ON POTATOES. 



fourths of them by first ridging the ground, then dropping the 

 potatoes, then manuring and covering by a furrow on each side 

 as in the second lot of last year's experiment. The remainder 

 I planted in the same manner as third lot. I have gathered but 

 a small part of my present year's crop, but as far as 1 can judge 

 the result will be about the same as the preceding years. 



From the above experiments I have come to the conclusion 

 tliat as a general rule it is better to plant potatoes under, than 

 over the manure, and that there is no better way of cultivaling 

 them, taking labor into consideration, than by first ploughing the 

 land in ridges 3^ feet distant from each other, dropping the 

 potatoes at 2^ feet distance and putting the manure over them, 

 and covering by furrows one on each side. 



Yours with respect, Paul Kent. 



TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 

 ON POTATOES. 



Gentlemen — In 1830 I sowed four rods of land in my garden 

 with potato seed, in rows fourteen inches distant from each 

 other. At the first weeding I thinned them to about three 

 inches by pulling out the least promising ; at tlie second and 

 third weeding I continued to thin them out as before, and finally 

 left them about twelve inches apart in the rows, which gave me 

 about 900 plants. The last of October I gathered them and 

 from the 900 plants selected 90 of the best. In 1831 I planted 

 the 90 kinds in hills three feet by tuo and a half distant from 

 each other. In October I harvested them, reserving 20 kinds. 

 Thus far I paid attention to the shape, color and productiveness 

 of the potatoes. The present season I planted the 20 kinds on 

 about 100 rods of land ; after ploughing, harrowing and furrovving 

 the land, I dropped the potatoes and put on four cords of manure, 

 covering by two furrov/s. In June and July I ploughed between 

 the rows and hoed in the usual njanner. They are now in the 

 ground and several of the kinds appear to be growing. We 

 have only cooked of the seven kinds here exhibited. Numbers 

 3 and 4 are dry and mealy ; the produce middling. Numbers 

 7 



