208 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



Orono, but not equal to the Jackson. It is less liable to rot than 

 any other known in these latter days ; planted side by side with 

 Orono, with same soil and treatment the yield is two-sevenths 

 greater. I intend to plant very few of any other than these and 

 Jackson. The Mercer for market and the Jackson for home table 

 use. 



Monitor. — Shown by Samuel Taylor. The most productive of 

 all potatoes, not excepting California ; rots badly, watery, very 

 poor quality. 



General Grant. — Shown by Andrew Archer, Esq., of Fairfield. 

 Mr. Archer stated that this potato originated in Phipsburg on 

 the farm of Capt. Thomas Oliver in 1856, was then known as the 

 "Golden Seedling," and more recently as the "Oliver" potato. 

 Was introduced into the town of Fairfield by Mr. Emery and at 

 first known there as the " Emery," but latterly as the "General 

 Grant." They are held in high esteem, being a very early, 

 reliable, fine table potato, producing well and not liable to rot. 

 Grown on a heavy clayey soil in 186T and 1868 he found- them, on 

 on his own land, to be the earliest he had ever grown, producing 

 well, free from rot, very mealy and fine flavored. 



(It is to be regretted that the reports of discussions on the 

 subject of potato culture were imperfect when taken, and were 

 mostly mislaid, so that they did not reach the Secretary for use in 

 this Report.) 



Mr. Stackpole said, that in the culture of potatoes, his prefer- 

 ence was for pasture sward, — to have a light dressing of barn 

 manure on the surface, well harrowed in, — to be planted early, in 

 drills made by a marker drawn by a horse, marking three rows at 

 a time, three feet between the rows, seed from medium sized, 

 smooth potatoes, cut so as to require about eight bushels to the 

 acre, one piece of seed in a place, 15 inches apart in the drills, 

 well covered ; and when about six inches high well cultivated 

 between the rows, and then hoed with a horse hoe. In digging, 

 I take the horse cultivator and drag off most of the dirt from the 

 sides of the rows, thereby saving much hard labor in digging. 



Mr. Wilder said, we have always been in the habit of seeding 

 too high. I have found that when I put but two or three eyes in 

 a hill, I have raised more potatoes, of larger size, with fewer 

 small ones, than when I planted whole potatoes, or cut them up 

 and planted without regard to the number of eyes in a hill. 



