellow clover-sod, or stub-
ble after stiff sod is the best imaginable condition or state of
cultivation in either case.

The potato thrives best in a cool and moist climate or season.
Its home is on lime-stone lands.

= ——()

CHAPTER II.

MANURE AND ITS APPLICATION. FEED THE
LAND AND THE LAND WILL FEED YOU.

Stable Manure. Clover. Commercial Fertilizers. Chemicals.
Potato Pulp.

LEsson 3.—Stuble munure should be fine and thoroughly rotted,
spread evenly during the fall previous, and if on stubble,
incorporated into the soil at once.

Coarse, unfermented stable dung is nearly worthless for the
potato crop, unless as a muleh on very porous and dry soils.
Thoroughly rotted compost in moderate quantities is a good fer-
tilizer for tall-growing ‘varieties, while low-growing (early)
sorts are greatly benefitted by more liberal applications.

The clover on the pasture lot or meadow selected for a potato
field should not be grazed or cut very late in the fall. We
could hardly wish fora better fertilizer than a good growth of
clover, covered during the fall with a coat of fine old manure or
barn-yard scrapings, lighter or heavier according to variety to
be planted—and, if possible, applied with a Kemp manure
spreader or, at least, evenly and finely distributed by means of
harrow or otherwise.

For stubble ground, fall manuring can be recommended only
on condition that the manure is harrowed or cultivated into
the soil and thus left until spring.

Lesson 4.—A field which had been heavily manwred for the
preceding crop, is in first rate condition fer a potato crop.

7

On land manured the year previous, potatoes will do well
without additional fertilizing, still the application of wood
ashes or lime often increases the yield.

Newly applied stable manure seems to attract the wire-worms,
and therefore has the tendency to produce seab in the tubers.
Coarse manure is a frequent cause of prongs, protuberances,
“fingers and toes.”

Commercial fertilizers meet with no objections of this kind.
The fairest, smoothest and best shaped tubers are generally
grown on well pulverized soils which were fertilized with
chemical manures, or not at all the same season.

LEsson 5.—/f the soil is in the right mechanical condition but
lacking in fertility, the application of commercial manures
often pays exceedingly well.

In recommending such fertilizers, we enter debatable ground.
While we have never failed to see good results from the appli-
cation of phosphates, ete., whenever we tried them on potatoes
or other crops, there are many cases on record, as reported by
different farmers, where even complete fertilizers—those con-
taining ammonia, phosphoric acid and potash—utterly refused
to respond. Still we believe that the fault is with the man
oftener than with the material.

LESSON 6.—Apply the element or elements of plant food in
which your soil is deficient.

Commercial manures and chemicals give us one great adyan-
tage. Of the three most important elements, ammonia, phos-
phorie acid, and potash, the soil may contain a sufficiency of
one or two. If we know, from previous experiments, which
these elements are, it will be only necessary to supply the one
that is lacking. Thus, our own soils were always deficient in
phosphoric acid, and therefore greatly benefitted by its appli-
cation, next by that of potash, but not noticeably by ammonia.
On other soils ashes, or some other forms of potash, either
alone or in combination with phosphoric acid, or ammonia will
greatly increase the yield.

8

LESSON 7.—Safe in almost every case is the application of
complete manures.

If previous experiments have not been made to determine
the relative proportion of these elements in the soil, complete
manures like Mapes’ or Stockbridge (Bowker) special potato
fertilizers, Powell’s potato producer ete., which contain the
three ingredients in about the right proportion for the crop,
‘an be relied on with safety.’ From 600 to 800 pounds to an acre
should be applied broadeast, just before planting, and deeply
harrowed into the soil, or in drills, about an inch or two above
the seed and covered by a few inches of soil.

The well-known English experimenter, Sir J. B. Lawes of
Rothamstead, used 300 pounds of sulphate of potash (130 pounds.
actual potash), 350 pounds superphosphate of lime, 540 pounds
nirate of soda, to produce a crop of 400 bushels. This means
almost a mere manufacturing of the crop out of chemicals,
without calling on the soil for assistance (as to the supply of
raw material); and such manufacturing might be carried on
year after year on the same land.

The cost of raw material would be about as follows:—

300 pounds of Sulphate Potash at 23 cents, . . $7.50
350 pounds superphosphate at 34 cents, .- . . 12.25
540 pounds nitrate of soda at 3 cents, . : . 16.20

Total ; : . $35.95

Expensive as this manuring appears to be, we could well afford
it, if thereby we make sure of a crop of 400 bushels.

Where unleached wood-ashes are obtainable at little cost,
éhey may take the place of sulphate of potash, and verhaps
show better results at less expense. The cheapest source of
phosphoric acid for potatoes, probably, is, dissolved South
Carolina Rock, containing about 27 to 30 per cent. of bone-
phosphate, and costing $16.00 per ton.

Nitrate of soda is an awkward thing to handle, on account
of its great solubility, and dear also. However, it has this one
great advantage; that there is no need of applying it sooner
than the growing vines show the lack of it. Never apply it ir
the fall

+8)

<

A rank growth of clover or of clover roots, turned under,
supplies all the ammonia needed, and is generally the cheapest
form in which ammonia can be obtained. This manurial
substance plays a very important part in giving thrift and lux-
uriance to the foliage, and while large tops, in themselves, are
not our object, we can hardly hope to reap a large crop of
tubers without their assistance.

LESSON 8.—Potato pulp is an expensive manure, but the most
necessary of all fertilizing materials.

The supply of ammonia, especially if scarce, should be sup-
plemented, reinforced, as it were, by the application of potato
pulp, represented in a sufficiency of seed,

—

CHAPTER. III.

PREPARING THE SOIL.
Falland Spring Plowing. Fining the Soil. Marking.
Depth of Furrows. The Kural Method.

In the selection of ground we took occasion to emphasize the
necessity of having land that would admit of being made fine
and mellow. This, then, is the primary condition of success.

Lesson 9.—The field must be plowed or re-plowed just before
planting.

There is no need of plowing such land in the fall. When
planting time draws nigh, carefully turn over that slice of sur-
face soil, which has been in cultivation previously, if it has a
thickness of from 7 to 9 inches. It is not safe to turn up more
than one-half inch of new soil in one year. Every balk left
unredeemed, must necessarily diminish the yield.

Lesson 10.—I¢ is of great importance to have that part of the
soil which is to serve as the feeding grounds for the potato
roots, thoroughly pulverized.

In some instances, cross-piowing may be advisable, or even
necessary. Use a heavy harrow, or one heavily weighted wit!.

a piece of plank or stick of timber; let the teeth go down into the

10

soil clear to the beams. It will pay touse the Acme. If lumpy,
roll, and repeat the harrowing and rolling as often as necessary
to get the Jand in good condition,—that is,—perfectly pulveri-
zed, as deep as practicable. This extra labor will pay you well.

LESSON 11.—A good shovel-plow, or a common plow is the best
implement for making the furrows.

Rows, straight and uniform in width are more satisfactory
than crooked and irregular ones, if for no other reason than
that the operator will take more pride in, and pains with his
field. The use of a marker is therefore to be recommended.
Have the marks three feet apart, and if there is nothing to
hinder it, crosswise of the last plowing. Now follow each
mark with the winged-shovel plow, pressing the same well
down into the soil; or with a good common plow, drawn by
one or two horses, making the furrows wide and deep.

Mr. E. S. Carman, Editor of the Rural New Yorker, who can
boast of having obtained the greatest yields of potatoes on
record, 7. e., 1300 or more bushels to the acre, (in experiments
made in the season of 1884), lays great stress on wide furrows,
and the thorough pulverization of the soil in the bottom of the
furrows, believing his extraordinary sucesss to be due chiefly
to a condition of the soil which offers the least resistance to
the expansion of tubers. From this reason he recommends,
at least for field culture, the use of a narrow cultivator in
the bottom of plowed furrows.

This operation of pulverizing the soil in the bottom of the
trenches, while of little importance on loose, porous soils, which

ure thoroughly disintegrated by a single plowing, may be a
matter of the greatest consequence on soils of more tenacious
structure, especially if such were not well pulverized pre-
viously. We suspect, however, that the multiplication of root-
lets, consequent on the favorable condition (mellowness) of
their feeding grounds, and the greater availability of their fooa
supply, resulting from the same cause. should have the credit
of being more potent factors in the production of extraordinary

results than the removal of mere mechanieal obstructions to
the swelling of the tubers.

11

The bottom of the furrows must be made, or left about four
inches deep (below the level surface), a depth which generally
proves to be the very best in an average season. With very light
seeding, however, 3 inches may be preferable, though it should
not be less, thus interfering with our method of after-cultivation.

O—

CHAPTER IV.

SELECTION OF SEED.

The Best Variety. For Home Use or Market.
High Breeding of Potatoes.

What variety to plant, is the next question. The answer
depends very much on the use you intend to make of the erop.

LESSON 12.—WSelect the variety best adapted to your soil and
market.

In planting for home consumption, merely, the very first
things to be considered are quality and yield. Almost all vari-
eties differ in their relative worth on different soils, and no
variety will do equally well on all kinds of soil. This varia-
tion is so great, that one sort may be utterly worthless on one
soil, or in one locality, and yet vield enormous crops in others.
For family use, we plant the Early Ohio, the White Elephant
and the Adirondack. All these are of exceptionally good
quality, and, with us, heavy croppers. The Early Ohio is
distinguished by its extreme earliness; the Elephant, by its

.enormous yields; the Adirondack, by its superiority as a late
keeper.

These varieties, however, may not be the ones to which your
soil shows a particular partiality ; and the selection is properly
left with every planter.

In many local markets, a potato 1s a potato; one sells as well
as another. In such an emergency, the most desirable potato
to be found, is the one which promises the heaviest yield. If
that happens to be one of inferior quality, like the Peerless, or
Mammoth Pearl, it would seem to be of little consequence to
vou, though we should prefer to sell to our customers tubers of
the best quality.

12

The early bird catches the big worm, and to catch the big
price in the early markets, we need very early sorts. The
Early Ohio, where it succeeds, is the variety for this pur-
pose. It requires a rich clay loam, rather moist than other-
wise, close planting and particularly heavy seeding. Other
seedlings of the Early Rose, like Early Vermont, Early Gem,
Sunrise, Chicago Market, and Beauty of Hebron follow next-
The Snowflake, though later, is also counted among the early
sorts. It is apt to produce a large number of small, unmar-
ketable tubers, and therefore needs lighter seeding.

The leading late varieties, demanded in the large city mar-
kets, are the Burbank, White Star, Wnite Elephant, Peerless,
Mammoth Pearl, O. K. Mammoth Prolific and Dunmore Seed-.
ling. Plant the one of these which seems to suit your soil the
best, and you cannot go amiss. Under no circumstances, plant
at hap-hazard. Suecess or failure may depend on the selection
of variety. Previous experience with different sorts, on your
own land, is the only infallible guide. The novice must ask
his predecessor, or one or the other of his intelligent neigh-
hors, if he is fortunate enough to have such, for the desired and
desirable information.

Another factor in the.case, hardly less important than the
selection of the variety required by your particular soil, locality
or climate, is the selection of the right specimens for seed.
Like produces like, it is said. That is true as far as it is meant.
‘“ What ve sow, that shall ye also reap.”

LESSON 13.—Only the fairest and smoothest of the larger and
medium sized tubers are fit to be planted.

Good seed, persistently planted, year after year, will either
result in an improvement of the variety, or at least keep it
from deteriorating. Refuse potatoes as seed may produce
handsome crops for a year or two, or in exceptionably favorable
seasons, but if their use is continued, it must end in deterioration
of the variety, in gradually decreased yields and at last in utter
failure.

We need, we want high-bred seed potatoes; they are of
greater importance than high class poultry. The same care ip

13

selection should be exercised that the stock raiser or dairyman
uses in the selection of his cattle. Reject all under-sized or
badly-shaped specimens for seed.
The best time for selecting the seed is during the potato har-
vest, the fall previous.
O

CHAPTER V

CUTTING THE SEED.

Single Eye. Drs. Sturtevant and Terry. Yields Resulting
from different Amounts of Seed. Reliable Tests.

Various theories have been advanced and various methods of
cutting the seed recommended. One of the latest of these, and
widely practiced because the most ably defended, is the one-eye
system, as advocated by Dr. Sturtevant, of the New York
Experimental Station, and baptized “ Cutting from North-east
to South-west,” by B. F. Terry, its most enthusiastic champion.

Figure 1 explains Dr. Sturtevant’s dis-
covery. Each bud is the terminus of a
branch connecting it with its source of
nutriment in the middle of the tuber. The
dotted lines indicate how the tuber should
be cut in order to supply each eye with
a share of this most important interior
substance, in other words, to leave a rea-
sonable amount of root to each coral branch.

Dr. Sturtevant’s statement, to the effect
that merchantable tubers eut in this man-
ner, have yielded him six times as much
as eyes cut shallow, four times as much as
those cut in the ordinary manner, and ii aie
twice as much as potatoes planted whole, and Terry’s and
other writer’s reports, have done much towards popularizing
that method. :
Lesson 14.— The single eye system, except for soils exceedingly

rich in ammonia, is a delusion and a snare.

Our own experiments during a series of years, faithfully and
persistently repeated on different soils and under different

14

conditions, have long since forced us to abandon our former.
partiality for light seeding, and to accept the inference that
the ery ‘‘too much seed,” raised by some writers, and resulting
in the popular error of using an insufficient amount of seed,
together with the check-row system, is the chief cause of the
low average of the potato yield, which is but a fraction above
eighty-five bushels to the acre. We have not held back with
our views. Our cries of warning have sounded through the
Agricultural press repeatedly.

Tf Dr. Sturtevant, Terry, et al., who, under peculiar circum-
stances, (on lands containing an excess of ammonia), or with
peculiar knack, have made the one-eye system a success in
their hands, now wish to induce the common farmer to adopt
this system for their common farm soils, they proclaim a mis-
chievous doctrine, which can only result ina further decrease of
this low average yield. Meaning well, they do great harm. They
are the false prophets, whose teachings, in this respect, we hear
but not heed, while in many other respects we listen to them
with the ears of the faithful,

LESSON 15.—A sufficiency of seed is the basis, the conditio sine
qua non of our 400 bushel crop on common farm soil.

The amount of seed influences the yield fully as much, if not
more, than any other single thing or circumstance, degree of
fertility not excepted.

Let us look at the theoretical side of the question. The
chief function of the foliage is of a digestive character. The
storage of a considerable amount of pulp in tubers, like the
accumulation of flesh and fat in animals, is utterly impossible,
even with an abundance of food, unless the digestive organs
are fully developed and in perfect working order. You might
make light of the absorptive powers of the foliage—as feeders
in the air,—or of the benefits derived from their services as
mulch, (which are not to be despised in a dry season), yet, you
cannot dispute away the fact, that a diminution of the product
in flesh or tuber, must be the inevitable consequence of every
mutilation, crippling, or retarded and imperfect development
of the digestive machinery. This influence of the amount of

15

foliage upon the yield, is full established by the comparative

yields of early and late, that is of dwarf (low top), and tall

varieties, the latter out-yielding the former, generally, in about

the proportion of their tops.

LESSON 16.—The larger the seed piece, the earlier and more
thrifty will be the growth of the tops.

How is the desired luxuriance of the foliage, and particularly
its early development to be obtained? By accepting Nature’s
method of seeding. If we want to raise a fine calf, we let hii
suck all the fresh milk he wants. No substitute will fill the
place of that diet; and without it, great care is required in
bringing him up. Nor is there any food that agrees with a new
born babe as well as the food which Nature intended for it—a

Figures 2 and 3.

healthy mother’s milk. The analogy between these instances
and the case of the potato plant is unmistakabie. The mother-
tuber contains the natural food for the plant in sufficient quan-
tity to support the young growth, to supply it with a large
number of roots and thus to make it strong and able to look for
its food supply elsewhere. If the infant-food in the tuber is
materially shortened or divided among a great number of
mouths, by close cutting, the plantlet is thrown on its own
resources before having gained sufficient strength, and forced
to partake of food little suited for its weak digestion. Retarded
growth of foliage, if not a weakly condition throughout the
season, with decreased yield of tubers as a natural consequence,

1b

is the almost sure penalty of this common error. The single
eye system is the root-hog-or-die plan. See figures 2 and 3,

; Repeated applications of liquid manure in the early stages
of growth, or frequent rains soaking through a manure-filled
soil, may sometimes counterbalance the ill effects of light
secding, but heavy seeding is the only method applicable to
general field culture. |

Thus far we have dealt with theory only. How is this sup-
ported by the results of tests and stubborn facts ?

In Bulletin 12 of the Missouri Agricultural College (1884),
Professor J. W. Sanborn, in summarizing the experiments
which he has conducted personally during nine years, with the

Early Rose, says:

“<The ae table will give the average returns for seven
years from measured ground and weighed potatoes, the product
of two farms, and in agreement with the unrecorded resnlts on
a third farm :

PRODUCT: PER ACRE.

From seed of whole potatoes, large, . : . 227 bushels.
From seed of whole potatoes, small, . amy 7) Ke
From seed of stem end of potato, ; ; ot STAG ee
From seed of seed end of potato, . : : . 168 ¢
From one eye tohill, .~° . ; ; Bea is
From two eyes to hill, . ; ; : ; Ses
From three eyes to hill, ; , ; ; . 260 ff

Of the season of 1881, he reports a complete failure as to the

one, two and three-eye-to-a-piece system of planting. The

yield of the one-eye seed was but five bushels to the aere,
against 176 bushels from whole large potatoes.

‘Not much over one-half of the seed broke the ground in
germination, and a part of these were so small and weak, com-
pared with fuller seeding, that a few slightly coverea died.
The balance, under a very wet season here, did not thrive.
This result is given to show how great a variation may occur
under unfavorable conditions, between ample seeding and defi-
cient seeding. * * * * *. Since beginning these trials, I
have seen two foreign tests, covering about seven years each,
wherein the effect of cutting on the future vigor of the plant

os
P
2

17
was studied, with results against fine cutting. One eye and
small potatoes gave less favorable results at the Ohio Experi-
mental Station, last year, than whole large potatoes.”

Let us now look at the tests conducted by the generally very
eareful Rural New Yorker, and reported in the issue of March
15th, 1884.

“Test 46, A. The seed potatoes were selected all of the same
size, and peeled, all eyes being cut off except the strongest near
the middie, that is, whole potatoes were peeled so
that but one eye was left with a ring of skin about

it, * * * *.% The variety. was the Peerless;
the amount of chemical fertilizers used, 1000 pounds
to the acre. * * * * * Yield, 806.66 bushels

to the acre.

“Pest 47, A. The pieces were cut as shown by
figure 4, and of that size. Planted three inches deep.
So many of the pieces either failed to sprout or died after

Fig. /.

sprouting, that no estimatecould be made of the yield per acre.

“Test 48, A. In this test evylindrical pieces were
eut through the potato, as shown in figure 5, with a
strong eye on one end* * #-=—* “Yield, 211.75
bushels to the acre.”

““ Enough is as good as a feast,’ concludes the Ru-
ral. But what would be enough in a wet spring,
might prove too little in a dry one ; what might serve
in a rich soil, might prove insufficient in a poor
soil. The quantity of flesh, which should go with
each piece is, theoretically, that which, without
unnecessary waste will best support the eyes, until
by the growth of roots, support from the flesh isno 449. %.
longer required.”

From many other tests, which brought forth similar results,
we will mention only our own of last season, 1884.

The soil selected for the test is a rich loam, having been used
as an onion field for a nnmber of years, and repeatedly and
heavily manured with hog and hen manure, salt, ashes, kainit,
high-grade super-phosphate, &e. Variety selected—Early Gem,

18

Planted in drills three feet apart, eighteen inches apart in the
drill. On aecount of the high fertility of the soil, we did not
expect to see a great difference in favor of heavy seeding. A
quantity of large, smooth potatoes, weighing about a half pound
each, were selected for seed.

The plants of the heaviest seeding were the first to come up,
and the amount of foliage, about four weeks after planting,
indicated the exact proportion of the yield afterwards.

With yield from whole potatoes taken as 100, the result was
as follows, viz.:—

oe

DB

NYAS \

; QA
VSS
> NA
WA

iS

iC \

Whole Potato.
Whole potatoes, : , ; : . 100.00 per cent.
Single eye on whole potato. . : p+, B10 -
Single eye, cut from N. W. to 8. E. . 42.40 4
Seed end half, . . ; , ; . - 161202 f
Stem end half, . ; ; ; ; ve G08 -

Whole large potato, without seed end, . 106.78
while Prof. Sanborn’s tests show the following per centage :—

Whole large potatoes, : ; , . 100.00 per cent.
Whole small potatoes, . ; » 6 49.08 ae
Single eye, : : Dy S6aG sy

From our own tests we must infer that even a high state of
fertility of the soil, or a sufficiency of moisture during the whole

19

season, (which were the conditions of our soil), does not always
materially lessen the benefits derived from heavy seeding.

A very common circumstance bears testimony in favor of
liberality in seeding. Every farmer has occasionally come
across a sedf-seeded plant, grown from a whole potato which had
happened to escape the vigilant eye of the digger, and if he is
in the least observing, the wnusually large yield of such a hill,
often growing under unfavorable conditions—in the shade of a
corn hill, or right in the midst of a potato patch, perhaps
between the rows—can hardly have failed to attract his notice.

Prof. Sanborn’s experience fully coincides with our own and
serves to fortify our position. He says, (Bulletin 12.) :—‘‘ The
growth of the tops in the early season displayed more differ-
ence in favor of large seed than the harvest indication, showing
that a vigorous leaf at the early period of potato growth is of
much importanee. This difference has been noted every year
epithe trigis?? si 5%

““The leaf is broader, the stem stronger, and the whole top
always, in my experience much in advance of those tops grown
from severely cut or from small potatoes.”

Incidentally we have mentioned some advantages of a mere
mechanical nature, resulting from heavy seeding. The tops
from large seed pieces, appearing above ground from one to two
weeks earlier than those from single eyes, soon meet, shade the
ground, retain the moisture (and perhaps ammonia), and choke
out weeds’ growth, thus saving a considerable amount of labor
in cultivation and in fighting the bugs.

se

LESSON 17.—Heavy seeding is always the safest with dwarf
(early) varieties.

There is a great difference in the innate vigor of the varieties.
Low tops, as a rule, yield less than taller varieties. This lack of
constitutional vigor must be counterbalanced, and heavy seed-
ing will doit. Wecan hardly conceive of any combination of
circumstances, which might prevent a corresponding increase of
yield from heavier seeding, with early varieties.

20

LESSON 18.—Zhe less vigorous the variety, the more seed is de-
sirable.

The peeling off of the seed end of varieties with many eyes,
seems to inerease the yield of large tubers considerably more
than it decreases that of small tubers. :

With early varieties, our choice of seed, therefore, is as
follows in the order named :

1. Large potato, peeled at seed end.

2. Whole large potato (4 ounces or more).

3. Small potato (less than 4 ounces).

4. Seed end half of large, or medium potato.

5. Stem end half of large or medium potato.

The tops even of dwarf varieties should cover the ground,
and stimulation, high feeding with potato pulp is necessary for
the purpose. Late, that is, strong-growing sorts generally do
that with lighter seeding, even on common farm soils; yet with
so vigorous a grower as the White Elephant, the halves of large
tubers planted on soil of hardly medium fertility, check-row
fashion, have largely outyielded lighter seeding. Poor land
will give the best results from whole potatoes; lighter seeding
is recommendable, often necesesary for late sorts on soils
which are rich in vegetable matter (humus).

“The more favorable the season, and the better the condi-
tions,’’ says Prof. Sanborn, “the greater the relative yield from
light seeding. Our farmers must bear in mind that the good re-
sults reported from light seeding of potatoes, are often guesses,
generally from market gardeners, or obtained under favorable
conditions, while the failures are not reported.”

We have said before, that a large yield is not to he expected
without a thrifty top growth; but we do by no means assert, -
that the former is a necessary sequence of the latter. An ex-
cessive amount of foliage, together with a mere pittance of
tubers has come under our observation more than once. We
know, however, how to avoid the undesirable coincidence.

Starvation is possible in various ways. One person may
have an abundance of the very choicest food within his reach,

21

yet die from lack of nourishment, because he is in the last
stages of dyspepsia, another may be blessed with a powerful
digestion, but have no food to digest.

At the sacrifice of a considerable amount of potato pulp in
seeding, we have provided the plant with wonderful powers of
assimilating food. That is ail. His food, the raw material in
the manufacture of tubers, must come from the soil, and if the
latter be deficient in phosphoric acid and potash, or in a single
one of the two, the plant dies without producing full-sized
tubers. Fortunately for the grower, the majority of soils con-
tain those two essential ingredients in sufficient quantity for a
potato crop, and if the plants are strong enough, they are
able to look up this food and make it available. If it is lack-
ing, it must be supplied, or potatoes cannot be grown.

We will not entirely ignore the objections that are urged
against the use of large seed pieces. It is claimed by some
writers, that a large seed piece throws up a large number of
sprouts, which, having to struggle for mere exist@nce, grow up
slim and weak. Such an idea is only to be derided. The facts
refute it. The great majority of the eyes on a potato planted
whole never come to life. Those buds which are the strongest,
and most forward, seem to eat up the nourishment in the
mother tuber before the weaker (dormant) ones have time to
start. A whole potato generally produces from 3 yto 8 large
heavy stems, which should all be left, as the thinning, acecord-
ing to one of our tests, and in agreement with the general
principles, results in a decreased yield. The removal of part
of the stalks, where they are very numerous, is admissible in
the earliest stages of growth, and only then. Inereased size of
tubers is the gain, slightly decreased yield the loss.

A single-eye piece often develops two or three buds, every
one of which is stunted. Figures 2 and 3 show the compara-
tive growth of stems and roots.

That the proportion of large and small (merchantable and
unmerchantable) tubers in the yield speaks in favor of light
seeding, we freely and cheerfully admit. But if we can double
our vield of salable tubers through the ageney of heavier seed-

22

ing, we will gladly accept the increase of small potatoes to
three or four-fold their former yield as a free gift. We have
use for them in the hog pen and poultry yard. In practice we
have no reason to grumble. In spite of our heavy seeding, the
percentage of small potatoes harvested by us, can always be
written with one single figure.

The most serious objection, however, is that of expensive-
ness. Can we afford to use so much seed ?

That depends largely on the cost. A price of two dollars or
more per bushel excludes, the practicability of heavy seeding.

Now let us consider the case of early potatoes for which we
recommend the very heaviest seeding. We plant in rows 3
feet apart. Dropping a 4 ounce potato every 18 inches in the
drill, thus making 9680 hills per acre, we need for them 40
bushels of seed, or at 15 inches apart, 483 bushels. Planting
single eyes would require only from 63 to 8 bushels of seed,
and therefore be a saving of from 333 to 40 bushels per acre.

Supposing the heavy seeding (at 18 inches), to yield 200
bushels per acre, the yield from the one eye planting would be
72.32 bushels, taking Prof. Sanborn’s tests as the basis of cal-
culation. Thus, we save.335 bushels in seeding and lose 127.68
in harvesting.

Supposing that the planting of whole potatoes brings 400
bushels tay the acre, we would harvest from single eyes but
144.64 bushels. Hence a saving of about 40 bushels of seed
would result in a yield decreased by 255.36 bushels. In other
words, for the 40 bushels of potatoes applied as manure, we
receive in return 255.36 bushels.

If our figures are correct, or nearly so, heavy seeding will
pay us a number of hundred per cent. on the investment, even
if potatoes are cheaper in the fall than in the spring previous.

For early varieties, the minimum average of seed should be
a $-ounce potato or piece of potato per hill, using about 36
bushels of seed. For late sorts, the amount of seed should be
regulated by the degree of fertility of the soil. One quarter of
a medium tuber (a piece of not Jess than 14 ounce), may be con-
sidered as a minimum on common farm sous.

—

ae

23

The judicious planter always plants largely when many
growers, in consequence of a glut in the market, quit the busi-
ness in disgust. When potatoes are worth but 15 or 20 cents a
bushel he can well afford to use a sufficiency of seed, thus im-
proving his chances for a large crop, which is likely to sell for
from 50 to 75 cents or even $1.00 per bushel. On the other
hand, when the potato business is booming and the average
planter doubling his usual area, the shrewd grower may use
the one-dollar-a-bushel seed more sparingly. The crops will
probably find but slow sale at bottom prices.

With high priced, new varieties, 1t is generally advisable to
resort to the single eye method. In that case, the manner of
cutting reeommended by Dr. Sturtevant, shown in figure 1, is
the only correct way, as it insures an even distribution of potato
pulp among the pieces. The grower, however, should not for-
get that single-eye planting, even in the case just mentioned,
isjustifiable only and solelyin combination with the drill system.

If more than one eye is to be used per hill, have them all in
one piece, which is much preferable to two pieces with one or
two eyes each; it makes the plant stronger and saves labor
in planting.

LESSON 19. Prepare the seed just before planting time.

It is no advantage, as is claimed by some, to have the seed
cut days, or even weeks, before planting, and to treat it with
plaster, or otherwise. With us, it has repeatedly proved a real
damage. Prepare the seed (cut it if required), when you get
ready to use it.

——$—— O
' CHAPTER VI.
PLANTING.

Time of Planting. Distance Apart. Covering,

ant

Again we find it necessary te make a distinction between
early and late varieties.
LESSON 20.—#Hor early market or early home supply, plant as
soon as the ground can be got in the proper condition.
If a very early crop is desired, we must run the risk of hav-

ing it damaged by late frosts. It will generally escape and

24

come out all right. A light frost may utterly destroy plants
grown from single eye (or two or three eyes), the resources of
which are exhausted in the very first growth; yet it has little
or no power to seriously harm plantations resulting from whole
tubers, which have a considerable amount of reserve force left,
and as a dernier resort can fall back on the development of an
altogether new set of sprouts.

Should earliness, however, be of less consideration than cer-
tainty of crop and large yield, the planting had better be
postponed until that period when we can expect to have the
crop safe from late frosts. This is from one to two weeks in
advance of corn planting time; and also the proper time for
planting late varieties.

LESSON 21.—Plant potatoes before you plant corn,

Many farmers practice planting corn first and potatoes after-
wards. This order should be reversed. In an average season,
earlier plantings do better than late ones; and as long as we
are unable to foretell the weather for the whole season with
something of the same certainty that our National Weather
Makers predict it for twenty-four hours, we must rely on proba-
bilities.

Many are the jokes let loose in regard to the question of
“planting in the moon.” We will not waste our breath or
space by repeating any of them or trying new ones. The adyo-
cates of “moon planting”’ would not be convinced of their error
by anything we could say. If you do as we tell you in all
other things, you may have your own way about planting in
whatever phase of the moon you prefer.

LESSON 22.—Dwurf varieties need closer planting, as well as
heavier seeding, than tall sorts.

The constitutional vigor of the variety planted should settle

the question as to distance between the plants. Early Ohio,
with its low tops, Alpha and others, may be planted with

— =

25

advantage, as close as 12 inches apart in the rows; Early Rose
and the majority of other early kinds, 15 inches, later sorts,
18 to 20 inches, and sometimes more. *

The field is ready for planting, and the seed prepared. Now
put it in sacks, barrels, crates or boxes, and seatter these over
the field, enabling the droppers to refill their receptacles with
the least practicable trouble and delay: The seed is then
dropped, one piece in a place, and at the proper-distance.
LESSON 23.—Cuareful hands should drop the seed, to have it at

the proper distance ; a horse can do the covering.

If no drill manuring is to be done, you will atonce proceed to
cover the seed, which can be done nicely and quickly with a
common one horse cult vator. Remove every tooth, with the
exception of the two outer ones, which should be set to throw
the soil toward one another (wide or hilling blades). Let the
horse walk right in the bottom of the furrows. The covering
can also be done very quickly with a heavy harrow (drag.,
going with the furrows, repeatedly if necessary, or with tools
made especially for the purpose, at the option of the grower.
At any rate, this work is done a great deal easier by horse
power than with hands and hoes.

If you intend to manure in the drills, let the field be lightly
harrowed in the direction of the furrows, which are thereby
partly filled. Then strew the special potato fertilizer upon the
safely covered seed, and harrow again thoroughly. If green
manure is to be used, put the desired (not excessive) quantity
of coarse stuff, even corn-stalks, sorghum bagasse, or whatever
it may be, in tne half covered furrows and use the cultivator as
above described. No rolling is necessary after planting.

* It should not be inferred that the yield increases or decreases in the
same ratio as the number of hills on the same area; in other words, that
each hill would yield the same, whether planted closer or further apart.
In one of our tests with Gems planted 18 and 30 inches apart, respectively,
(number of hills in the proportion of 100 to 60 on the same ground), the
yield of the closer planting was at the rate of 475.93 bushels per acre, of
the wider planting 362.99 bushels, or 76.27 per centum. While a hill, hav-
ing 30 inches space in the row, yielded 27.10 per cent. more than a hill
having but 18 inches, the yield was materially more with closer plant-
ing. Yet, it were folly to expect, under the same conditions, a crop of
571.12 bushels from 15 inch, or 609.74 from 12 inch plantings.

26
CHAPTER VII.
CULTIVATING.

Harrow and Cultivator, Shovel Plow. Hoe.
Level Cuitivation vs. Hilling.

The onject of the cultivation given to the potato field is three-
fold :—1. To keep down every sign of weed growth; 2. To keep
the soil well pulverized, fine and mellow; 3. To prune the
roots; and all this restricted to the earlier period of growth.

LESSON 24.—A light harrow is the best cultivator.

For the first two or three weeks after planting and up to the
time when the vines are three or four inches high, a common
light harrow or drag is the only tool required. It answers all
three purposes perfectly ; and, indeed, with an insignificant
amount of labor. One harrowing actually does more good and
shows more lasting effects than three cultivatings. It is better
than hand hoeing. The cultivator, like Saul, slew thousands
(of weeds). The harrow is the David, who slays his ten thous-
ands. The harrow makes the ground mellow in and around
every hill, and leaves not a weed.

The slight root-pruning caused by the drag teeth, seems to be
a decided benefit in this early stage of growth, and to result in
an increased development of the rootlets, which act as feeders
and supporters. The plants respond to this treatment with
astonishing quickness. Tbey seem to grow visibly.

Some farmers understand this principle very well and, not
contented with a light pruning,
tear the roots to pieces quite

Figure 6. thoroughly with a home-made
iron hook, fastened to an old hoe handle. (See Figure 6).

The drag performs its work to our perfect satisfaction, and
ve do not recommend the use of supplementary tools, in par-
ticular, if it involves a great deal of hand labor. Enough is a
feast.

Harrow the field thoroughly, first in the direction of the rows,
then Crossways, every five or six days, and stop only when the
plants get so large that injury to them must be feared. Ifa
sufficiency of seed is used, this will be soon enough.

27

LESSON 25.— When the size of tops forbid the further use of the
harrow, cultivate as often as necessary, with uw common, light
cultivator.

Then the cultivator should take the place of the harrow.

Cultivate shallow, and repeat at short intervals, until the tops

cover the ground and forbid further working among them.

\Y\

Level.

The shovel plow is not needed for cultivation purposes. The
practice of piling up great mountains around each plant, will
soon be a thing of the past. Soils on which this hilling is
necessary, are not desirable for potato growing.

The Editor of the Rural New Yorker claims for himself the
priority of the level culture idea. He has been an enthusiastie

Filied.
advocate of the new method, and his phenomenal vields have
given strong testimoney in its favor. *

* A test, made by us in 1884, for the purpose of ascertaining the relative
yields resulting from the old and the new method, was, for certain rea-
sons, not as reliable as we could wish; still, we will give the figures :—
Hilled, Early Gem, quartered Jengthwise, land rich, moist. plenty of
rain; yield per acre, 201.46 bushels. Level, under same conditions, yield

er acre, 294.61 bushels. The tubers under level cultivation, were much
arger than with hilling. ;

28 .

In a very wet season the hilling system may, perhaps, give
better results. Ina dry one, however, the large hills and dug-
outs between them, allowing what rain does come, to run off
rapidly, and presenting a much larger surface to the drying
influence of sun and winds, deprive the plants of the necessary
moisture much too quickly.

Here is another disadvantage connected with excessive
hilling. The roo¢s and rootlets seek their food mainly between
the rows. In hilling, you take it away from where it is needed
and pile it up around the stems, where it will do no good. You
offer a stone, when bread is asked for, and mutilation (by the
deep cutting shovel plow), and hard pan instead of nourishing
soil. Commou sense, sound theory, and practical results, are
all against the popular way of hilling. Yet, there are objec-
tions to perfectly level cultivation. The most potato sorts.
grow so near the surface, that some of the tubers will turn green
and became injured by exposure to the light. And then, what
would indicate the location of tubers after they are ripe and the
tops dead ?

LESSON 26.—Hill very lightly: not with the shovel plow or
common plow, but with the hilling teeth of the cultivutor.

The golden mean is our method, and by far the safest. A
slight hilling (see figure 9), serves to keep the tubers covered

ASS

S RMAMVGYY

Figure 9, The Golden Mean,

up, and to facilitate the labor of digging them in the fall. The
hilling (outside), teeth of the cultivator will do the work just
about right.

29

We have no use for the hand hoe in the potato field at this
time, unless Canada tiistles, milk weed, burdock and other
weeds of that character should be growing in it. These must
be cut off below the surface of the ground with the sharp blade
of a hoe, a task that requires but little time. Repeat if neces-
sary. Soon the tops will cover the ground, when no more
cultivation is needed.

a)
CHAPTER VIII.

BUGS AND WORMS.
‘The White Grub. The Wire Worm. The Colorado Potato Bug.

A white grub, the larva of the common May beetle (Melontha
vulgaris), which feeds on the tender roots of plants, occasionally
eats off a potato stalk below the surface of the ground. We
have never suffered serious damage from this pest, and ean
suggest only one remedy, that is, not to plant on soils known
to be infested by these grubs in such numbers as to endanger
the crop. The grub is found generally in sod or new ground,
rarely in soils that have been in cultivation the previous season.
The remedy is obvious.

The wire worm, which name belongs collectively to the larvae
-of different species of beetle (julus), is a pest much more to be
‘dreaded. Its ravages are the cause of an unsightly seabby ap-
pearance of the tubers. No soil or condition is a sure protee-
tion against them. Potatoes grown on light soils, or on soils
fertilized with commercial manures, chemicals, kainit, &e.,
» are more apt to escape the attacks of this pest, and to come out
smooth and handsome in appearance than those grown on heavy
-elay soils, particularly if fertilized with stable manure. The
latter always seems to attract the wire worms.

Still more dangerous than the preceding is the Colorado Po-
tato Bug (Doryphora decemlineuta), Known and hated by every
potato grower. The larvae of this real pest, at their first ap-
pearance in the Eastern States, were much more destructive
than at the present time, as their natural enemies (the soldier
bug and other inseets, which feed on the eggs and larvae of the

30

doryphora) have multiplied nearly as fast as their prey. There
are, however, instances even at this day, of whole crops being
destroyed or sadly damaged by this insect.

Our mode of planting is the simplest and most potent remedy
for the Doryphora.

LESSON 27.—Luxuriance of vines is repulsive to the bugs.

Rankness of tops drives the bugs off. The few that stay, are
lost in this forest of foliage, but the large majority take to our
neighbor’s fields, where, in slow and weak-growing plants
they find food better suited to bug taste.

We don’t find it necessary to dose the bugs after full seed-
ing. If the vines are not quite so thrifty, it may be necessary
to go over the field, pan or pail in hand, and knocking the
larvae off into the receptacle with a stick or paddle, to gather
and kill them.

It isalways advisable to pick off the old “ hard-shells,”’ when
the plants are first breaking ground, or to poison them with
slices of potato, soaked in a weak solution of Paris Green in
water. More care is necessary with early than with strong-
growing late varieties, and more after light than heavy seeding.

A field planted in the single eye or two-eyes-to-a-piece fashion
needs close watching. .

’

LESSON 28.—J/f the bugs come in considerable numbers, Paris
Green is the proper remedy, cheap, effective, and harmless,
if rightly upplied.

Everything about the potato bug is disgusting. No animal
except a few insects can be induced to eat it. We would not
like our children to get into a hand-to-hand fight with the pest.
And if the business is too nauseous for our children, we do not
expect that other people’s children will enjoy it. Use Paris
Green, if the bugs stand fight.

We greatly prefer the dry mode of application. The poison
is mixed with plaster or flour (wheat, rye, or buckwheat) at
the rate of one pound of the former to from 100 to 200 pounds of
the latter. The mixing requires thoroughness.

Spread a thin layer of flour or plaster in the bottom of a large
tight box, sprinkle a part of the poison evenly over this, then

31

put on another layer of the former and so on until finished.
With hoe and shovel mix this mass over; too auch mixing is
no fault, a trifle too little mixing puts its effectiveness in ques-
tion. The poison should be evenly distributed all through the
material which lends to it volume and adhesiveness. Then the
remedy is infallible and, in its diluted condition, not very
dangerous to handle.

The mixture is now to be sifted over the vines, preferably
when they are covered with dew. A mere atom of Paris Green
is sure death to the bug, and it is only necessary to protect each
part of the foliage by the thinnest imaginable coat of the
mixture.

A home-made sifter like figure 10, consisting of a large tin
box, with perforated bottom and attachment for adjusting han-
dle, is the simplest instrument for applying the poison.

Figure 10. Paris Green Sifter,

There are a number of other contrivances in the market, the
advertisments of which appear in the agricultural papers in
due season. The most of these atomizers and sifters answer
their purpose admirably. Particular attention, however, we
wish to call to the Potato Bug Exterminator manufactured by
J.S. Eddy & Sons, in Eagle Mills, New York. It is a very
handy poison distributor. The cut shows the machine.

When the poison is to be applied in liquid form, it should be
diluted in the proportion of one teaspoonful to a large pail of
water. Keep it well stirred while applying.

Do not put your reliance in any of the many advertised patent
insecticides.

32
CHAPTER IX.

HARVESTING.

Time of Digging. Petato Diggers. Hand Implements.
Plow. Sorting. Handy Crates.

As soon as the tops die, showing that the tubers have come to
maturity, it is time to harvest the crop.

LESSON 29.—Dig during the first dry spell after the potatoes
have become ripe.

Never dig potatoes when the soil is very wet; they will not
keep so well. The task of digging is much easier in clean
ground than in ground over-run with weeds, as long as the
half dead stems indicate the location of hills. Nature does not
like a vacaney. When the dying tops make room, the weeds,
repelled during a short period, but not discouraged, renew
their struggle for existence, and the new undesirable vegetation,
favored by a hot sun and occasional showers, makes rapid

Figure 11. Grape Hoe.

progress. Before you are hardly aware of it, you may be forced

to start the mower and men with forks to clear the potato

ground from weeds, before digging can be thought of.

LESSON 30.—A common plow is just as good a tool for digging
the crop, as any of the high-priced patented potato-diggers.
We cannot conscientiously advise you to invest largely in

potato-diggers. Mr. Terry claims to be the possessor of the

only machine of real merit. We fear that his specimen cannot
be duplicated, otherwise a few cargoes would come handy for
our potato men. This living machine is a certain Mr. Ross,
recently arrived from Germany, and the almost ineredible dig-
ging capacity of 150 to 250 bushels per day, is claimed for him.

_ a ht

35

In light sandy soils, free from large stones and pebbles, the
erop ean be dug by hand as well, or better, and nearly as fast
as in any other way. The common hoe, spading fork, potato
fork or potato digging hook may be used, according to prefer-
ence. In hard or gravelly soil, a grape hoe will often do
excellent service.

We prefer a common plow to any other implement for
digging. A shovel plow does nearly as well. Let the horse
walk right on the row and turn the potato roots bottom side up
thus exposing the tubers to view. Before gathering, let the
tubers get fully dry and free from the moist soil adhering to
them.

LESSON 31.—NSort the crop in the field,

The merchantable (table) potatoes are now picked up and
kept by themselves; afterwards go over the same ground again
and piek up the small ones, to be stored and utilized for feeding
purposes.

It is also of the greatest importance to select at this same
time, the seed needed for next spring’s planting. The charac-
teristic marks of the variety can now be readily distinguished.

Store each variety by itself, in separate barrels, boxes, erates,
bins or pits, and do not forget to label them correctly and
legibly.

LESSON 32.—The potatoes, us fast us picked wp, should be
emptied into sacks, barrels or crates, and thus made ready for
transportation.

Boxes, barrels or sacks (old phosphate or hop sacks), filled
with potatoes, can be quickly loaded upon the wagon, and as
readily taken off. The old practice of drawing potatoes in
bulk, in a wagon-box, must yield to better methods.

Light boxes or crates make, perhaps, the handiest packages
imaginable for the transportation of potatoes. A crate of this
kind (Figure 12) is described on page 826 (December 13th,
1884', of the Rural New Yorker, as follows :—

“Tt is simply a slatted crate, the ends being cut out of one
inch stuff, planed on both sides, 10} inches wide and 15 inches
long. The bottom and sides are made of stuff 18 inches long

34

and one-half inch thick, and for the sides 23 inches wide. The
bottom slats can be of the same width, or wide enough so that
with suitable space three will form the bottom ; in each there
should be cut suitable places, as shown in eut, to serve as
handles in carrying.

‘These erates are taken to the field and filled with potatoes,
corn or other produce, and when filled, set directly into the
wagon; two will stand endwise across the box, and if the box
is, as it should be, for farm work, 15 feet long inside, being
made of 16 foot lumber, 11 will easily rest side by side in its
length, making 22 boxes in a tier, and as the box will be 12

Figure 12. Potato Crate.

inches high, two tiers, or 44 crates can be carried at a single
load, and this will be as much as any team should draw over
the farm. When the load is driven to the cellar or erib, the
crates are picked up, carried to the bins, emptied and returned
to the wagon, thus saving once picking or scooping ap the pro-
duce and much time.

‘‘Every farmer should have enough of these crates for two
full loads, and thus he ean be filling one lot while another is
being emptied. * * * * # They are also very handy for
storing potatoes in the cellar, as they can be placed in tiers the
full height of cellar, and are a great convenience when it is
necessary to pick over or sort the produce. The material for
making them should cost from 12 to 20 cents each, according to
the price of lumber.”

We have to add but one suggestion. Let the farmer’s name
and weight of package also, be put on each crate with rubber
stamp or stencil.

30
CHAPTER X.
MARKETING AND STORING.

Fall or Spring Sale. Sorting for Market. Cellar.
Root Houses. Pits.

The advice to sell as soon as a fair price can be obtained, has
lost nothing of its virtue by age or frequent repetition, and is
especially recommendable for potatoes.

LESSON 33.—Do not put off murketing the crop longer than
ILECESSUPY.

The loss from shrinkage and rotting, sometimes from freezing,
is much greater than generally supposed, and the labor caused
by repeated handling, sorting, sprouting and storing is consid-
erable. In short, we would rather take fifty cents for a bushel
right from the field at digging time, than a probable seventy-
five cents at the beginning or in the midst of winter, or one
dollar in the spring.

The proper sorting of the potato crop, is just as important as
that of apples or other produce. A few small specimens, say one
bushel or two in a load, spoil the appearance of the whole.
While they add to it in weight, they do but little in bulk, and
detract from the whole load.

LESSON 34.—Small potatoes should be fed out, not marketed.

Every morning at day-break, give to your fowls a warm mess
of boiled small potatoes, mashed and mixed with meal. They
will pay you in eggs, much more than you could obtain in
market for the potatoes.

Excessive supply, or other unfavorable conditions in the fall
market, sometimes compel the grower to store the bulk of his
produce. If you have a large cellar or root-house, which is
frost-proof and can be kept dark, the simplest way to store
potatoes, either for home use, for seed or for spring market, is
to put them in dry bins, raised not less than six inches from
the ground. It is advisable not to heap them up over 20 or 24
inches high, Potatoes stored in crates, as described in the pre-
ceeding chapter, or in karrels and boxes, generally keep well.

36

LESSON 35.—All potatoes when put into winter quarters, musi
be perfectly dry.

A steady temperature, as low as possible without actual
freezing, is the best.

LESSON 36.-—Potatoes intended for food, should be kept in the
dark.

A sprinkling of air-slacked lime over the tubers is a preventa-
tive of rot.

Another good method of keeping potatoes until spring, is the
storage in pits. It may not be quite as handy, nor as safe, as
the cellar storage, but the tubers generally come out of their
winter quarters much fresher and of better taste than when
cellar kept. The annexed figure gives a correct idea of the pit
as it should be.

The pits may be made right in the field where the crop is dug.
Select a loeation-with perfect natural drainage, and excavate
a place of corresponding size, and not deeper than necessary to

{\\ UPN NS
ay Re i A Ys Wy Wy
W%p4

Mn

ADS Mp,
A Coes Drea
- dy, CK Dy 3)

Ds wi

SY)!

sO9 val zat yy wa
\ WS ee aK my i aie ~

Di :
WAIN ND, is iy
Gee gens eeu SN
= Sail Wate ms WN
SSS SWS SS MOE SAA N \N

\ \\ \ “
X YX \ \N SS (7%
\ NN SS

Figure 13. Potato Pit.

obtain a solid and dry foundation (8 or 9 inches). For a pile
of 50 bushels, the excavation should be round, and about 4 feet
in diameter ; for a larger quantity, it has to be enlarged in one
direction only, and thus made oblong.

Now put a little straw in the bottom, and empty the potatoes
as fast as picked up, upon it, making a conical pile. Cover it
with straw eight inches deep, and after the lapse of a few hours,

37

cover with soil to the depth of three or four inches. A twisted
band of straw, reaching down to the potato heap and through
the dirt covering on top, serves as ventilator.

At the approach of severe cold weather, this heap is once
more covered with 5 or 6 inches of straw, held in place by «
light coat of soil.

LESSON 37.—A dead air space (straw) between two light coats
of soil, protects potatoes from freezing much more effectually
than the generally applied heavy outside cout of manure.

It must be our aim to keep the potatoes as near as possible to
the freezing point without actual freezing, and in a warm
winter, the ventilator should be kept in good working order.

Further south, of course, this heavy and anxious protection
is not necessary ; the difficulty there is in keeping the potatoes
from rotting and sprouting.

Oo
CHAPTER XI.
SEED POTATOES.

Production of New Varieties. Their Dissemination,
Loeal vs. Shipping Trade. High Breeding.

To the faithful experimenters who propagate from the seed
of the seed balls, as they come across them accidentally in
selected varieties, or from seed which is the result of artificial
fecundation of pistils of one superior sort with pollen taken
from another, we owe the existence of many improved new
varieties.

There is no stand-still. Either we go onward or we must
fall back. Should we neglect to improve on the varieties now
existing, we would soon have none worth cultivating. We can
only wish that the effort of those experimenters may be contin-
ued untiringly. Their work is not to be derided. It is neces-
sary to create about 2,000 new varieties, in order to find one as
good as those already in existence, and perhaps 10,000, or more,
to find a better one.

It seems to us, however, that by far too many of the new
seedlings are retained by the growers. They should offer to

38

the public only such varieties, which, by the severest tests,
prove that they are really superior to existing kinds. It is but
natural, though, that the originator of a promising variety
should wish to make it pay him for his labor and trouble in
calling into life so many which are of no value.

The disseminators of new varieties generally reap the reward
of the originator’s work, and the business of growing and selling
seed potatoes is sometimes, as in years of boom, like 1881 to
1883, exceedingly profitable for those who have the judgment
to select the ‘‘coming” varieties, or who know them by
intuition.

W.E. W., a prominent potato grower near————,, bought
of us in the spring of 1881, sixty-four pounds of the now justly
celebrated White Elephant potato, then introduced by Thor-
burn & Co. From this quantity of seed, which cost him some-
thing over $8.00, he raised 110 bushels. A quantity of these
were retailed at $5.00 per bushel in spring 1882; we bought 50
or 60 bushels at $7.00 per barrel of 150 pounds, and the rest he
planted, growing from them in 1882, nearly 1500 bushels, which
were sold for $1.00 per bushel in spring 1883.

The original investment has paid him exceedingly well, but
the same thing cannot be done every year, nor with every new
variety. Sorts which gain universal popularity and grow into
demand at fancy figures, are few and far between.

Still, in many thousands of villages and neighborhoods in
localities where potatoes are grown €xtensively, there are fine
opportunities for enterprising and competent men to increase
their farm profits by growing potatoes for seed. Many farmers
and village people neglect to save any of their early garden
potatoes for seed, and when spring comes are looking for a few
“real early ones,’”’ and are willing to play a good price. We
generally sold Harly Ohio in the local market at $2.00 a bushel.

Local demand is the only safe foundation for a start in the
business of growing seed potatoes, and it would be folly to
speculate altogether on the mailing and shipping trade, obtained
by advertising.

39

That branch seems to be well filled, if not crowded, by very
enterprising firms and individuals. Grow up with the loeal
market, and gradually try to reach out beyond it.

LESSON 38.—Potatoes intended for seed should be grown from
carefully selected tubers, and carefully sorted at harvest.

High breeding is just as necessary in the case of potatoes as
in that of cattle or sheep. To lessen the risk of mixing the
seed, different varieties should be planted a little ways apart,
divided for instance by a few rows of corn or beans, and care-
fully labeled. Store in pits or cellar. Never depend on your
memory as to the varieties. If you have but six different ones,
label each package or bin correctly.

LESSON 39.—Seed potatoes rather improve, are not damaged, by
exposure to the light.

Requiring more labor and care in planting, in selection of
seed stock, in growing apart, in storing separately until spring,
in labeling, and otherwise involving risks, the crop is naturally
more expensive than potatoes grown for food. The grower
cannot afford to sell them at common market rates, and the
buyer must expect to pay accordingly.

O
CHAPTER XII.

COST AND PROFITS.

The expense of growing one acre of potatoes is about as
follows :—
Rent (1 acre in new clover, worth $100), : - $ 6.00

Manure, 15 loads or its pete : : yt GOR)
Plowing and harrowing, . ; : “ 2.00
Marking, plowing, furrows, covering, : : : 1.50
Dropping seed by hand, . : : . ; : 1.50
Seed, 25 bushels at 60 cents, : : 2 : . 15.00
Cultivating, ete., : : : : : ; 5.00
Harvesting and marketing, : : : : : 5.00

Total, $51.00
Receipts—250 bushels at 25 cents per bushel, 62.50

Net profit per acre, $11.50

40

The above yield of 250 bushels, is the very lowest we would
expect in an uufavorable season, and the probable price then
nearer the average, say at least 50 cents. The receipts in that
case will be doubled, or 3125, leaving a net profit of $74 per
acre.

In a favorable season the crop would be 300 or 400 bushels,
and the net profits correspondingly larger. Often, also, pota-
toes are sold for 60,75 and even 100 cents and above per bushel.

The average price during the five years from 1876 to 1880,
inclusive, is estimated by the Agricultural Department at 53.3
cents per bushel. The average for the future can hardly be
expected to be much less. Half of this price pays liberally for
labor, manure, rent, seed, and leaves a profit besides. What

more can you ask ?
QO

CHAPTER XIII.
SUCCESSIVE CROPS.

Paving successive crops can often be grown without trouble,
4s it is not one which particularly impoverishes the soil. The
potash and phosphoric acid, however, which the crop removes,
should be replaced either, by fine manure applied in the fall,
or by the required chemical fertilizers in the spring. We have
raised potatoes year after year on the same soil, or alter-
nated with corn, without seeding to clover or applying
manure, except very little ashes, kainit, and superphosphate ;
and sometimes (in a favorable season) the last crop was the
best.

Those repeated crops of from two to 400 bushels to the acre
seem to show that there is an enormous quantity of the raw
material for the manufacture of potatoes in common soil, if
you but know how to make it available.

———0

CHAPTER ALY:
TREATMENT OF THE FIELD AFTER DIGGING.

It is not profitable to allow the field to remain through the
winter in the rough condition caused by the digging operation.

41

Some sort of covering through fall and winter is beneficial to

the land. Weeds, with their seed maturing propensities, are

not a profitable or satisfactory coveriag.

LESSON 40.—Soon after digging harrow the field thoroughly
and sow to rye.

The field can be got in very fine condition for rye (or wheat,
either, if early enough) with little labor; plowing is not
necessary ; thorough harrowing is sufficient, unless the land is
very rough and hard, when the cultivator may precede the
harrow. The rye will come handy for early spring pasture, or
for use as green feed, or for the grain (with seeding to clover
in spring, at the grower’s pleasure). If potatoes are to be
followed with potatoes, the rye may be plowed under for

manure,
O

CHAPTER XV.

PRICE AND FOOD VALUE.

In some springs—generally after a good potato season follow-
ing a boom—the supply is largely in excess of the demand,
and prices rule low. Often a market can hardly be found at
at all, and farmers are asking: ‘Shall we sell our pota-
toes at twenty-five cents a bushel or teed them?”

Potatoes contain only about one-quarter as much _ solid
nutriment as corn, weight for weight. With corn at sixty
cents a bushel, or wheat at seventy-five cents, the actual feed-
ing value of one bushel of potatoes is less than twenty cents,
perhaps hardly fifteen cents. In small quantities, merely as a
stimulant for the digestive functions of horses and cows, or
boiled as a variety for laying and fattening hens, they may be
worth much more. With the above price for grain we would
sell potatoes at twenty cents per bushel and buy corn, much
rather than feed them. For human food wheat is about as
cheap at seventy-five cents as potatoes at fifteen cents per
bushel.

42
CHAPTER XVI.
RECAPITULATION.

In the preceding pages we have given you our system of
growing potatoes on the common soils which are found on
almost every farm. After much thought and study, and years

of experimenting, we had selected it as the safest for us as for.

the general farmer. We have often failed with other systems,
but had always good success with this. We hope you will at
least give it a trial. Weare willing to guarantee success,
provided you comply with the following indispensible
conditions :

1. That the naturally drained soil, in which neither sand
nor clay should have too great a preponderance one over
the other, be thoroughly pulverized way down below the seed.

2. That these be present in the soil, and available for
immediate use, a fair quantity of all the essential elements of
plant food, or if not, that the deficient element or elements be
supplied, either in the shape of fine stable manure or of
eommercial fertilizers,

3. That a sufficiency of well selected seed be planted (not less
than three inches deep) in drills, at a distance regulated accord-
ing to the condition of soil, and the vigor of variety planted.

4. That the ground be well cultivated, and but slightly
hilled, and

5. That the bugs be repelled by luxuriance of foliage.
ee

CHAPTER XVII
CONCLUSIVE REMARKS.

The Terry One Eye System. The ‘Rural’ Trenching
Method.

On several occasions in our little work we have mentioned
prominent features of the Terry (Dr. Sturtevant’s) one eye
and the Rural trenching systems. Our method differs in very
material points from either.

Terry emphasizes the cutting to one eye, in the manner he
calls “from North-east to South-west.”” The more plant food

* 4

43

there is in his soil the less space he allows to each plant, fo
the purpose of making use of all the available substance in his
land. We believe that the principle is altogether wrong The
richer the soil the fewer plants should grow on it. One strong,
well tillered wheat plant bears more grain than a dozen spind-
ling, single stalks on a space three or four inches square.
Terry creates dwarfs and weaklings, and assigns to them the
work of collecting and assimulating plant food. We have
giants in structure and digestion. A strong plant can often
use the plant food (which is present in almost every soil) in a
shape in which it is utterly unavailable fora weak one, just as
some people will thrive on pork and beans, whilst others
would not dare to take anything heavier than beef tea and
toast. (A weak plant does not utilize all the available plant
food within its reach, and here is the proof of the pudding:

In one of our tests a number of Dakota Red single eyes, cut
from North-east to South-west, were planted in medium rich
loam. <A part or these single eyes were inserted each into a
whole Gem potato, which had all the eyes cut off and a hole
dug out for the reception of a Dakota Red-eye. In spite of
this procedure with the Gems, some of their own eyes started
into life. A number of the Dakota Red single eyes planted
without Gems did not germinate, or perished after germinating.
The hills planted with Gems averaged more and larger Dakota
Reds than the others, and yielded a considerable quantity of
Gems besides. The fallacy of Mr. Terry’s theory is here ex-
posed with almost mathematical accuracy.) On soil in as fine
a state of cultivation as Mr. Terry claims his land to be, we
wouid not be satisfied with a potato crop of less than four or
five hundred bushels to the acre. His yields are by no means
remarkable or excessively large.

The Rural system is similar to the Terry in regard to close
planting and dwarting the plants, though Mr. Carman uses two
eye pieces, planted 12 inches apart. The greatest importance
is attached, first, to the thorough pulverization of the soil in
the bottom of wide trenches (into which the seed is to be planted) ;

44
second, to drill manuring with commercial fertilizers (The

Rural diselaims all merit for stable manure on the Rural
grounds) ; third, to perfectly level cultivation.

Having one common end in view, that is, the increase of

yield on common (not rich) farm soils, we are strongly in sym-
pathy with the Rural. But we cannot travel the same road.

Our method is entirely original in many of its main features,
in the first place, we make a general and decided distinction,
clear through, between early (dwarf), and late (tall), varieties,
treating them differently in regard to soil, manuring, time and
manner of planting, amount of seed, distance in the rows, ete.

We do not despise commercial fertilizers and chemicals, like
Terry, nor reject stable dung, like the Rural. Each is good in
its place. But potato pulp is a manure that we must have, if it
be the most expensive. We have not found anything that wili
take its place.

Terry weans his potato babies when they are.a day or so old,
and feeds them flour soup and rice with the spoon; the Rural
nurses them a few days longer, then uses patented “ food for
infants.” We bring ours up solely on their mother’s milk,
uutil they are vigorous and strong enough to digest the heartiest
kind of food. .

Here you have the three systems. ‘‘ You pays your money
and you takes your choice,”

APPENDIX.

THE NEWER VARIETIES. THEIR MERITS
AND FAULTS.

While descriptive lists of the newer potato sorts can be found
in all the annual seed catalogues which are seattered over the

country by millions, the reader will desire to see such a list

made out from the-stand point of the planter, not in the interest
of the dealer in seed potatoes. This chapter is an attempt to

‘supply it. We will mention merely the most popular and the
i 4 po}

most promising varieties.
There are a number of varieties so nearly alike in every re-

‘spect, that their dissemination under different and often high-

sonnding names, can hardly be justified. The number of Rose

‘seedlings in particular is legion. Others are praised up beyond
-actual merit by their originators or introducers, and the dissem_

inators just copy the extravagant statements.
These gentlemen desire to create a brisk demand at a dollar

-or soa pound, and they know how to do it, though it require

seventy-five cents worth of puffing and blowing and of colored
plates, to sell the one pound. The good qualities of a new
seedling are generally greatly magnified, while the faults are
entirely ignored.

The reader, who intends to buy new kinds, is earnestly

-advised to examine our list and description carefully before
-buying. He may thereby save money.

0
IXTRA HKARLY SORTS.

EARLY OHIO.
Our favorite. Seedling of Early Rose. With us, the earliest of

‘all that are worthy of cultivation. Smooth, round-oblong,

45

46

rose colored. Quality first rate, cooking dry and mealy even
before fully matured. Needs particularly heavy seeding on
account of particularly low growing tops; otherwise little sus-
ceptible to indifferent treatment. Prefers heavy, rich and
rather moist soils. Handsome. Indispensible in the family
garden and as early market variety. The Ohio is the kind for
rich bottom lands, the true ‘‘Queen of the Valley,” but not
worth much for thin, dry uplands.

LEE’S FAVORITE.

Seedling of the Early Rose; resembling it in form and gen-
eral appearance. Light flesh-colored; pink about the eyes.
Quality unexcelled. A very promising variety.

EARLY MAINE.

Another seedling of the same parent, and a very promising
sort.
pe

EARLY SORTS.

EARLY SUNRISE, EARLY GEM, CHICAGO MARKET, EARLY

VERMONT, ROSY MORN, AND OTHERS.

All these are seedlings of the Early Rose and resemble each
other and their parent, varying but little in shade of color,
(lighter or darker red), or in time of ripening. We will call
them collectively, the

NEW ROSE,

and prefer either of them to the old Early Rose, for the same
reason that the reader, if he had the choice between two horses
alike in every respect except age, would take the five-year old
colt in preference to the fifteen-year old mare. But if you
have one of these varieties, you have all.

BEAUTY OF HEBRON.

A leading market variety, seedling of Peachblow and
Garnet Chili, spotted white and pink; oblong; quality first-
rate; yielding well in rich, not too heavy soils.

47
KARLY MAYFLOWER

May be called a rejuvenated Snowflake, but is earlier and a
better yielder. Like the Snowflake it requires light seeding,
- otherwise a large number of small tubers will be the result.

EARLY TELEPHONE
Resembles the preceding, but makes a more vigorous growth.

O

INTERMEDIATE SORTS.

RURAL BLUSH.

A fine variety indeed. Very productive. Tubers flattish-
round, very uniform in size and shape, and of excellent
quality The eyes are deeper than we should like to see them.

BAKER’S IMPERIAL AND CORLESS MATCHLESS
Are two more seedlings of the Early Rose; large, long, red,
prolific, and altogether promising sorts.

MAGNUM BONUM (American),

Large, good yielder, deep-eyed. We have better varieties

than this. :
ONTARIO.

White, productive, of fair quaJity and shape. A very good

late keeping sort.
BIG BENEFIT (Pickering’s).

Large, long, smooth, red. Valuable for the propagator on

account of its free blooming and seeding (seed-ball producing)

faculties.
O

LATE SORTS.

DUNMORE SEEDLING, MAMMOTH PEARL AND O. K.
MAMMOTH PROLIFIC
Belong to the Peerless type of potatoes. The farmers in
Northumberland County, Pa., the home of the introducer of
Mammoth Pearl and O. K. Mammoth Prolific, speak very
highly cf these varieties. The O. K. is the best of the three,

48

and should be planted by people who can grow the Peerless to
advantage. We find fault with the quality mostly.
BELLE AND QUEEN OF THE VALLEY
Are nearly alike, yield well, but are deficient in quality.
We cannot recommend them.
WALL’S ORANGE
Is reported to be a splendid potato in a few localities, but the
majority of planters will soon discard it. The tubers are
spreading in the hill. The quality is good, though not the
best. Liable to rot. Valuable as a late keeping sort and a
free bloomer and seeder. Tops extremely vigorous. It has
greatly disappointed us.
WHITE STAR.

Tubers resemble Burbank, but are still more regular and
handsome in appearance; white, great yielder, and of fine
quality. Is claimed to be a better yielder than even White
Elephant with some growers. We do not find it so.

WHITE ELEPHANT.

This is our standard of excellence as to quality and yield.
Tubers are apt to grow prongy, and liable to rot in heavy or
very rich soils. Otherwise smooth and fair shaped. Resem-
bles Beauty of Hebron, its twin brother, in shape and color.
Top growth very thrifty. Plants commence to bloom when
quite young, and produce blossoms so freely during the greater
part of the growing season, that the variety can be distinguished
from afar by the abundance of the white clusters. The Ele-
phant is not a good variety for late spring use, nor is it proof
against rot or disease. A perfectly white sort of this variety
is Weld’s Jumbo (Ingleside, N. Y.\, though perhaps not supe-
rior to it in other respects.

JORDAN’S PROLIFIC AND NEW CHAMPION
tesemble White Elephant somewhat in color and shape, and
though very fine potatoes, can hardly be said to be superior to it.
JONES’ PRIZE TAKER
Is a trifle earlier, and perhaps mealier than White Elephant—
if that be possible, ctherwise exactly like it.

49
AMERICAN GIANT.

Tubers are giants indeed, of fair shape, but only of medium
quality. Yield very large.

ADIRONDACK.

Roundish, with few eyes; red. Produces very many uni-
form, medium sized tubers of fair quality. Keeps very late
without sprouting, aud the tubers are sound and solid in early
summer, long after other sorts have become unfit for food.

RUBICUND

Resembles Adirondack, perhaps more oblong and eyes not so

deep. Very smooth.
HOME COMFORT.

A potato of the rose family, very smooth and handsome, very
large and very late, a vigorous grower. Quality of the very
best.

DUCHESS.

Much ado for nothing. Produces an immense amount of
foliage and but few tubers. The few specimens, however, will
often reach gigantic proportions. Good for exhibition purposes,
but for no other.

EL PASO

Has been a complete failure with us.
DAKOTA RED.

Isa very promising variety. Tops, tubers and yield extra
large. Quality good. Eyes too deep and shape not of the best-

19)

In the following Schedule, the varieties are compared with
each other in regard to size of tops (column 1), size of tuber (2),
yield (3), quality (4), shape (5), resistance to rot, ete. (6), and
keeping quality (7). Ten is the standard of excellence. As far
as yield is concerned, it is supposed that all these varieties are
treated according to our system, 7. e., differently for early and
late sorts:

cu
So

: oe
eg, f +2
PE | oS s | 2 sei
NAME OF VARIETY. ae & = = s $¢ S
S St | ae 5 a BD
EXTRA EARLY.
AY MOM enc nctccs/ oss veateeee 57% | 94-10 | 10°) 10a
Lee’s Favorite..-......0«s) 6 |/-8°1 > 9 | 10°) 93h. ae
EARLY.
Barly, MUMrISe: ..5.2..sesmoseneraesi th Uh. BT ee 1071 ae
Bier y) MAEM. 55. ebinsen vast cxaee see 6 8 9 94) 10 4
Chicago, Market... sceiesscvases 6 8 9 9 91] 10 i
‘Barly, Vermont... Jaccccmes secqhe 6 8 9 9 L} 10 7
BUAT IY TRORE,<- 3.00 crsvertnetbenees: 61° 8). G: hee9: | (OR IO ea
Rosy Morn). i005 stcscncodgeeenee! 68 9 | 9 OS TO
beauty of Hebron, .......45.2-- 7} ).8-4.29- 1-404) 200 oe
Harly Mayflower:....0.0+.0+-0-s2s TOE! BT EOC ee
Early Telephone........:...1:-.-. Pe) 46 Bt 1 20
INTERMEDIATE,
GTA ab hh .c.csccsdeeneters ener 10 9 }.10 | 10 9 9 9
Big Benefit (Pickering’s)...... Bt) Be) 8 bec. lanka eo
Magnum. Bonu: ..i6..cce05 .bees 8 9 8 8 9 ) 9
COTRTIO 3) Soucny ove. ee 8 9 9 9 9 94
LATE.
Dunmore seedling ......7..+-.+- SAO) AOE ON eos
Mammoth Pearl i. :. ses scavcenss 9 9 9 81} 9 9 9
O. K. Mammoth Prolifié,...... LOY 401 10:3" 95). OF. One
PeGrless sy, ccecdesscke scares St! 108 10) 8 9 9| 9
Breil e \y 55 cate etic aes pew apeeeeeee eae 9 41 8 8 9 9 9
Queen of the Valley............: 9 8-14.81) Sh aie
Wall’s orange... .ccec50ccseresssacs} AU) |) 84>) 8/1) -O) 4 | ee
Wihite (Stak.c.: assavascsesds.vsccessehe seas 4). 93} 10 | 10.1.9
Burbank: ...ccceesece Ep ese tae 10) gi 11 9 91} 9 9
White: Elephants ccctsrteensces. 10 | 10} 10;10) 93:9] 9
(Weld’s: Jum.) .2. steers 10°] 10° | 10 | 10-).° 98) Sasa
Jordan's: Prolaie..c.s.tasecee 104 20,110 7 10 4) Oo eae
Jones’ Prize Takeric. 3 cssce 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | seni’) meee
AIMEEICAN: Gilaltes.scsessceeeessaes 103-104 £0 9 Q4] 5... 00hs eae
PGITOMORIEK 05) ccoudavs Melos eee 8 8 | 10 93; 94) 10 | 10
Bubicund: 9),:43.2, 2. sesnsse tee Saal a0 | 93} 10 | 10 | 10
Home :Comfort...3....0s-secast-naae |) LO ae 10, |, 10: |. cocoon
DDUCIOES ous ssoasrensies cvenssesdicns ess] CLOT aAVeh «leila a hese eae | See
Ell Pa80 05. c000 sessesevansacesssecent) Bib. Al aad ee) Ba
Dakota Hed ae eee 10*|" 10°} 10:1 (ORI *Os (eee

+ Where no figures are given, we cannot fix the grade from our own
knowledge. * Extra.

51

Our schedule will show you that there is not a single variety
which is perfect in all respects. And we doubt that such a one
will be found very soon. The schedule will need more or less
modification in different localities. If we were restricted to
three varieties, we would select Early Ohio for early use;
White Elephant for main crop; Adirondack for late use in
spring. Next we would add Lee’s Favorite or Beauty of
Hebron for early, Dakota Red for main crop.

THE ENI).

52

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ent varieties of fowls; show up the good qualities of each,and let
him see which are best adapted to special wants.

It is intended to show how best to house them and care for
them, that a person may derive profit from them and enjoy them;
also to arm the poultryman against diseases which threaten his
fowls.

All of the important features of the business that are attracting
special attention at the present time, Ineubators and Capons are
discussed with intended fairness to all.

In Parr IV.—Subject :

“KEEPING POULTRY ON A LARGE SCALE.”’

Is the only solution of the question ** How ean it be done and
pay?

There are good illustrations of some of the principal varieties of
fowls, also of the best Poultry Houses for the. fancier or extensive
poultry keeper.

Sent on receipt of 25 eents, or 5 books for ®1.00. Postal
Notes preferred.

FRANKLIN NEWS COMPANY,
PHILADELPHIA, PENNA.

53

FRANKLIN News Co..

PUBLISHERS OF BOOKS.
aaron Ss STANDARD DICTIONARY

By mail,

post-paid, | ay $1.00

Address “FRANKLIN NEWS CO.,

Box 329. PHILADELPHIA, PA.

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