ROOT CROPS. 119 



HAMPDEN. 



Statement of H. M. Sessions of South Wilbraham. 



Potatoes. — The one and one-half acres of land on which 

 the crop was raised has been in pasture for eighteen years, 

 and is situated on a dry hill of red sandstone soil, mixed with 

 mica and hornblende slates. Twenty-five loads of stable 

 manure (or about eight cords) were ploughed under, the first 

 week in May. Planted the 10th and 12th of May, in drills, 

 three feet apart, and twelve to fifteen inches in the drills ; one 

 to two eyes in a piece, and one piece in a hill. A small 

 handful of compost (made of sheep and hen manure aud 

 plaster) was dropped on the potatoes before covering, and 

 before the first hoeing, three barrels of ashes and plaster were 

 applied to the plants. The varieties planted were the Early 

 Vermont, Snowflake, White Peachblow, and a new seedling, 

 known as the Copperhead. They were hoed twice, chiefly 

 with a horse-hoe, the middle of June and the middle of July. 

 The Early Vermonts were dug the 20th of September, the 

 other varieties the middle of October. The potato bugs did 

 not trouble the Early Vermonts and Snowflakes at all, nor 

 the others until after the 1st of September. The crop set out 

 for a large yield, but the bugs or drought, or both, checked 

 their growth, and left a large quantity of small potatoes. 

 They are all of good quality. 



Cr. 



132 bushels merchantable potatoes, at 90 cents, . . . . $118 80 



65 " small potatoes, at 20 cents, 13 00 



Total bushels, 197, $131 80 



Dr. 



Carting and spreading manure, $10 00 



Ploughing, harrowing and marketing, 8 00 



Twelve bushels seed, 6 00 



Planting, 13 50 



First hoeing, 15 00 



Second hoeing, 5 00 



Digging, sorting and housing, 24 50 



One-half the manure, 16 00 



Total, $98 00 



Balance, $33 80 



