POTATOES. 23 



less than the yield of the first four rows where the ashes were 

 used. 



There is another point to be considered in this, and that is 

 as regards the marketable potatoes and the small ones. We 

 all know that sometimes we can raise a greater quantity by 

 weight, even if they are small, than if they are large, and of 

 suitable size for market; therefore, that is a point to be con- 

 sidered. On the first two of the four rows, where I used 

 ashes, I had only a peck of small potatoes, leaving me two 

 bushels and a half of good sized potatoes fit for market. 

 Where I had the hen manure I had half a bushel of small po- 

 tatoes, or double the quantity that I had where I put ashes in 

 the hill. Where I used the salt and lime I had over three 

 pecks of potatoes that were not what I call sizable for market. 

 When I got to the phosphates I had only one peck again; and 

 when I got back to the ashes I had only half a peck. 



These simple experiments, which I tried for my own satis- 

 faction merely, bring two things prominently to view in re- 

 spect to this piece of ground. The first is, that however prof- 

 itable hen manure may be for some things, it is ijot profitable 

 for potatoes; and the second is, that ashes and phosphates are 

 the two best articles, ashes being the best of all. 



I consider, as the gentleman on my right said, that the 

 Early Rose can not be overfed. I think that variety needs a 

 strong soil and high nourishment. Some of my neighbors, 

 who last year planted the Davis Seedling, the Garnet Chili, 

 and the Early Rose, side by side, raised double the crop of 

 the Davis and the Chili that they did of the Rose, with the 

 same culture. The practical result would seem to be, that ii 

 we are going to sell our potatoes to the foreign population, 

 who like a stronger potato than the Early Rose, and if we have 

 a soil that with less manuring and less culture will produce 

 as much or more of some other variety than the Rose, we 

 should plant that other variety. 



Mr. Low. I have experimented with ashes a great 

 many times, on different soils, and I find they are the very 

 best fertilizer for patatoes ; but I find that potatoes do not 



