330 [Senate 



experiments to ascertain the comparative advantages of planting the 

 potatoe in setts or the whole tuber, and of using much or little seed. 

 The result of all these experiments has been uniform, and in favor 

 of selecting to plant, such tubers and such only, as the farmer's wife 

 would select for his table; of cutting each into from four to six setts, 

 care being taken as much as may be to avoid dividing the eyes, and 

 of planting from six to eight of these pieces in a hill. 



This season I hoed my potatoes but twice — though I prefer hoeing 

 three times — the first time as soon as the plants are fairly out of the 

 ground, the second about ten days later, and the last time or hilling, 

 just before the roots begin to sett. I use a horse each time; with a 

 cultivator or corn harrow the two first times, and a light plow the 

 last, going both ways each time. 



In hilling, I agi particular that the hills be left large and flat, or 

 hollowing on the surface, rather than high and pointed. The ground 

 having been very thoroughly harrowed, the rows one way were 

 marked out with a light plow — making a furrow about 2 inches 

 deep; in the bottom of which, the seed w^as deposited without the 

 addition of plaster or any kind of manure. The planting was done 

 on the 2Sth of 5th month. After the plants made their appearance, 

 and before the first hoeing, plaster was applied at the rate of about 

 75 lbs to the acre; and after the first hoeing, a composition of plas- 

 ter and leached ashes, at the rate of 50 lbs. of the former and 4i 

 bushels of the latter to the acre. In the application of this com- 

 pound, I tried two experiments; one, to prove the advantage to the 

 crop, derived from the use of the ashes; and one to prove the ef- 

 fect of the plaster applied last. The result of which was, that the 

 plaster last applied did no good whatever, and that the ashes in- 

 creased the amount of the crop ,-3 over and above what it would have 

 been, had not the ashes been used. 



In addition to what appears above, I have built nearly 100 rods 

 of fence during the past season; 75 rods of it of posts and boards, 

 and the remainder of cedar rails. I have also made some improve- 

 ments in and around some of my buildings. But as such expendi- 

 tures add to the value of the real estate, just the amount of their 

 cost, they have been omitted. 



There was also in the spring a trifling expense incurred in repair- 

 ing fences, which properly might have been deducted from the nett 

 profits of " farm account general," as made out above, but then I 

 have omitted also to give credit for some 1,200 seedling fruit trees, 

 the growth of the present season which ought properly to have been 

 credited, and which at their present value, according to the whole- 

 sale nursery prices, 'would have amounted, after deducting the ex- 

 pense of cultivation, to some twenty dollars, a fraction of which 

 would be sufficient to offset against the repairs alluded to. I have also 

 incurred some expense in improving the quality of the fruit by graft- 

 ing my orchartl. But this also, being an improvement, is entered in 

 "stock account;" and hence need not be noticed in account with the 

 farm. 



It will be noticed that I have given no credit for the products of 



