VS Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



and smoothing harrow — harrow first, followed by the cultivator at 

 a shallow depth. 



Question. — Please mention a variety of early potatoes which 

 yields well? 



Mr. Chamberlain. — We prefer Bovee. 



Mr. "Woodward said his preference was Bovee, while one or 

 two fanners named Early Sunrise and some others, as best. Mr. 

 Woodward said there was not more than three or four days differ- 

 ence in the time of ripening of Bovee and Sunrise, but the yield 

 of Bovee was much the greater, he having grown as many as 300 

 bushels per acre. The quality, too, is fully equal to, if not bet- 

 ter, than is that of Early Sunrise. 



Question. — Is flat culture a practical way of growing potatoes? 



Mr. Woodward. — What do you mean by "flat culture?" I 

 plant my potatoes at least four inches deep. The ground is fur- 

 rowed, the seed dropped and a furrow turned over them; then I 

 put on a harrow and level the ground. A few days later I go 

 over them with a harrow, crosswise of the rows. Later the 

 weeder is put on, and still later I use the cultivator at a shallow 

 depth. It will " hill " the potatoes all that they require. 



Question. — Can there not be too much ammonia in the soil for 

 a good crop of potatoes? 



Mr. Smith. — Sometimes we find a great growth of vine, but 

 no potatoes in the hills. This is caused by an excess of nitrogen 

 and a lack of potash in the soil. There is a law that always gov- 

 erns in the growth of plants. The element of plant food most 

 lacking will control not only production, but quality as well. 



Mr. Rice. — The same law governs in fruits; an excess of nitro- 

 gen produces an overgrowth of wood, which is soft and spongy. 

 A lack of potash causes a deficiency in leaf, or color and sugar in 

 fruit, while a lack of phosphoric acid will cause imperfect seed. 

 Either one of these defects influences the crop or plant. 



Question. — Is a rotation of first wheat, then clover, then pota- 

 toes a good one to follow? 



Mr. Goodrich. — I think it is. It is about as I rotate crops. 

 We give first, clover, on which we spread over manure as fast as 

 made; potatoes and corn follow. 



Question. — Should wheat, then clover, then potato crops be 

 continued in rotation for years? 



Mr. Goodrich. — I think it could be done, provided the clover 

 was all returned to the soil; but I should be afraid to put in pota- 

 toes every third year. I should be afraid of getting scabby pnta- 



