164 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



conditions being equal, a difference of fifty por cent, may result 

 from the quality of the seed planted. Tiie Committee have in 

 mind two lanners, occupying adjoining farms, who oftentimes 

 plant the same kind of corn, and pursue in the main the same 

 method of cultivation ; but the ordinary yield in one case is 

 double that in the other. The one who has the heavy crop 

 selects his seed from the standing stalks in September ; while 

 the one who has the light crop takes his seed from the bin at 

 planting time. 



As a rule, that seed is best which is ripened by the intense 

 heats of July and August. And vegetables propagated from 

 such seed are constantly improving ; while vegetables grown 

 from the seed of late maturing plants are sure to suffer a rapid 

 degeneracy. And it is as important to select a seed beet, or 

 squash, or onion, before harvest, as to select seed corn. The 

 same is emphatically true of the potato. And the neglect of 

 this rule is one cause why it so quickly " runs out " on a given 

 farm, and requires to be regenerated by a change of seed. The 

 hills for next year's planting should be selected when the vines 

 have just reached maturity and are beginning to show the signs 

 of natural decay. And only the earliest, and fully developed, 

 should be chosen. Such tubers will not deteriorate. 



As the potato has become so much a necessity for table use, 

 and some new varieties are just now challenging attention, the 

 Committee feel justified in giving the details of some experi- 

 ments with the Earhi Rose. 



No. 1. On fallow land. Long manure ploughed in ; old 

 compost and ashes put in hill. Furrowed three inches deep. 

 One-half peck of seed, cut to single eyes ; eyes dropped eigh- 

 teen inches apart. Planted May 12 ; in blossom July 3 ; fully 

 grown July 28. Single eyes produced three lbs. ; forty-three 

 eyes (two potatoes) produced seventy-five lbs. ; total yield five 

 and a half bushels. Tubers uniformly large size, with occa- 

 sionally a diseased one, the disease confined to tubers growing 

 on the surface. Excellent quality. 



No. 2. On sward land. Furrowed three inches deep, with a 

 liberal supply of compost of strong night soil and chip dirt in 

 the hill. One-half peck of seed, cut to single eyes, and put 

 eighteen inches apart. Planted May 24; in blossom July 10; 



