270 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



that, unless the field needs reseediiig, the farmer of our day 

 will by applying his manure directly to his grass crop, receive 

 enough more increase, so that he can better afford to purchase 

 his corn. I would also say nearly the same of oats. If they 

 were not a crop convenient for re-seeding they would be less 

 grown here than even the present small quantity. They are 

 even a very poor crop for that purpose, for to get a good catch 

 of grass the field should be in good condition, with perhaps a 

 top dressing of some fine manure or fertilizer added at the 

 time of seeding ; and this generally causes the oats to lodge 

 badly. I have thought that very early sowing remedied this 

 in part but not wholly. 



The potato is more necessarily grown among us, the trans- 

 portation of it being more difficult, and a considerable manu- 

 facturing interest creating a moderate demand; so it will be 

 treated more in detail. No one has entered largely here into 

 its production, but about every land-owner has his potato patch 

 from one-fourth acre to two acres. On a farm of seventy-five 

 acres I usually grow from one to two acres, producing from 

 fifty to two hundred bushels to the acre according to the 

 season and the variety. I find a loose porous soil the best. 

 Some varieties like the Early Rose and Peerless depend for 

 good quality very much on a proper soil, and it is for this 

 reason there is so varied an opinion as to the value of these 

 varieties ; a slight diiference in soil making them either of 

 very good or very bad quality. Land that has been worked 

 a season or two previous will usually produce a better quality 

 than turf ground. A soil that holds water well either because 

 it is stiff and heavy or because it contains much vegetable 

 matter is not good ; but a rich soil, very porous and natu- 

 rally well drained, is most certain to produce a good and re- 

 liable crop. Peruvian Guano, Superphosphate of lime, ashes 

 and a limited quantity of salt are good fertilizers. Barn yard 

 manure if partially decayed is also very good. Use enough 

 fertilizers of some kind to make the plants grow with vigor, 

 but avoid those of a heating or fermenting nature as far as 

 possible, if you want a good crop free from disease. I plow 

 and harrow my ground well, and furrow it out with a Shares 



