DISCUSSION ON VARIETIES OF THE POTATO. 105 



visiting a friend near Boston, a market gardener, he asked me to 

 procure some seed potatoes for him — the Early Sebec — direct from 

 headquarters. It was the first time I had heard the name ; but 

 being supposed to know something of the important events that 

 transpire agriculturally in my immediate neighborhood, I there- 

 upon took special care to inquire if any man or woman ^n the 

 town of Sebec ever claimed to have produced a good potato. All 

 my inquiries were unavailing. Recently I have learned that a 

 fellow dealing in "truck" in Boston, who claims to have lived 

 once in Sebec — the town is probably none the better for it — to 

 "raise the wind" put this name to a good old potato. The name 

 is applied to a variety that was brought to this place by Mr. Wm. 

 Mitchell of Dover, about forty-five years ago. Mr. M., then an 

 old man, worked a long time in the Province of New Brunswick, 

 receiving his pay as was the custom of the times, in silver coin, 

 which he brought in his pack through the forests by the way of 

 Houlton. He found a potato in the Province so satisfactory to his 

 taste, that he brought seed in that toilsome journey, from which 

 our part of the State has rejoiced ever since. 



Harrison. — Mr. Gilbert. A strong "grower, uniform, large size, 

 pure white, very productive, quality second-rate. 



Mr. Brackett. White, long, eyes sunk, quality good, produces 

 well, free from disease. The coming j)otato in our section. 



Mr. Buck of Orland. Yields from 35 to 45 bushels from one 

 bushel planted. Is rather late, but a strong grower, and retain 

 their good quality until time for early potatoes. Are pushing their 

 way into cultivation stoutly. 



Mr. Atheilon of Hallowell. From one bushel planted last 

 spring we dug twenty-five bushels. They were very handsome, 

 cooked wejl and we were highly pleased with them. But towards 

 spring they became poor in quality, cooked soggy and hard, and 

 the ends of some became black. 



Mr. Pettengill of Augusta. We have grown the Harrison only 

 one year. From two bushels sowed on one-sixth of an acre the 

 yield was sixty bushels. Others in the same vicinity have done as 

 well. It is free from rot and keeps well. In quality not quite 

 equal to the Orono, but we expect it to improve. Is now a good 

 eating potato in the fall. It is white, shaded with a little pink 

 about the eyes. 



Mr. Stackpole of Kenduskeag. I have not grown the Harrison, 

 but those who have raised it the past year in my neighborhood 



