POTATO CULTURE. 27 



If poorly spread it might not only not decay, but would 

 smother some clover. 



How much manure shall you put on ? Well, applied in 

 the above way, and for the above rotation, I would, if I 

 could, use enough to grow as heavy a crop of clover as could 

 well grow, both the rowen after the grain, and the first and 

 second crops the next season. The potatoes would stand 

 higher feeding, but the wheat would get down, and will some 

 any way. A gardener may often to advantage make his 

 soil richer than* is wise for one who grows grain in rotation 

 with potatoes. My friend J. M. Smith, of Green Bay, Wis , 

 grows much larger crops than I do. His climate is more 

 favorable, any way, and then he manures very heavily and 

 rotates with garden crops which will stand it, and, in fact, 

 need it. But it would not do to put grain on his land, and 

 he does not have to grow clover to get cheap fertility, as he 

 buys quantities of manure cheaply in the city near by. Mr. 

 Smith averages, I think, over 300 bushels of potatoes per 

 acre. In this latitude, and grown in a grain and clover rota- 

 tion, L think one will do well who gets an average near to 200 

 bushels, and, say, 25 to 40 of wheat. 



Comn.ercial Fertilizers. 



I had half a notion to skip the fertilizer question entirely. 

 I confess I do not understand it. There are good men, and 

 true, who report wonderful results from the use of fertilizers 

 on potatoes, who consider them just as truly plant-food as 

 stable manure, and who say no other manure should be used 

 for potatoes, as fertilizers grow the smoothest and best ones. 

 Clover and fertilizers are spoken of as all that is necessary, 

 and good old manure takes a back seat along with the hoe 

 and scythe. I have no right to think these friends any less 

 honest or sincere than I am, but I can not agree with them. 

 I must be governed by my experience. Several times have I 

 tried fertilizers with great care, and you may rest assured 



