POTATOES. 123 



Mr. Gold. I will state my experience in regard to the cul- 

 ture of the potato this summer. 



Tlie Early Rose has always been a favorite with me. This 

 summer, planted on rather light, dry land, the crop was a 

 partial failure. Planted in the garden, upon rich soil, it did 

 as well as ever. That was the general experience in that part 

 of the state, so far as my observation extends, in regard to 

 that variety of potato. 



I planted some thirty varieties on trial ; I will speak of only 

 a few of them. The Peerless perhaps yielded as abundantly 

 as any other variety. • I had only two or three potatoes of 

 that kind. I tried also a single potato — the Aroostook^ sent 

 me by my friend Gov. Hyde. The yield of that variety was 

 very remarkable, perhaps equal to the Peerless. It is a very 

 fine, large potato, promising to be a good one. Gov. Hyde 

 also has a seedling, with some samples of which I have been 

 favored, and that, in growth and vigor, seems to be unsur- 

 passed by any other variety. It is rather late, and it remains 



4 



to be decided how good a table potato it will prove ; but I 

 think its vigor is such as to recommend it ; and if, after an- 

 other year's trial, it proves to be deserving of public favor, 

 we shall probably have it at your service for trial. The 

 standard kinds which I have planted for several years — Gar- 

 net Chili, Gleason, and Prince Albert — all did well; Climax 

 small in size and quantity, but of good quality. Breese's 

 Prolific yielded abundantly, good size, smooth and of fair 

 quality for the table. The King of the Earlies and tjie Early 

 Mohawk did not show any superiority to the Early Rose. 



There have been such various reports with regard to the 

 yield of the Early Rose this year, that I wish gentlemen 

 would speak upon that point. I think, however, it will be 

 reduced to this : that in good soil, with proper manuring, the 

 Early Rose did very well indeed — -just as well as could have 

 been expected. I saw it under a variety of circumstances. 

 Among others, I saw it up in the region of which Mr. Gould 

 spoke yesterday, in Franklin county, in northern New York. 

 It grew there most magnificently, upon that virgin soil. Upon 



