60 POTATO CULTUKE. 



in the far North is, of course, the place where the potato 

 does its best. There are places where 400 bushels per acre 

 are as easily obtained as 250 are here. I have practiced 

 changing seed in this way : 



When the Hebron began to decline I sent to Northern 

 Maine and got my seed. Seed has also been bought in New 

 York State, in a good section. This year I have 20 barrels, 

 now in the cellar, of J. M. Smith, of Green Bay, Wisconsin. 

 They cost me $110, besides freight. I preferred to buy them 

 rather than to plant my own seed, as our season was not as 

 favorable here last year. There was no change made in 

 varieties. They are the same that we had many of last year. 



There are some varieties of potatoes that may be forced 

 up to a higher yield per acre than others, that may be of 

 great value for high farming on rich soil, and worth little on 

 poor land. The Freeman, which has lately been introduced, 

 is one of these kinds, I now think. It will stand and pay for 

 much forcing ; but if you want to plant on white-bean land 

 I think I could name a coarse rank grower that would stand 

 the treatment much better. And that reminds me of an- 

 other point quality. 



As a rule, varieties of inferior quality are large yielders, 

 and the kinds of high eating quality are not the most pro- 

 ductiveat least, under ordinary conditions. You must 

 select quality to suit your trade. In the fall and winter, the 

 late varieties, of rather inferior quality, sell in large markets, 

 by the car, at top quotations. Let them have what they 

 want. To retail customers I would furnish a higher quality, 

 and show them the difference and get a better price. It can 

 be done when people find out the difference between a Snow- 

 flake, Hebron, or Freeman, and a Burbank or White Star. 

 Plenty do not know, and still much will depend on the way 

 they are grown. Don't grow too many varieties. Folks say 

 to me, " I suppose you grow a great many kinds." No, that 

 is not business not for market. We have rarely grown 

 more than two varieties. We shall grow but one this year. 



