THE EARLY VERMONT POTATO. 315 



second of July. They had been on Mr. Washburn's counter 

 ever since February, and they were so dry you could not tell 

 that they were potatoes by their appearance. I put two 

 pieces in a hill. They were in the ground eighty days, dur- 

 ing eight or ten of which it was extremely dry, and they 

 did not start at all ; but from those potatoes, which weighed 

 three pounds when I got them, I gathered one hundred and 

 eleven pounds. They did not begin to grow until people 

 were beginning to dig their Early Rose potatoes. It is 

 claimed that it is six or eight days earlier than the Early 

 Rose, and it is claimed to be much more productive. I have 

 heard of crops of four or five hundred bushels to the acre. 

 Those of mine gave, perhaps, at the rate of between three 

 and four hundred bushels to the acre. They were very 

 smooth and handsome. I have formed a very ftivorable 

 opinion of this Early Vermont. It is evident that it is a 

 seedling of the Early Rose. It is the Early Rose, reproduced 

 with the original productiveness of the Early Rose, for when 

 that first came, it produced far more in quantity, with me, at 

 least, than it does now, though I have changed my seed once, 

 getting it from Vermont. 



Mr. Everett. How is the quality, compared with the 

 Early Rose ? 



Mr. Hyde. I cannot say definitely, because they were 

 grown so late in the season that they were not so good as my 

 Early Rose, planted early in the season, but the texture is 

 almost exactly like the Early Rose, and I am told by Mr. 

 Bliss that the quality is fully equal to the Early Rose. 



Mr. GooDALE, of Egremont. I have planted the Early 

 Vermont for two years, and my experience has been much 

 the same as that of the President. The first season, I raised 

 about one hundred and sixty-four pounds from one pound ; 

 last season, I raised one hundred and sixty-nine pounds from 

 one pound, with ordinary farm culture. I planted single 

 eyes, fifteen inches apart. The quality I found almost ex- 

 actly the same as the Early Rose. I do not think, as the 

 President says, they can be distinguished from the Early 

 Rose. Practically I think it is no earlier than the Early 

 Rose. Perhaps the vines die a few days sooner, but I think 

 that really it is not any earlier. It is undoubtedly a seedling 

 from the Early Rose. I am satisfied of that. 



