442 . BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and certainly four times as many small ones. No possible differ- 

 ence except in the seed. When I manure in the hill, I draw a shoal 

 furrow; when I spread the dressing, I draw a chain to mark the rows. 



The remark of Mr. Hamlin, that "potatoes planted where the 

 water does not readily drain off are liable to rot," has always 

 proved true in my experience. If the ground is tolerably free 

 from stone, I prefer Chandler's horse-hoe to the hand-hoe, always 

 taking care to use the cultivator till the earth is well pulverized, 

 whether I have to go one time or four in a row. I believe the 

 sooner they are dug after the top show signs of rust the better. 

 By signs of rust I mean when the very topmost leaf of the vine 

 begins to wilt. This year the first great rain came on just when 

 my potatoes should have been dug. The ground being wet, I had 

 to wait several days, and when I commenced the tops were quite 

 black. I found but very few affected potatoes, but as soon as 

 they were put in the cellar they commenced to rot, and now two- 

 thirds of my crop are black. When I dig my potatoes, I have 

 each man take one row ; all work facing the field to be digged. 

 The man who has the forward row in all cases keeping ahead ; 

 then as each man pulls his tops, lay them down between himself 

 and his row, and cover them up completel}^ together with all the 

 weeds, grass, and every green thing. For doing this, I get my 

 pay three times. First, the land is in better condition for a crop 

 next year, as there are no sods or potato tops in the way. Second, 

 the ground is enriched by the tops enough to pay for all trouble ; 

 and, tliird, I get amply repaid in looking back over the piece. If 

 farmei's who do not practice this method will try it carefully, I 

 believe they Avill see cause to stick to it. 



Adjourned to two o'clock P. M. 



Afternoon Session. 

 The Convention met at two o'clock. Mr. TmNG of Mt. Vernon, 

 called the meeting to order, and stated that the subject for discus- 

 sion was 



The Varieties of the Potato. 



Mr. Wasson. If I have read the history of the potato correctly, 

 the original tuber presented but two varieties — two in color, in 

 texture, and in form ; and each was uniform in color — it was either 

 white of skin and white of flesh, or it was yellow of skin and yel- 

 low of flesh. The same was true of the blossom, one was white, 

 the other yellow. At the present time the blossom "of the potato 



