POTATO CULTURE, 439 



with our own potatoes, and the other half with the potatoes raised 

 upon a clay loam ; and the latter yielded more than double what 

 our own potatoes did. Since then, I have changed my seed as 

 often as once in five years. I believe that the great success that 

 many people meet with in raising new varieties is owing to a 

 change of climate and change of soil ; and almost invariably, if 

 a man buys a pound of potatoes, and pays a dollar a pound, he 

 will give those potatoes better cultivation than he gives his old 

 varieties. 



Years ago, I tried this experiment. I took my potatoes, which 

 were about the size of a hen's egg, cut them in two, and planted 

 in one row the seed ends, and in another row beside it the butt 

 ends. The soil and cultivation were precisely alike. When I 

 came to measure my potatoes in the fall, I got just about the same 

 number of bushels from each row, but the potatoes from the butts 

 were much larger and handsomer. I attributed that result to the 

 fact that there were too many stalks where we put the seed ends. 

 I am in favor of having but two or three stalks in a hill, and for 

 that reason I cut my potatoes. 



I think if you analyze the potato you will find that there is but 

 a very small amount of fertilizing material in it. There is a cer- 

 tain amount of moisture, and when the potato decays, if the 

 season is very dry, that moisture may assist the plant somewhat ; 

 hence it may be advantageous in some instances to plant a large 

 potato for the moisture, but not for its fertilizing properties. I 

 always cut my potatoes, and put two pieces in a hill, the hills 

 being two feet apart. I plant upon pasture laud, invariably, and 

 never put any manure in the hill except phosphates. 



I never plant potatoes the second year upon the same soil, for I 

 believe we get the potato all out the first year ; and so with other 

 crops. Hence I go in for rotation of crops. 



Now, as to the after culture. I never hill my potatoes. I pre- 

 fer level culture upon all crops. But there is such a variety of 

 soil, such a variety of seed, and such a variety of after culture, 

 it is impossible to lay down any fixed rules. A man must be his 

 own judge. Barn-yard manure is the best fertilizer, and when 

 you have not got that use commercial manures. But the best of 

 all is brains. 



Mr. CoMiiNTS, of Eddington. I have listened with much atten- 

 tion to the discussion this morning, and must say that I differ 

 from some of the gentlemen. First, in regard to planting whole 



