PROCEEDINGS OF TIIE FARMERS' CLUB. 175 



Prof. Mapes. — Even in digging with the fork the whole leverage 

 of the handle is broiight to bear npou and compress the earth 

 behind the upper portion of the tines. The failure of the steam 

 plow is in its applying too much power in a particular place and 

 thus compressing the soil. The power must be applied gradually 

 and must be diffused as much as possible to avoid compacting 

 and hardening portions of the soil. There are machines which 

 will plow in one tenth the time of the ordinary plow, but they 

 would destroy any farm they might be used upon. 



POTATOES. 



Dr. Crowell exhibited specimens of Bermuda and of peach 

 blow potatoes, all raised in New Jersey, appearing to be the same 

 potato. 



Mr. Carpenter. — This Bermuda was evidently a peach blow 

 originally. The Bermuda planters generally plant the Western 

 Reds, the character of which is so changed from the soil and the 

 climate that we consider their potatoes equal to anything we 

 have at any time in the year. I have never seen any indications 

 of disease in the Bermuda potatoes. 



Dr. Crowell. — The potatoes twice planted in New Jersey show 

 some indication of a dry rot; but very little of it. 



Dr. Trimble. — I have planted the Bermuda potato and never 

 knew them to rot ; the potatoes were very good, but they degen- 

 erated. 



Dr. Crowell. — The first year I got no double potatoes. The 

 second year they began to come double. 



Mr. Carpenter, — I should not advise any one to plant the Ber- 

 muda potatoes in this country because we have early potatoes 

 that show better results. The Bermuda potatoes soon come back 

 to the character of the Western Reds and are very unsatisfac- 

 tory. 



Mr. Pardee. — The Bermuda planters buy the potatoes which 

 they can buy the cheapest. Generally they buy the Western 

 Reds, but if they can get the peach blows cheaper at the time 

 when they wish to buy them, they will take them. These pota- 

 toes are evidently the peach blows, and if so, they cannot have 

 come from the Western Reds, for I do not believe the Bermuda 

 climate will turn a Western Red into a peach blow. 



Mr. Robinson. — The harvesting season here is the planting 

 season in Bermuda ; the potatoes, therefore, are taken from the 



