490 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OP AGRICULTURE. 



no potato in this climate tliat is not early, and. the earlier tlie better. Four years ago 

 I planted Early Rose and Early Goodricb. on the 1st of April, and in six weeks we had 

 potatoes fromt'hem large enough for the table. Peach Blows do not make anything here 

 but vines. I have never known them to produce a single potato. They shoot out as 

 though they would make tubers, but the sprout comes up through the ground and 

 makes a large vine. 



Potatoes have not been raised here much for market, but I hope that our country 

 will soon ship large quantities. We raise larger potatoes here than any I have seen 

 imported; and they are ready for market by the middle of May. 



Experiment of George B. Eussell, Loudoun Couniij, Virginia. 



Yield in ponnds. 



1 row, without manure 96J 



1 row, ashes in bottom of hill 99 



1 row, ashes on top of hill after covering 112^ 



1 row, x)laster in bottom of hill - 120^ 



1 row, plaster on top of hill after covering 109^ 



1 row, PeruAaan guano in bottom of hili 102-^ 



1 row, Peruvian guano on top of hill after covering \lb\ 



1 row, "dissolved bone" in bottom of hill 139 



1 row, "dissolved bone" on top of hill after covering..... 118 



1 row, hen manure in bottom of hill , 115 



1 row, hen manure on top of hill after covering 93 



1 row, Powell's Fertilizer in bottom of hill 117 



1 row, Powell's Fertilizer on top of hill after covering 96 



The rows were all of equal length. The quantity of manure used on each row "W^aa 

 one half gallon. The bone cost $40 per ton, guano $65 per ton, Powell's Fertilizer $16 

 per ton. 



Powell's Fertilizer was composed of 300 pounds dissolved bone, 50 pounds maguesiai 

 30 pounds ammonia, 50 pounds potash. Cost, |12 ; mixing, $1 ; total, $13. 



The months of July and August were very dry. Scarcely any rain. 



ARTICHOKE. 



J. M. Peffer, Little Traverse, Mich., writes, April 7, 1880: 



I have just dug the Red Brazilian artichoke. They are much larger than the tubers 

 sent from the department, and yield enormously.^ From nine stalks I got more than a 

 bushel. This indicates a yield of 800 to 1,000 bushels per acre. 



Martin J. Barger, Bismarck, Yerinillion Coimty, Illinois, pyrites, May 

 30, 1880: 



My success with the Red Brazilian artichokes sent to me from your department waa 

 very satisfactory. I planted one row three rods long, hills three feet apart, one eye 

 to a hill. Soil, light clay, well manured, and would produce 75 bushels corn to the 

 acre. Dug my artichokes about the middle of April and measured 6 bushels, making 

 a jaeld of 1,600 bushels to the acre. A great many were left in the ground, as the 

 sprouts clearly indicate. I think they could be made to yield 2,000 bushels to the 

 acre. I find that, eaten raw, they are equal, in their way, to turnips, and served up 

 like new potatoes, they come in as such any time from November to the middle of 

 May. Horses, cows, pigs, and sheep eat them with a relish. 



B. M. Long, Peoria, Union County, OMo, writes, April 16, 1880 : 



From two quarts Brazilian artichokes planted last spring I plowed up yesterday 6 

 bushels. Horses, cattle, and hogs all relish them. 



John P. McCleam, Bridgeton, Pa., writes, March 5, 1880: 



Thirteen hills Red Brazilian artichokes produced one bushel, at the rate of 500 

 bushels per acre. I think that in a good season, on moderately good ground, I could 

 raise SOU or 1,000 bushels per acre. 



L. Claude Lachecoth, Waverly Mills, Georgetown County, South 

 Carolina, writes, February IG, 1880 : 



J The Red Brazilian artichokes were planted February 15 on rich, sandy land, well 

 manured. Hi Us 3 feet each way. Thev grew 7 feet high and covered the 'whole space 

 between rows. Dug them November 20, Yield 6 quarts to the hill, about 1,000 bushels 

 per acre. 



