66 ON THE CULTIVATION OF POTATOES. 



dried, and the succeeding Spring sowed in the garden in a bed 

 in drills three feet square, and cultivated like garden vegetables. 

 They continued to grow till checked by the frost, when they 

 were gathered. The three feet square of ground produced three 

 and a half quarts, varying from the size of a pea, to that of a 

 pigeon's egg. In the Spring of 1831, being overlooked, they 

 were not planted till the 30tli of May ; the several kinds were 

 planted by themselves and cultivated in the usual way ; the three 

 and half quarts of seed were planted in forty hills and produced 

 four bushels, an average of a bushel to ten hills, more than three- 

 fourths of which were were of a size suitable for cooking. As to 

 their quality and time of ripening, I am at present unable to 

 decide, although several of the kinds cook very well. I think 

 they will require another planting to ascertain their full size, 

 quality, productiveness and time of ripening, as the tops were 

 green and flourishing when they were gathered, which was Sept. 

 21st. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 yield well, are of a good size and 

 quality. I think No. 1 will prove to be an early potato when 

 come to maturity. No. 5 has a yellow appearance when cook- 

 ed. Nos. 4 and 6 are not so promising in shape. Some of the 

 smallest were selected and planted by themselves. The result 

 was, they produced sniall potatoes. I noticed when gathering 

 the present crop, that some of the potatoes had sprouted and 

 showed signs of vegetating, while the tops continued green and 

 growing. I can account for this only that the tijne of sprouting 

 indicated the season that the potato will ripen when come to 

 maturity, but not having attained their full size the tops continu- 

 ed to grow, while the potato, uneasy in its too long confinement, 

 was about giving notice of the time of its emancipation by send- 

 ing up another crop of shoots. I am unable to say from what 

 kind or kinds of potatoes the balls were taken, but with one or 

 two exceptions they are unlike any raised on the farm from 

 which the balls were selected. I think the next crop will be of 

 a larger size and better quality. 



Yours, respectfully, 



SAMUEL GRAY. 

 Andover, Sep. 21, 1831. 



