60 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



As several of the members of your Committee have given it a trial 

 during the past season, they are prepared to state that so far as can be 

 determined by a single season's experiment, they consider it the most 

 promisino; early potato yet introduced, of the finest quality and wonder- 

 full}' productive. It is from six to ten daj's earlier than the Early 

 Goodrich and much its superior in quality. 



With regard to its ability to withstand the rot, which has been much 

 more destructive the past year in this vicinity than for some years 

 previous, we can only say, that with an unfavorable season like the past 

 it has not suffered from this cause in any greater degree than the 

 Goodrich, Harrison and other popular varieties, hitherto considered 

 proof against disease; while, on the other hand, many of the older sorts 

 have been affected to such an extent as hardly to compensate the 

 grower for the tinie and trouble of harvesting. 



A judicious selection of varieties, with early planting, and harvesting 

 in dry weather as soon as the crop is mature, are the best preventives we 

 know, and which if practised will generally secure the best results. 



We doubt if, in the whole history of potato culture, a parallel case 

 can be found in the yvay of propagation to that of Mr. W. C. Strong of 

 Brighton, who, with only six pounds of the Early Eose potato, suc- 

 ceeded in planting upwards of four acres of ground, and was only 

 prevented from making the acres twice that number l^y the shortness 

 of the season; it goes to show, in his case at least, where little is given 

 viuch may be required. As a full and detailed report of this novel and 

 interesting experiment will be given by the Chairman of the Committee 

 on gardens, in his reports, we refrain from further comment to avoid 

 repetition. 



The attention of the Committee has also been called to the Whiting, 

 a new seedling potato raised by Mr. Benjamin Whiting of Amherst, 

 N". H., in 1861, from seed of the State of Maine potato. Specimens 

 were presented to the several members of the committee for trial, who 

 report it of first quality as a table potato; further trial must determine 

 its merits for general cultivation. Owing to the popularit}" of this 

 variety, an attempt has already been made to introduce it to the public 

 under the name of Excelsior; Whiting's Seedling is the proper name, 

 and purchasers should govern themselves accordingly. 



The display of vegetables at the Annual Exhibition was undoubtedly 

 one of the finest and most extensive ever made by the Society. The 

 specimens shown were well grown and in great variety. A prominent 

 feature of the exhibition was the fine collections of potatoes from 

 numerous contributors, embracing all the most popular varieties in cul- 

 tivation; together with several new seedlings not yet introduced and 

 exhibited by Mr. Albert Breeze, by numbers 2, 4, 5 and 7, and raised 

 from the same seed ball as was the Early Kose. 



