192 POTATO CULTURE. 



would not cross it. But never mind that. And then how it 

 would look, that great bare ditch through the middle, when 

 friend Boot went by o"n his wheel and tried his Kodak on 

 the field ! But let that go ; we are after actual dollars. 

 There will be at least one full row less of potatoes. They 

 won't grow in a dead-furrow as well as water will run in it ; 

 16 rows make an acre, and $6.00 a row would not be a large 

 return. Between you and me. if we have a good season I 

 rather hope for $10.00. We had some last year, poor as it 

 was, that did better than this, sold for market price, 75 cents 

 a bushel. But just call it $6.00 a row. It costs about $2.00 

 a row to plant, furnish seed, care for and harvest the crop. 

 This gives us $4.00 net for that row in the place of the ugly 

 dead-furrow, to say nothing of the wheat that will grow 

 there. Now how is it V With your fields drained, so narrow 

 lands and furrows are not necessary to carry off water, is it 

 or is it not business to spend 45 cents' worth of time to get 

 back $1.00 in net returns ? Can you make any such profit on 

 your manufacturing business, friend Root ? Why, it is 

 almost the German's 10 per cent buy for $1.00 and sell for 

 $10.00. I did intend to put the figures on to the tramping of 

 corners with the old way of plowing, where potatoes are 

 to be grown ; but I think perhaps friend Root will take that 

 on trust now, rather than to have me write some ten pages 

 more. 



