POTATOES. 21 



raise double the quantity of the Garnet Chili on the same 

 manure that you can of the Early Rose. Although the Early 

 Rose, in my estimation, is far the best potato, it is not so con- 

 sidered in the market. Our foreign population do not like the 

 Rose ; it is not strong enough for them. I did not lay out my 

 piece of ground exactly according to prescribed rules, because 

 I simply took a chain and drew it along the ground, and 

 planted my potatoes right on this chain. I did not make a 

 furrow a foot deep, and I never should, because my experi- 

 ence proves that potatoes want air and light. All you need is 

 dirt enough over them to keep the sun from burning them. I 

 do not believe that potatoes grow as well deep down in the 

 furrow. I did not put a spoonful of manure on the piece. 

 Last year there was a load of coarse hog manure, made from 

 leaves and other bedding, put on the ground, and it was 

 planted to white beans; but that pest of the farmer every 

 where, the woodchuck, relieved me pretty much from the trou- 

 ble of harvesting the crop. I plowed late, and planted the 

 14th of June. That is late planting, gentlemen, for potatoes. 

 It wont do to try it always. I think May is far preferable, or 

 April, if you can get them in and get them up. But they 

 were the last I planted, and I got them in on the 14th of 

 June. The hills were about two and one-half feet apart, and 

 the rows three and one-half feet. In the first four rows I 

 put a double handful of unleached ashes in the hill — nothing 

 else. In the next two rows I put a good large handful of hen 

 manure in each hill — nothing more — keeping the potatoes a 

 little away from it. 



Mr. Low. — Did you put the dry ashes in immediate contact 

 with the potatoes ? 



Mr. Lyman. — I did, sir. I should not be at all afraid to 

 plant potatoes right in ashes. I dropped the potatoes, and 

 then dropped the ashes right on the potatoes in the hills. The 

 ashes were not wet but dry. The hen manure was strong and 

 good; it was not all dried up, so that there was no richness to 

 it. Then, having a compost heap of lime, salt, and muck, I 

 mixed ashes with it, and put a good double handful into the 

 hills in the next two rows. On the next four rows I used su- 



