82 Bureau or Farmers' Institutes. 



14 inches apart in the row. It will require from 12 to 14 bushels 

 of whole seed for an acre of that variety. 



Question. — What are Mr. Litchard's rules for growing potatoes ? 



Answer. — Potatoes are the best crop I grow. They pay 

 more profit than any other crop with me, while they have 

 steadily increased in price during the last 30 years; and yet I had 

 rather take off three crops of corn from my soil than one of pota- 

 toes. But, to grow profitable crops of potatoes, three things are 

 essential — seed, soil and sense. We use a clover sod, well fer- 

 tilized, and good seed; then give proper cultivation, which is 

 pretty nearly level. The cultivation should be thorough, and 

 most of it should be done before the seed is put in. Do not allow 

 the seed potato to sprout before planting. I cut mine and plant 

 one piece in a hill, with one or more eyes on it. As a rule, too 

 much seed is planted. It is not good policy to plant small pota- 

 toes. Plant normal-sized, cut properly, then keep the ground 

 thoroughly stirred on the surface and kill off the bugs. 



Question. — Is rye a good green crop to plow under for potatoes 

 to follow? Have potato-growers been successful in using rye for 

 that purpose ? 



A Farmer. — I plowed it under May 15th. The soil was a sandy 

 gravel. The rye was sown the September before. I plowed it 

 under six inches, planted potatoes and had a big crop. 



Other farmers present said they had been successful in plowing 

 under rye and following with potatoes. 



Mr. Rice. — Rye will furnish a good deal of humus. 



Mr. Goodrich. — I should be afraid that the rye would take too 

 much moisture from the potatoes, especially in a dry season. 



A Farmer. — Three-fourths of the farmers present are plowing 

 under rye and following with potatoes. They cannot succeed with 

 clover, and so grow rye, and are succeeding well. 



Mr. Abbey. — I think that you make a mistake in allowing the 

 rye to grow so high — some of you say four feet I should not 

 have it higher than 15 inches. 



Mr. Smith. — Rye four feet high is too woody. If plowed 

 under when it is a foot or 15 inches high, more humus will be 

 furnished, because it will rot more quickly. Then, too, it will not 

 draw so heavily from the moisture supply in the soil, as will rye 

 allowed to grow to such a height. It requires from 300 to 400 

 pounds of water to perfect a pound of dried weed, so it is seen 

 that, to grow rye, or any other crop, the soil must have moisture, 

 if the plant is to be perfect and matured. 



