REPORT ON POTATOES. 67 



(unless the hills be made too thick for easy cultivation) ; 

 nor is half of a large potato as good as a piece containing 

 only four eyes. 



FURTHER PACTS IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS BY THE AGRI- 

 CULTURAL SOCIETY. 



1. What was the area of land planted, the nature and 

 condition of the soil, and the estimated value per acre ? 



One acre. Sandy loam, in fair condition for bearing thirty 

 bushels of corn. Thirty or forty dollars per acre. 



2. What crops have been raised on the land for the two 

 preceding years ? ' 



In 1878, corn and fodder-corn ; 1879, thirty bushels of 

 corn and ten bushels of potatoes. 



3. What was the kind, amount, and mode of application, 

 of fertilizers for the present and two preceding crops ? 



In 1878, ten one-horse loads barnyard manure ; 1879, four 

 hundred pounds Stockbridge on corn, Mapes on potatoes ; 

 1880, Mapes potato-manure, four hundred pounds in the drill. 



4. How was the soil prepared and cultivated for each of 

 these crops? 



Ploughed once, seven inches ; thoroughly harrowed ; corn 

 was hoed and cultivated three times ; potatoes dropped in 

 drill, covered with ridger ; cultivated twice ; ploughed once ; 

 hoed three times. 



5. When, how many times, and how deep, was the laud 

 ploughed for the present crop ? 



April 15. Once. Seven inches. 



6. What other preparation for the seed ? 



The land was thoroughly harrowed, then furrowed out 

 three feet apart. The fertilizer was strewn in the furrows, 

 and mixed with the soil. The hills were then marked, and 

 the seed dropped on the mark, and covered about four inches 

 deep with a tobacco-ridger. 



7. What was the kind, amount, and mode of application, 

 of fertilizers for this crop, calling a load of farmyard manure 

 twenty-five bushels ? 



Mapes potato-manure, four hundred pounds. Sown in the 

 furrow by hand. 



8. What was the kind and amount of seed used, how 

 prepared, when and how planted and covered, large or small 

 potatoes for the present crop ? 



