128 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



is about as near right, as far as I have observed, as any soil can 

 be. Then, the manure should be applied broadcast, — whether 

 harrowed in or ploughed in, I do not undertake to say ; but I 

 do say that I cannot raise good potatoes, as a rule, Avith 

 manure applied immediately in the hill. And another thing : 

 if applied so, it should by all means be made as fine as pos- 

 sible ; 1 think that has more to do with scabby potatoes than 

 any one thing. 



Some gentlemen think the degree of moisture has the most 

 to do with it; but I have on my farm all kinds of soil, vary- 

 ing from sand to semi-clay, and I have found, where I have 

 thoroughly underdrained with tiles, I can govern the moist- 

 ure of the soil to a great extent. That is, I have never found 

 it too dry to grow a crop successfully. But on such soil, if 

 I put fermented manure into the hill, it spoils the crop. 



Question. Did you ever have scabby potatoes when the 

 vines were green ? 



Mr. Bartlett. I never saw any potatoes that were scabby 

 when the vines were green ; but when we get done going to 

 market, we leave a few potatoes in the hill, and the vines 

 become rusty ; perhaps we leave them one oi- two mouths, 

 and when we come to dig them, if the land is very rich, we 

 find them scabby. 



Question. I wish to inquire if potatoes ever become 

 scabby that are raised in a pure clay soil ; if they do not grow 

 fair and free from this trouble which has been discussed here ? 



Mr. Bartlett. As a rule, potatoes are more generally 

 free from the scab where the tops are green ; but it prevails 

 to some extent, especially where they are grown upon land 

 excessively rich. In such cases, where there is a rank, strong 

 growth, I find the scab when they are not entirely matured. 



We have to thank the doctors and scientific men for what 

 they have done for us. They are great helpers to the hard- 

 working, practical farmer ; but they make many mistakes, and 

 so do we, who do not profess so much. We make mistakes 

 every day, but we are not in a position to have 'them advertised 

 to the world, because we do not very often get up and say any- 

 thing. But they are making suggestions for us to act upon ; 

 they are using their money for our benefit, to a certain 

 extent ; but I have to use my own judgment, after I have heard 



