THE POTATO 329 



such marked prosperity or satisfactory results as 

 those which obtain in Aroostook. 



"Some forty different sorts are grown, which, 

 with the exception of the main crop table varieties. 

 Green Mountains, and two or three others, are 

 used almost wholly for seed purposes, and dis- 

 tributed from New England to the Gulf of Mexico. 



"The industry of potato growing in Aroostook 

 began to develop in the early '70's, when it was 

 found the soil was especially well adapted to the 

 raising of fine flavored and mealy table potatoes as 

 well as the most vigorous and virile seed, and the 

 demand quickly became general and pronounced. 



"The soil in the main is of a rich, gravelly loam, 

 underlying which there is a strata of lime deposit. 

 This gradually disintegrates where near to or 

 exposed to the surface, and thoroughly impreg- 

 nates the soil, so that it becomes ideal for the grow- 

 ing and maturing of the Irish potato. 



"Any up-to-date farmer that practises good 

 farming and adopts improved methods frequently 

 has under cultivation 100 acres or more, and counts 

 on a yield of not less than 275 to 300 bushels per 

 acre, according to varieties used and prevailing local 

 conditions, and it may here be stated that good 

 farming in Aroostook implies proper rotation, and 

 this in turn means to grow potatoes not more than 

 two seasons in succession on the same land, supply- 

 ing nitrogen with clover, alfalfa, or other nitrogen- 

 ous plant food as rotation is made, together with a 

 sufficient amount of humus. 



"It may here be stated that improved methods 

 of cultivation as well as conservation of soil re- 

 sources are being sought for and closely followed 

 where proved valuable. Of course commercial 

 fertilizers are still being largely used. They have 



n 



