IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 891 



THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT. 



"With joy unfeign'd, brothers and sisters meet, 



An' each for other's welfare kindly spires: 

 The social hours, swift-wing'd, unotic'd, fleet. 



Each tells the unco's that he sees or hears" 

 Then later follows: 



"The cheerfu' supper done, wi' serious face, 

 They round the ingle, for a circle wide;" 



And after the loving partential counsels 

 "The Sire turns o'er, with patriarchal grace. 



The big ha'-Bible, ance his father's pride;" 



"Then kneeling down" prays that 



"That thus they all shall meet in future days;" 

 "In such society, yet still more dear: 



While circling time moves round in an eternal Sphere." 

 "From scenes like this, old Scotia's grandeur springs, 



That makers her lov'd at home, rever'd abroad: 

 Princes and lords are but the breath of kings, 



"An honest man's the noblest work of God"; 



POTATO CULTURE. 



Soil Pkeparatiox, Ccxtwation, Peopagation and Care. 



G. w. dodder, before the washixgto>'^ county farmers' institute. 



! 



The potato is a native of South America. It has long been known 

 as the "Irish Potato," because of its general use in Ireland. It has 

 proved one of the greatest blessings bestowed on man by the Creator. 

 It is next to the staff of life, bread. The potato is grown in every state 

 and territory in the United States. 



The ideal soil for the potato should be one so light as to offer no 

 great resistance to the enlargement of the tubers, and so supplied with 

 organic matter, and to be rather moist without being too wet, and so rich 

 as to furnish an unfailing supply of fertilizing ingredients. A rich, sandy 

 loam, abundantly supplied with organic matter, and naturally well- 

 drained, is preferable. More solid soils may be rendered suitable for 

 the potato by draining and by the incorporation of barnyard manure, or, 

 better, plowing under clover and other green crops. Very heavy soils 

 should be avoided. Recently cleared wood land suits the potato, or a 

 sandy soil if it be not subject to drouth; this kind of land may be fitted 

 by the addition of organic-matter. 



Potatoes grown on light clay, or sandy land, are of a finer grain and 

 of a much better flavor than those grown on heavier, black soils. 



