17 



REPORT ON POTATOES. 



The half acre of potatoes was grown on sandy loom, which had pro- 

 duced about ten hundred weight of hay each of the two preceding years. 

 It was plowed, May 8th, eight inches deep, harrowed thoroughly, fur- 

 rowed six inches deep, rows 38 inches apart. Dropped halves of small 

 potatoes, 2 to 4 oz. 18 inches apart, and covered with hand hoe two 

 inches deep. May 19th, sowed 500 lbs. Bradley's complete potato 

 manure, along the rows and harrowed the piece with the Acme harrow. 

 A few days later I again harrowed the piece with the Acme harrow. 

 Cultivated once, horse hoed once, and spent about an hour, July 1st. 

 pulling the few weeds which had escaped the cultivator and horse hoe. 

 Dusted with plasted and Paris green once. Aug. 29th your committee 

 selected, dug and weighed an average rod, which yielded 105 lbs. This 

 is at the rate of 140 bushels on the half acre. I estimate the cost of 

 the crop : Labor, $18.50 ; fertilizer, $10 ; plaster etc., 75 cents ; total 

 cost, $29.25. Value of crop, 140 bushels at 45 cents per bushel, $63. 

 Profit, $33.75. In one row I put about 50 lbs. extra of Bradley, and 

 planted squashes between the potato vines. I thus obtained ten hun- 

 dred weight of very fine squashes, some of which I exhibited at the 

 Fair, and they were awarded the first premium of $2. I was also 

 awarded the second premium of $1 for exhibit of potatoes. 



J. C. Dillon. 



To the Committee on field crops of Hampshire Agricultural Society : 



You here find a statement of the half acre of potatoes entered for 

 premium in 1896. 



The soil of sandy loam was treated to an application of barn yard 

 manure in the years 1896, 1892, 1888 and 1884 and as the former 

 owner writes " some good fertilizers in the row " or drill and planted to 

 potatoes followed by rye each time and then by grass mowed one year 

 and pastured the next which kept it in a fair state of cultivation and fer- 

 tility. 



The present half acre was treated to about 2 cords of barnyard 

 manure estimated worth $3 a cord allowing one-half as yet in the land 

 in an unspent state ; also 6 bags of Bradley's potato manure cost $1.65 

 at the store of S. P. Puffer, North Amherst, variety " Empire State." 



