358 N. H. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The past season, the potato crop in this section of the 

 country lias been much larger, and the tubers of a better 

 quality than for several years previous. During their growth 

 the strong, healthy looking tops, were but little afTccted by 

 the curl or blight ; and but very little appearance of rot 

 •when harvested. In some instances, where the rot was 

 scarcely noticed when the potatoes were dug, considerable 

 quantities have been lost since storing in the cellar, by 

 what is termed the dry rot ; which seems to indicate that 

 the " potato plague" is still lingering among us. I have 

 several times seen it noticed in the papers that the rot was 

 very destructive in its efifect upon the potato, in some sec- 

 tions of the Western States. 



Notwithstanding all that has been said, written and pub- 

 lished upon the potato malady, there seems to have been 

 but very little, if any light thrown upon the cause of it. — 

 Upon this point, we are now, probably, quite as much in the 

 dark, as when it first made its appearance. 



In 1851, over one hundred persons communicated their 

 views, (in writing,) to the Secretary of Massachusetts, on 

 this subject. • These papers were called fortli by the large 

 reward offered by the legislature of that State. 



None of the theories proposed were adjudged '• to furn- 

 ish any perfect cure or preventive of the potato disease," 

 yet they afforded many valnal)le hints and suggestions rela- 

 tive to the nature, cultivation, preservation and improve- 

 ment of the potato. Sound, healthy, whole potatoes arc 

 recommended for planting; dry, light, warm soils have gen- 

 erally been found more favorable for growing sound crops 

 than wet, heavy, compact soils. Elevated land, far up the 

 side of the hill or mountain, has generally been found a 

 more favorable location for the growth of the potato than 

 in valleys or low situations, which arc more subject to fogs, 

 dampness, rust, mildew and early frost. Good pasture land, 

 when plowed and planted early, is, perhaps, the safest kind 

 of soil to grow a sound and good crop upon. The addition 



