386 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



of potatoes to the acre ! When this was first published it 

 was received with great incredulity ; calls were made for 

 the method of cultivation, which drew forth an elaborate 

 article from Mr. B., of which the above is but a morsel. It 

 afterward was stated, and the most authentic and unques 

 tionable evidence adduced in proof, that Mr. Barnum 

 raised, upon experiment, at the rate of more than 3,000 

 bushels to the acre. Now, although the labor and the great 

 amount of seed required would prevent the cultivation of 

 many acres of land thus, yet it is worth a trial in a small 

 way; and if one acre can be made to produce 1,000 

 bushels, it will be as much as is usually dug from/ive acres ; 

 and it is questionable whether the labor and seed for five 

 acres are not more than that required by Mr. B. s method 

 for one. 



MR. A. ROBINSON S PLAN. He says : &quot; If I plant low 

 ground, I plow my ground in beds in a different direction for 

 the water to drain off, then harrow lengthwise of the fur 

 rows and small lands ; having a number of them, side and 

 side, I take a light, sharp horse-harrow, and harroAV cross 

 wise of the beds, which pulverizes the ground and fits it 

 well for planting, leaving a small space between the rows, 

 which answers for two purposes, one for a guide for the 

 rows for dropping : this is done by dropping in the middle 

 of the tracks of the harrow, which is easily and correctly 

 performed, by any small boy. It also serves completely to 

 fill up all cracks or holes, the seed lying fair and easy. I 

 then drop, my manure directly over the seed potatoes, and 

 when covered up, the seed is safe from inundation, by 

 being some inches above the surrounding surface : the seed 

 lies warm under this manure, the rains drain into the mid 

 dle furrows ; I plant three feet distance ; it takes the most 

 of the surface that is pulverized to cover the potatoes, and 

 by the time they are twice well hoed, my hills are as I want 

 them to be. They naturally rise high above the surface in 

 the form of a sugar-loaf: this hill is to turn off heavy rams, 



