No. 63.J 329 



yet having kept account of the number of bundles harvested, and 

 having ascertained by threshing and measuring a considerable part of 

 the product, the number of bundles required to yield a bushel, it is 

 believed that the following estimate of the yield cannot be far from 

 correct. The same remark would apply to my estimate of the 

 amount of a few other crops. In every instance, however, I have 

 been at the pains of obtaining similar data, and equally satisfactory, 

 with that on which my estimate is founded in the present instance. 



Another consideration remains. The manure, which constitutes a 

 large proportion of the expense, was applied with a view of another 

 crop, and as it was probably injurious rather than beneficial to the 

 wheat, this item of expense ought to be deducted and placed to the 

 debit of farm account general, as a loss sustained by mismanagement, 

 but chargeable to " stock account,"rather than to any particular 

 crop. 



This would leave a balance to the whole field of $27.92. 

 My potatoe crop was not large, but for a greensward crop, without 

 manure, and especially for this season, it was comparatively good. 

 It should be remarked, however, that the raising of a crop of pota- 

 toes or any hoed crop without manure is a departure from my gene- 

 ral system. In this instance it was the result of circumstances rather 

 than design. The kind of potatoes which I planted is the " Mer- 

 cer.^^ 



Having ascertained, by nicely conducted experiments, for three 

 successive seasons, that they are more profitable on my land than any 

 other variety 1 have raised, I now plant no other. The Rohan, it is 

 true, will produce more bushels; the comparative yield of these two 

 varieties, in those experiments, being, on an average, about as five to 

 four. But the Rohan, though not so bad a potatoe as sometimes rep- 

 resented, is not good enough for my table, neither will they sell here 

 for table use. To raise for stock, the Rokan would undoubtedly be 

 the most profitable. But for this purpose I raise neither, having 

 found the beet still better. The difference, in point of productive- 

 ness, between the Mercer and English White, or between the former 

 and the" Scribner" potatoe, has proved in favor of the former, though 

 the difference is not very large. There is also a difference in point 

 of quality in favor of the same kind, which is very considerable, as 

 the quantity of starch contained in the Mercer exceeds that contain- 

 ed in either of the other varieties mentioned, by ten to twelve per 

 cent. In this respect the Mercer is not excelled even by the pink- 

 eye or the biscuit potatoe, while it far exceeds either in productive- 

 ness. 



The potatoes in this field were planted in hills, the rows going both 

 ways. This mode I now prefer to planting in drills. I once sup- 

 posed that the latter mode was preferable; but from four successive 

 experiments, instituted in as many succeeding years, I have been in- 

 duced to abandon that mode entirely; the increased amount produced 

 in drills, having in no instance, compensated for the increased ex- 

 pense of cultivation. 



I have also instituted, and repeated under various circumstances, 

 [Senate No. 63.) R* 



