274 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



a plow turns a furrow over it, upon eacli side, raising the ground 

 eigbt or nine inches in tlie centre, and plants the potato sprout 

 upon the top of that ridge. 



Mr. Robinson. — Sweet potatoes should be kept in a dry, tem- 

 perate atmosphere. Our furnace-heated houses contain exactly 

 the right atmosphere for keeping them. 



Dr. Trimble said that sweet potatoes could not be profitably 

 raised north of forty degrees. They can be cultivated to much 

 better advantage further south. 



Mr. Doughty, of NeAvark, N. J., had raised sweet potatoes for 

 several years, and had obtained better crops than from common 

 potatoes ; but lately he had been unsuccessful, probably from 

 having planted later kinds. 



KEW POTATOES. 



Rev. Mr. Weaver exhibited specimens of the Josh Moore potato, 

 •which he considered a superior baking potato. 



The Chairman said that there had been new and improved 

 varieties of potatoes lately introduced, which he had tried and 

 could recommend. Mr. Goodrich has spent fifteen or twenty 

 years almost exclusively in producing new varieties. Out of over 

 fifteen hundred new varieties, he recommends no more than six 

 or eight for adoption by the public. Of these, the Garnet Chili 

 is quite equal to and more productive than the Peachblows, and 

 quite free from rot. The Kuzko White, and the Pinkeye- Rusty- 

 coat, are also excellent potatoes. These potatoes are only four 

 or five years from the ball ; and my observation is that a potato 

 does not come to its perfection for eight or nine years. After 

 that we can. expect no further improvement. If these seedlings 

 contiijue to improve, as others have done, I want no better pota- 

 toes. In ray experience seedlings are comparatively free from 

 rot. That disease has been produced, I think, by propagating 

 the old varieties for half a century or more, without even select- 

 ing the best seed. 



Mr. Robinson stated that he had procured four now seedling 

 varieties last year, but they had all rotted. The Josh Moore 

 potato would not sell well on account of its yellow flesh. 



The Chairman stated that the Prince Albert, which is a large 

 white potato, is one of the finest baking potatoes. 



Mr. Burgess. — Of 25 seedlings I brought to East New York 

 from England, all but one rotted. As to yellow potatoes, I 

 believe that they contain the. greatest amount of nutriment. 



