No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 6 



is no field of labor where intelligence and training will produce 

 greater results than when applied to the operations carried on 

 upon the farm. 



POTATO GROWING. 



While some sections of our State, particularly the limestone val- 

 leys, are noted especially for their production of cereal crops and 

 livestock, it is proper to mention the adaptability of other sec- 

 tions to the production of potatoes, which may be counted as 

 among the most valuable market crops produced by any section. 

 Every potato grower understands that a matter of first importance 

 in producing this crop is that the land shall be of such character 

 that it can be kept in friable condition during the period of the 

 crop's growth. AVith the heavy clay soils, this is a difiicult thing 

 to accomplish, so that soils that are well adapted to raising corn 

 and other cereals are often likely to yield poor results when pota- 

 toes are planted. Nature has wisely provided that between the 

 various kinds of soil there shall be a regular system of compensa- 

 tion. The planter of South Carolina or Florida would fail if he 

 should attempt to grow rice upon the upland soils of these states, 

 and so also would he fail if he should attempt to grow cotton upon 

 the low marshes found in the same states. In our own State this 

 natural law of compensation prevails, and the successful farmer 

 must adapt his crop to his soil in order to succeed. 



In many portions of the State, particularly in the counties of 

 Clearfield, Lehigh and Bucks, unusually large crops of potatoes are 

 being produced, which in some instances are bringing both wealth 

 and notoriety to those engaged in potato farming. On inquiry it 

 has been ascertained that at least some of these farmers had their 

 attention turned to the value of the potato crop and the adaptabil- 

 ity of their land to its j)roduction by lectures delivered upon the 

 subject at the Farmers' Institutes conducted under the auspices 

 of this Department. They have sought for and obtained the va- 

 rieties most profitable and best adapted to the markets of our large 

 eastern cities as well as the Pittsburg and other markets in the 

 western section of this State, and by intelligent and careful cultiva- 

 tion they are receiving the reward they deserve. 



A PROFITABLE YEAR FOR FARMERS. 



The year was characterized by frequent changes of weather 

 conditions, in the main unfavorable to crop production, and yet most 

 crops did well. In some sections of the State the fruit crop was an 

 entire failure, while in other sections there was from a fourth to a 

 half crop, and in a few counties fruit of all kinds was plentiful. 

 Corn grew w^ell during the summer, but the early frosts prevented 

 much of it from maturing promptly. Many farmers of the State 

 have been unable to provide seed for next Spring's planting from 

 their owm growing and will be under the necessity of purchasing 

 seed. Other cereal and vegetable crops produced an averaged yield, 

 and the high prices at which all crops were marketed, brought to 

 the farmers of the State a total income considerably in excess of 

 the preceding year. On the w^hole, therefore, 1907 was a prosper 

 ous year for Pennsylvania farmers. The production of rye in Eas- 



