58 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Colorado potato-bug has taught us to prize what before 

 we despised. We must cultivate less ground in potatoes, 

 but do better by them both as regards fertilization and per- 

 sonal attention. The seed is of great importance. Some of 

 the new varieties that have been produced within the last 

 fifteen years are better than any of the old ones. Last year 

 I obtained some seed of the Burbank potato, sent out by 

 Gregory, and planted it side by side with the Brigham seed- 

 ling ; and it yielded, with exactly the same treatment, one- 

 third more, and of a better quality, taking the first premium 

 at the show at Amherst. The Ea.iy Rose is a first-rate 

 potato, but don't stick to the Early Rose too long. Get 

 the best seed, and take some pains to get the best. The 

 Snowflake and Peerless are highly esteemed by many ; and 

 the seed of these two kinds can be obtained quite easily in 

 this vicinity. Nearly every farmer has his ivay to plant 

 potatoes. I furrow out my land three feet apart, put the 

 manure in the furrow, cut my potatoes down to two eyes, 

 drop the pieces of seed one foot apart in the rows, and cover 

 deep with the ridger. When the sprouts get up, take a com- 

 mon square harrow, and run it lengthwise in the rows. This 

 kills all the weeds, and levels down the ridges somewhat, 

 does not hurt the potato at all, and makes one hoeing less 

 than by the old-fashioned way. 



Paris green is the best remedy for the bugs. Hand-pick- 

 ing is good ; but it must be done every day, all the time, con- 

 tinually. But you can put on the green, and then go about 

 your business ; and then, in a week or so, when you see the 

 bugs begin to appear again, put on another dose, and so on. 

 The great difficulty, I believe, is, that we have neglected 

 putting it on soon enough, and then have put on too much. 

 As soon as you find a few bugs on your piece, apply the poi- 

 son. Don't wait until they have got well at the vines, and 

 you can see that they are actually injuring them, but attend 

 to it in season. I found, last summer, that a quarter of a 

 pound to a half-acre, for each application, was just as good 

 as a pound, and better ; for the larger quantity is a damage to 

 the vines, and causes them to look as though they were 

 blasted. 



