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seeds should be pressed out and mixed with sand, to enable the farmer 

 to BOW them in drills, on beds previously prepared in his seed patch. 

 These plants should be cultivated with care and kept free from weeds, 

 but not urged to a forced growth by stimulating manures. In the fall 

 they should be covered with leaves and straw, sufficiently to protect from 

 the inclemency of the coming winter. In the spring dig them before 

 they sprout, and plant the fairest in seed beds ; as soon as any of these 

 new varieties have become more productive than the old, (if their 

 quality is good) save seed balls from them, and plant and pursue the 

 same course as above directed, and judging from what I have seen and 

 witnessed, I say without diffidence, you may expect a rich reward. 



If the above is a rational course, I have not labored in vain, for it will 

 commend itself to whoever hears it proposed. Since I wrote my for- 

 mer essay, the numerous encomiums I have received from agriculturists, 

 both in this country and in Europe, must have fallen under the notice 

 of every news reader. This, backed by my own experience, prompts 

 me to throw oflF diffidence and communicate my discoveries to the 

 criticism of an enlightened community ; trusting by so doing I shall 

 be the means of eliciting truth, and thus benefiting all. 



REMARKS ON THE CAUSE OF THE POTATO ROT. 



All have noticed in these latter years, that the potato plant has lost 

 much of its orimnal stamina. This I assert is the effect of wronar cul- 

 tivation, and not an effect of a change in our climate. I have found 

 by repeated trials, that a potato taken from the cellar early in the 

 spring and planted, will remain sound from four to six weeks longer 

 than a like potato taken from the same place and planted four weeks 

 afterwards, other things being equal ; and the former will stand a chance 

 to be sound, while the latter will be unsound or ill-flavored; also, that 

 potatoes planted on deep-plowed, light soil, will remain sound much 

 longer than the same variety planted on a heavy soil, plowed shallot; 

 that the result will be similar to early and late planting; that strong, 

 heating manures cause the early decay of the planted tuber; and that 

 the same varieties planted on poor soil, at the same time, would remain 

 sound several weeks longer than a potato kept in the soil where it 

 grew, (as previously described,) and dug and planted in the spring be- 

 fore it sprouts, will remain sound longer than one kept in any other 



