216 NORTHEAST EXPERIMENT FARM. 
own locality, either take corn that has been raised there al- 
ready, or experiment till he finds something he can begin on. 
It will be said that better kinds of corn can be ripened in this 
locality than appear in the tables. This is true in some sea- 
sons. The average season, however, will not permit of the 
ripening of such kinds and in acold year like 1902, even the 
Berg’s dent did not mature except in verv favorable locations. 
The influence of moisture was shown by this variety. At 
Mentor, a comparatively open and settled locality, it does 
uniformly well. When the seed is brought to Grand Rapids, 
which is further south, but moister on account of the pres- 
ence of more woods and water, the corn falls off in height 
and quality and has to re-adaptitself to the locality. Taken 
to a point such as Cloquet, where the influence of the lake is 
felt, though still further south, this corn will not ripen at all. 
To ripen corn two things are necessary—sandy, warm, well 
matured soil, and early planting. The seed should be in the 
ground by May 20th, preferably by the 15th. It may be 
frozen off, but the chance must be taken. Sandy soil is neces- 
sary for its freedom from excessive moisture, and consequent 
warmth. Manuring and frequent cultivation, to give the 
best conditions for growth, should then insure a crop if the 
season and variety allow it. 
Potatoes.—Are naturally adapted to new land, northern 
latitudes and a light sandy or sandy loam soil. They are an 
intensive crop requiring more labor and giving greater re- 
turns per acrethan most field crops. For both these reasons, 
potatoes must take a conspicuous place in the agriculture of 
these northern counties. The extent to which they should 
be raised over and above the needs of the farm will depend 
the market both local and general. Duluth and the range 
towns must be supplied, and they ship most of their stock 
at present from Chisago county or further south. The qual- 
ity of the potatoes raised in the northern counties is excellent 
and should insure a good market for shippers. But there is 
occasional damage chiefly from wet weather causing rot, 
which affects the keeping qualities. Blight and other fungous 
diseases are not prevalent. The foliage is usually healthy 
and vigorous. 
