120 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



money by raising tobacco, and use all his manure for it, with 

 the exception of the small quantity which may be necessary 

 around the house. Under such circumstances, it will do very 

 well for a man to raise tobacco, but a man who has a large 

 farm cannot do it unless he neglects a large portion of his 

 land, or obtains manure from other sources than the farm. 



Mr. HoTT. I would like to inquire of Mr. Chamberlain or 

 any other gentleman if he has had any experience in culti- 

 vating corn or potatoes with a smoothing harrow after plant- 

 ing ? 



Mr. Chamberlain. I have had no experience with that, 

 although we have a smoothing harrow. I know there are gen- 

 tlemen here who are well qualified to answer that question, 

 for, in conversation with them last evening, they told me that 

 was their method. 



Mr. . I cultivate my potatoes and corn both with a 



smoothing harrow. I cultivated last year my potatoes when 

 they were up four or five inches high with a smoothing har- 

 row, and with advantage. But let me say one thing. I cut 

 my potatoes, and plant but one eye in a place, so that there 

 are not four or five eyes together to send up sprouts, and if 

 the smoothing harrow strikes a sprout it does not do much 

 damage. 



Mr. Wetherell. Then that method does break them off 

 sometimes ? 



Mr. . It will break off some. 



Mr. HoYT. I cultivated my corn this year twice in that 

 way, it was not affected by the drought, and I had a good 

 crop. 



Mr. Hyde. I have had no experience in raising tobacco, 

 but most of us have had some experience in raising potatoes. 

 I want simply to say, that the best crops of potatoes that I 

 have ever obtained have been raised by plowing greensward 

 about three furrows, then manuring in the hill, dropping my 

 potatoes, and turning a furrow again upon the potatoes. This 

 turns all the manure underneath. I then never have occa- 



