TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 1T9 



I marked off two square rods in length, and one in breadth, of 

 potatoes that had been planted in rows on the 20th of January, 

 1812 : the haulm was completely fallen. Each row, in this oblong- 

 space, measured 33 feet in length ; and there were twelve rows 

 in the breadth. With a view of ascertaining the spreading pro- 

 perty of potatoes, I took up six intermediate rows ; leaving the 

 same number for re-production. The six rows taken up yielded 

 78 pounds of small potatoes, or at the rate of 13 pounds from 

 each 33 feet of row, or 223 bushels per acre.* 



Five months afterwards, that is on the 20th of November, and 

 some weeks after the haulm had again completely fallen, the six 

 rows which were left in the soil, were also taken up. These 

 yielded, of very fine large potatoes, 292 pounds. Thus, the in- 

 crease, by leaving the crop in the ground, was in the proportion 

 of 78 to 292, or from 223 bushels to 834 per acre. This calcula- 

 tion is on a supposition that if the six first rows had remained, 

 their produce would have also increased to 292 pounds. 



Besides this large produce in potatoes, the preceding crop was 

 plainly discovered b}' the seed being entire, and of a darkish hue, 

 and in some degree shriveled. These seed potatoes were sepa- 

 rated, and weighed 75 pounds ; and, although not marketable, 

 have been eaten by hogs. Wherefore, by retaining a crop in the 

 ground, when not likely to be productive, or for which there is 

 not a ready sale, it is proved that very little of it is lost, and a 

 very great produce maybe expected from the succeeding crop. 



From this statement it will be seen that the difference between 

 the produce of the six rows on the 18th of June, and the seed 

 potatoes gathered from the remaining six rows on the 20th of 

 November, was no more than three pounds : the former being 

 78 pounds, and the latter 75. 



* A St. Helena bushel is 56 pounds avoirdupois. 



