Kensington in Prince County, Prince Edward Island — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)
Potato Farming Between the Tree Stumps
L'exploitation de pommes de terre entre les souches d'arbre
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2019
1. Potato Farming Between the Tree Stumps Marker
With its rich soil, Prince Edward Island is tailor-made for the cultivation of potatoes. Early settlers planted potatoes because they would grow on the newly-cleared land, thriving even when planted amongst the tree stumps. Harvesting was done by hand, with pickers pulling the potato stalks and gathering the tubers into baskets and bags. The field would then be harrowed to expose the remaining potatoes.
In the late 1800s, potatoes began to emerge as an important cash crop. A regional export market opened up, and farmers began shipping their spuds to the other Atlantic Provinces. Soon, P.E.I. was known abroad as a potato capital. Potatoes were so plentiful that farmers used them as pig feed, which in turn produced a thriving pork industry.
While no one farms between the tree stumps anymore, the potato continues to grow almost anywhere else it is planted in our red soil.
Avec son sol riche, l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard est l'endroit tout indiqué pour la culture de la pomme de terre. Les pionniers plantaient des pommes de terre parce qu'elles poussaient sur les terres
this page online
Vers la fin des années 1800, les pommes de terre ont commencé à s'imposer comme une importante culture commerciale. Un marché d'exportation régionale a alors vu le jour et les agriculteurs ont commencé à expédier leurs produits du terroir vers les autres provinces de l'Atlantique. L'Île-du-Prince-Édouard allait bientôt être reconnue à l'étranger à titre de capitale de la pomme de terre. En fait, les pommes de terre étaient si abondantes que les agriculteurs s'en servaient pour nourrir les porcs, ce qui, en retour, a donné lieu à une industrie porcine florissante.
Bien que plus personne ne s'adonne à l'agriculture entre les souches d'arbre, la pomme de terre continue de pousser à peu près n'importe où ailleurs pour autant qu'e le soit plantée dans notre sol rouge.
Erected by Town of Kensington, and Department of Canadian Heritage.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce.
Location. 46° 26.165′ N, 63° 38.492′
Courtesy PEI Museum and The Island Magazine
2. Marker detail: Harvesting Potatoes by Hand
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Efficiency of Mixed Farming (a few steps from this marker); A Woman's Work is Never Done (a few steps from this marker); Original Meaning of Horsepower (within shouting distance of this marker); The Seven Year Rotation (within shouting distance of this marker); A World Leader in Silver Foxes (within shouting distance of this marker); The Early Days of Farm Equipment (within shouting distance of this marker); Farming Groups in Kensington (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Business and Agriculture (about 90 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kensington.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Prince Edward Island Agriculture
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2019
3. Potato Farming Between the Tree Stumps Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 140 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 17, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on May 18, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
