56 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



able to obtain more than one-third the number of bushels from 

 the acre I had in former years, admitting them all to be sound. 

 The present year, my Long Reds, which were of good size, 

 required twenty-four hills to fill a bushel basket. I formerly 

 filled my bushel from eight hills, a little later from ten, then 

 from twelve; and so on, up to the present time, gradually 

 diminishing in yield." This has been the experience of most 

 farmers, some ascribing it to the exhaustion of the soil, but 

 most confessing an entire ignorance of the cause. Another 

 farmer of "Worcester County says, "The decrease is at least 

 one-fourth within the last ten years, or since the disease com- 

 menced. The decrease per acre, arising from unknown causes, 

 has been, within thirty years, more than one-half, saying noth- 

 ing about the disease.; i. e., one-half the potatoes in the hill." 



There was probably a somewhat larger number of acres 

 planted the past season throughout the State than for a few 

 years past. This is alluded to by correspondents in different 

 parts of the State. A practical farmer of Worcester County 

 says, "Owing to there being a much larger area planted than 

 usual, and no rot, it is believed that twice as many potatoes 

 have been raised in this town and vicinity as in any year for 

 the last ten years. The decrease, on account of the drought. 

 I have already given as from 30 to 35 per cent. The quality 

 of potatoes was never better." 



From another part of the State an intelligent farmer writes 

 as follows: "No complaint is made this year of diseased po- 

 tatoes; in fact, they have not been so good and sound for many 

 years as they are this season. The quantity of potatoes raised 

 now is not more than half of what it formerly was. Then 250 

 or 300 bushels to the acre was not considered an uncommon 

 crop; but now 150 bushels is called a good yield. The diminu- 

 tion in quantity may be attributed in a measure to the uncer- 

 tainty of the crop, in consequence of the prevalence of the 

 disease or blight." A farmer of. Essex County writes as fol- 

 lows: "Probably there lias been a decrease of nearly one-half 

 in the number of acres planted with potatoes, and about the 

 same decrease in the yield per acre. Formerly, before the rot 

 made its appearance, our farmers used to manure highly, and 

 the yield on good lands was about 200 bushels to the acre; 



