446 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



" Orono." Go into Market square, if you please, aucl see the 

 noble loads of the " Orono " brought in ; and there are any num- 

 ber of orders for cargoes of the "Jackson Whites," as the 

 " Oronos " are called. I do not object to your praising other 

 varieties ; but mark you, sir, it will only prove an injury to the 

 farmers of Maine, and especially to the farmers of Penobscot, 

 if the result be only to increase the number of new varieties. 

 " Speak well of the bridge that carries you safely over," says the 

 adage. If the " Orono " was a failure, if the farmers get no 

 crops, then we might well deliberate about what we should sub- 

 stitute in its place. But is it true ? Go to the farmers' cellars 

 and see the well-stored bins of potatoes. And what are they ? 

 "Oronos." It is common all over this ridge of land to hear of 

 farmers raising 1,500 bushels of potatoes. What kind ? " Oronos." 

 We have built a railroad to bring in " Oronos," and we shall have 

 them by the car load ; there is no doubt about it. 



Secretary Goodale. I wish to endorse fully what has been said 

 regarding the great importance of a standard potato, — one which 

 is known to be satisfactory to both the farmer and his consumers; 

 and also regarding the bad policy of growing other kinds except on 

 a Ibnited scale, and only for purposes of trial and for home use ; 

 perhaps also for the few fancy customers, but not for export. But 

 it is a fact that the experience of Penobscot is not the experience 

 of all other parts of the State. A somewhat extended observation 

 has convinced me that both the "Jackson" and "Orono" have seen 

 their best days, even in Penobscot. In other sections they have 

 shown signs of failing for some time, and some farmers hereabouts 

 testify somewhat of the same. If worth while to relate personal 

 experience, I might sa}'' that for purposes of comparison I planted 

 half a bushel last spring, and although some hills yielded from 40 

 to 50 by actual count, there was not in the whole product (eleven 

 bushels) one bushel which Mr. Ingalls would buy at any price, 

 unless for pigs. Almost every other sort planted in the same lot 

 distanced it out of sight. Would the gentleman advise me to hold 

 on longer ? 



Because it is so ^serious an undertaking to substitute another 

 staple potato in place of one which has done so good service, is a 

 very strong reason why Penobscot should be moving to ascertain 

 what younger variety is qualified to take the place of one which 

 begins to sliow signs of Jecropitude at home — where it has usually 

 been happier than elsewhere, — and which shows its feebleness 



