57 



son we believe the only thing that saved it was the dry 

 weather of April and May. This put all such lands into 

 a fine condition for planting, so that the crop took a vig- 

 orous start from the beginning, and so was saved. If we 

 recollect right, the average of the weather in June and 

 July of this year was very nearly or quite as cold as last 

 year. The inference seems fair, that if we had had the 

 rain in June that we had last year, we should have had 

 with it also the failure of the corn crop. Now of these 

 two enemies, one is in a measure within our control, that 

 is, as far as proper drainage is concerned, and when, from 

 any cause, this is not attended to, we believe a true econ- 

 omy will not justify the expense and risks attending this 

 valuable but somewhat uncertain grain. 



In the department of roots, potatoes seemed to figure 

 more largely than anything else, and in justice to the con- 

 tributors, it must be acknowledged they were very fine in 

 quality, as far at least, as the eye could judge. Popular 

 favor just now seems to rest upon the Davis' Seedling, the 

 Dover, and the Peach Blow. Fine specimens of each of 

 these were presented, as were some of a kind called the 

 Seal's Foot. We also noticed a basket of fine Early Blues — 

 an excellent variety, as we know from experience. A 

 somewhat singular feature in this department, was a plate 

 of cold boiled potatoes. Whether they were placed there 

 for our admiration, whether to tempt or regale us, we 

 never knew. But having no desire to be partial, we in- 

 troduced no new test of excellence, satisfied that the taste 

 of either a cold or a raw potato, would not go far in mak- 

 ing up an opinion as to its good qualities. We should 

 not omit to mention in this connection, the exhibition of 

 a box containing twelve varieties of seedling potatoes, 

 two years from the seed. 



There was the usual display of other roots and vegeta- 

 bles, but nothing that gave assurance of marked superi- 

 ority, unless we make an exception in favor of two bas- 

 kets of English turnips, which were exceedingly fine. One 



