92 The NesJmnocJc, or Mercer Potato. [February, 



O^ljt Jtcsbiuiotk, or |tltrt£r potnlo. 



This potato is regarded by most amateurs, as far superior to any 

 otber, in the delicacy of its flavor, its uniform size, and indeed as pos- 

 sessing all the excellencies belonging to this valuable vegetable, in the 

 highest degree. There is no other potato that will bring as high a price 

 in the market ; and while there are many kinds that yield better, yet, 

 taking all its superior e[ualities into the account, there is no kind as 

 profitable. 



The Neshanock, when first introduced, was much more vigorous in its 

 growth, and productive, than at present, and fears are entertained by 

 many that its cycle is almost completed, or, vulgarly speaking, that it 

 is " about run out." I received a valuable hint from an experienced and 

 successful cultivator, a few days since, which I will give you. He 

 remarked that this potato, originally, was much more deeply tinged 

 with blue than it is generally now, and that blue streaks pervaded the 

 inside of the entire tuber. Of this, all who are acquainted with the 

 Keshanock (and who is not?), must be aware. In proportion to its 

 degeneracy this blue disappears, until having lost its vigor, the eyes 

 increase in number, are more shallow, and the potato becomes white out 

 side and in. Now, says he, on digging my seed, I select all the blue 

 noses, whether great or small, when I dig my crop ; and 1 saw him when 

 digging, and he would seize upon the smallest tuber as soon as upon the 

 ]arge.-t one, provided its color teas right. For, says he, these small ones, 

 of this shade, will throw up quite as vigorous a stalk as the large ones ; 

 much st^'ouger than any, however large, whose surface has become white. 

 This hint is worthy of observation, and I have no doubt, to all who 

 will follow it, will prove valuable. This man raises a larger crop, 

 yearly, on less ground, than any of his neighbors ; and his potatoes com- 

 mand a higher price ; and he goes to the trouble, every fall, of selecting 

 his seed, as he digs, from his entire crop. Last fall he raised over three 

 thousand bushels of the most beautiful Neshanoek potatoes I ever saw, 

 and they will command a premium of from ten to fifteen cents per bushel 

 at any time, in the market. 



< • ♦ > » 



New Orleans Ship Canal. — A company has been organized in Xew 

 Orleans to build a ship-canal from the Mississippi river, at that city, 

 to Lake Borgne. 



