POTATO CULTURE. 433 



and if the growing and exporting of them is working such results, 

 the question naturally arises, what shall be done in the premises ? 

 I answer, withhold growing them till the price which can be 

 obtained be suflScient to enable you to bring back upon your fields 

 those elements of fertility which have been drawn slowly and im- 

 perceptibly from them by the system you are pursuing. This must 

 be done, or sooner or later you will awaken to the unpleasant fact 

 that you have sent your farm to Bostoij in a potato sack. 



Mr. Bartlett. The gentleman says that the "Orono" and "Jack- 

 son" potatoes have flourished here in Penobscot, but not with him. 

 I would inquire what varieties he has found successful, and what 

 soil he plants on. 



Mr. Gilbert. Several years ago, when the Jackson and Orono 

 first came into general cultivation, I obtained them. I gave what 

 I term a good chance, in comparison with other potatoes. The 

 result was not satisfactory. Indeed, it was in the highest degree 

 objectionable. I obtained scarcely any potatoes suitable for table 

 use OP for the market. The yield was very light, and the potatoes 

 mostly small. Whether there were four stalks in the hill or but 

 one, it made no diiference. I became perfectly satisfied at that 

 trial in reference to these varieties, on my soil, but this spring, on 

 selecting my seed, I found a few of these potatoes in my cellar, 

 and they looked so handsome that I could not resist the tempta- 

 tion to try them once more. I planted them, and the result was 

 precisely the same as before ; I obtained hardly a single potato 

 suitable for table or market. Taking all my experience' into con- 

 sideration, I shall not plant them again unless I do it by mistake. 



I attribute my want of success to the soil, which is a fine, dark, 

 deep, moist loam; high land and free from rocks, excepting granite 

 boulders. It is mellow and rich. I manured with a mild muck- 

 compost, the same as I manure all my potatoes, and the results I 

 have stated. 



Question. WTiat would the gentleman recommend as to meas- 

 uring potatoes ? 



Mr. Gilbert. I believe the law requires sixty pounds to the 

 bushel ; and if the seller must furnish five pecks for sixty pounds,. 

 I should say, by all means have them weighed. I am aware that 

 most' varieties of potatoes will fall a little short of sixty pounds 

 per measured bushel. There is, however, quite a difference in 

 varieties, and a diiference, also, in the season of the year in which 

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