NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



61 



ous farmers on this subject; yet we doubt not that 

 the result of our experience and observation is very 

 different from that of some other experimenters; 

 and every farmer should make experiments for him- 

 self, as there may be in his neighborhood some 

 valuable kinds not generally known. 



In our experiments last season, to which we re- 

 fer, we planted late — say the latter part of May — 

 and they mostly rotted, so it was a very severe test. 

 Since dug, scarcely any have rotted. 



Chenango, Mercer. — This is a very popular po- 

 tato in the market, and is cultivated throughout 

 the country more extensively than any other kind. 

 It is very apt to rot. In favorable seasons, and 

 under favorable circumstances, but very few rot, 

 but when season and circumstances are against it, 

 they nearly all rot. Thus they fail Avhen potatoes 

 are in great demand. In our experiment last sea- 

 son seven-ninths rotted. We have better kinds, some 

 for early, and others for late use, which yield more. 



Carter is an excellent potato, but much inclined 

 to rot. Last season five-sixths rotted. 



Snowball has been considered by some identical 

 with Carter, but it is different. The quality is very 

 fine; the yield middling. Last season, they all 

 rotted. 



Early Purple. — This isoften called Early Blue, 

 but it is not the old rough coat Early Blue, well 

 known in this country many years ago. These 

 nearly escaped rot, and probably from their great 

 earliness. Only two-seventeenth rotted last season, 

 in our experiments. 



Hall's Early. — A fine early potato, and it 

 yields well. It is better than Hill's Early, and 

 yields more than that or the Chenango. Last sea- 

 son one-half rotted. 



Early Worcester, Riley. — This variety seemed 

 proof against the rot until last season, even when 

 planted on wet land. Comparatively it is a hardy 

 kind. Last season one-third rotted. It is as early or 

 earlier than the Chenango, and is more mealy early 

 in the season. For late use, it is too mealy. It 

 out-yields most other kinds known to us. Ii yields 

 about as much as the Long Reds and other prolific 

 varieties. The greatest objection to it is that the 

 tubers are rather small, though many in a hill, like 

 the Forty-fold potato. 



Early White Blue Nose, Easfporf. — This po- 

 tato is very apt to rot. As it yields poorly, we have 

 discarded it, as the Early Purple is as early, as 

 good, and it is larger and yields more. 



Buffalo Pink is a potato of most excellent qual- 

 ity, but it does not yield very well, and it is very 

 apt to rot. Last season two-thirds rotted. 



Wait's Long, is a very long white potato, that 

 yields very largely. As it is a late kind, and the 

 tubers but partially grown, it was more exposed to 

 rot than early kinds, and this remark will apply to 

 late kinds generally. Last season four-fifths rotted. 



Long White is a seedling from the Butnam, and 



it resembles Wait's Long in appearance, lateness, 

 and yield. Last season two-thirds rotted. 



Long Red, Merino, Long John. — This variety is 

 well known throughout the country. Many far- 

 mers say that it has escaped the rot about as well 

 as any variety. There is one thing peculiar about 

 it. Frequently it is less rotten than other kinds at 

 digging, but is much inclined to rot after it is dug. 

 Last season, in our experiment, two-thirds rotted. 



Dean, Veto,Abington Blues. — This potato yields 

 largely, and it is of a good quality, particularly for 

 a late potato; but it is very apt to rot; one of the 

 most tender kinds. It generally yields about as 

 much as the Long Red, but in our experiment last 

 season, the yield was very light, owing to the rust 

 — not half so much as the Long Red — and seven- 

 elevenths rotted. When the rot is rather light, this 

 is often considerably affected. 



Black Potato, Black Chenango. — This is a re- 

 markably hardy kind, against rust, rot, time, and 

 other hard cases which the potato meets. It yields 

 nearly as much as the most prolific kinds. Last 

 year it yielded as much as the Long Red, and only 

 one-fifth rotted. Previous to last year, we seldom 

 saw any rot in this variety; and several farmers have 

 spoken of its hardiness. This potato has never 

 been justly estimated, excepting by a few individu- 

 als; it is not a favorite in the market, and poorer 

 potatoes sell better. Few know how to cook it. It 

 should boil one-quarter or one-third longer than 

 other kinds, and then it is greatly improved by 

 .steaming a few minutes. It keeps remarkably pure, 

 having no defects, like Chenango, Long Red, and 

 some others. 



Peach Blow. — This potato has been much ad- 

 mired by some, and condemned by others. It yields 

 well, the quality is good, and it usually sells at a 

 good price in the market. It is hardy against the 

 rot. But there is a disease peculiar to this variety. 

 When we have had forty of fifty kinds all growing 

 together and in a flourishing condition, early in 

 the season, the Peach Blow has been affected with 

 the curl in the leaf, sometimes to the extent of half 

 the hills, and potatoes were produced no larger than 

 common potato balls. Several farmers have met 

 with the same trouble with this potato; others say 

 that it has always done well with them. Such may 

 do well to continue it. As we had excluded it, we 

 did not subject it to the severe test last year. 



Butnam is of superior quality, but it yields rather 

 lightly. It is tolerably hardy against the rot. 



Kidney yields tolerably well, and the quality is 

 very good. It is tolerably hardy. 



St. Helena generally yields a little less than 

 the Chenango, and it is less liable to rot; yet it rots 

 readily. The quality is very good, and it is very 

 saleable in the market. 



Ladies Fingers. — This is an excellent potato 

 for baking, but not good for boiling. On dry soils 

 in good condition it yields well. We have heard, 



