POTATO CULTURE. 59 



name of the varieties you had better plant. But this I do 

 not propose to tell you. In fact, I do not know. The same 

 potato varies greatly in different localities. For ten years, 

 perhaps, the Hebron did us grand service. We could find 

 nothing as good for some years. But I have sent some to 

 good growers, who were induced to try it again because it 

 did so well for us, and they have reported that it failed mis- 

 erably, as usual, with them. It has been a standard variety, 

 succeeding well quite generally ; but, you see, with notable 

 exceptions. With varieties not as reliable, there would be 

 much more variation in returns. I have sent potatoes 

 which yielded 300 bushels per acre with me, to parties who 

 never got one-third that yield, although other kinds in the 

 same lot gave large crops. These are undoubted facts, and 

 one had better be slow about going largely into untried 

 varieties. The Monroe Seedling potatoes were very satis- 

 factory with me ; but in Southern Ohio I find, as a rule, they 

 are a poor yielder, while in Western New York they do 

 finely. Try promising new varieties in a moderate way, and 

 find what is best ; and don't depend too much on the yield of 

 one year. A different season may give very different results. 

 Again, some new kinds soon dwindle out. I do not feel 

 entirely certain about any new variety until I have grown it 

 three years at least. Be honest with the old kinds when you 

 test something new side by side with them. See that they 

 are side by side, and treated exactly alike. How natural to 

 give the new kind the best place and extra care ! The same 

 attention might make your old variety surprise you. 



I would not be understood as saying you never need any 

 thing new, or that your potatoes will not " run out " in time, 

 with the attention at least that it is practical to give them. 

 I know they will ; so don't hold on to them too long. As we 

 manage, at least, we need new blood from time to time. It 

 seems to me that getting seed of the same variety from a 

 locality more favorable for the perfect growth of potatoes is 

 for a time equal to getting a new variety. Good potato soil 



