72 POTATO CULTURE. 



market, before they were ripe, there might be some gain. I 

 judged by the time the vines died down. 



Wife suggests that I should tell the object of making a 

 seed-pile long and narrow instead of round and large, as is 

 the more common custom. It is, that they may cool through 

 quicker and be kept cooler. The center of a pile is nearer 

 to the outside, and the outside cold can work in under the 

 pile more, and still, with the protection given, they can not 

 freeze. 



I may tell you another thing right here that will help you 

 some time. Mr. Smith sent me the ten barrels of seed about 

 April 1. If I put them in my cellar they would sprout before 

 we could plant. Looking out ahead, I covered the freezing- 

 cold earth, a square rod of it, with straw some three feet 

 deep, in March. When the- potatoes came we moved the 

 straw, placed the barrels on the almost ice-cold ground, and 

 covered deeply with straw again. I have since opened them, 

 on a cold morning, and found the temperature of the potatoes 

 to be 36, and no advance in sprouting. " Where there is a 

 will there is a way. 7 ' 



