ROOT CROPS. 



The committee appointed to examine the claims for root crops have 

 attended to that duty and beg leave to submit the following report : 



That there were ten applications for premiums on root crops entered 

 with the Secretary, and all supported by the necessary statements and 

 certificates. 



The summer past has been remarkable for drouth. In some sections 

 little or no rain fell for nearly three months. Under such circumstan- 

 ces, great crops of roots could not be expected, and the wonder is that 

 the yield has been so great. 



Potatoes. 



Mr. Street Button, of Meredith, Del. co., raised on three acres and 

 34 perches 1047 bushels of potatoes, which is at the rate of 324 

 bushels to the acre, which, in favorable seasons for this crop, would 

 not be considered more than a fair yield. Eight hundred bushels have 

 been taken from one acre, and the person who raised them was confi- 

 dent he could get one thousand bushels from the same amount of land. 



As the potato is one of the most useful and necessary roots cuhivated 

 by our farmers both for the support of man and beast, the committee 

 cannot forbear to express their regret that the premium? offered by the 

 society on this article should be treated with so much indifference. 

 They believe that with proper attention to the selection of the kind of 

 seed to be used, and care in preparing the land and planting the same, 

 the crop of potatoes may easily be made four times as valuable as they 

 usually are, and that our farmers cannot better appropriate a few 

 acres of land than to the cultivation of the potato, as well for stock as 

 for culinary purposes. We award 



To Mr. Street Button the second premium of $5. 



Carrots. 



Mr. Wm. Risley, of Chatauque co., raised the past season 1183 

 bushels of carrots on one acre, at an expense of $59. The soil on 

 which this crop was grown must have been rich and the cultivation 

 good, or such results could never be obtained with so light a dressing 



