53 



It is healthy. It is always convenient to have a good supply of vege- 

 tables on hand. I cannot speak of ihein all were I disposed so to do. 

 But I cannot close without saying a few words in regard to 



POTATOES. 



Formerly we thought any piece of ground, at the end of tlie corn 

 rows, or on some poor spot of land, where nothing else would suc- 

 ceed, was considered good enough for potatoes. But the Colorado 

 potato bug has taught us to prize wliat before we despised. We must 

 cultivate less ground in potatoes, but do better by them, both as re- 

 gards fertilization and personal attention. The seed is of great impor- 

 tance. Some of the new varieties tliat have been produced within 

 the last fifteen years arc better than any of the old ones. Last year 

 I obtained some seed of tlie Burbank potato, sent out by Gregory, 

 and planted it side by side with the Brigham seedling, and it yielded, 

 with exactly the same treatment, one tliird more, and of a better 

 quality, taking the first premium at the show .at Amherst. The Early 

 Rose is a first rate potato. But don't stick to the Early Rose too 

 long. Get the best seed, and talce some pains to get the best. The 

 Snowflake and Peerless are higlily esteemed by many, and the seed of 

 these two kinds can be obtained quite easily in this vicinity. Nearly 

 every farmer has his ivay to plant potatoes. I furrow out my land 

 three feet apart, put the manure in the furrow, cut my potatoes down 

 to two eyes, drop the pieces of seed one foot apart in the rows, and 

 cover deep with the ridger. When the sprouts get up, take a com- 

 mon square harrow and run it lengthwise in the rows. This kills all 

 the Aveeds, and levels down the ridges somewhat, does not hurt the 

 potato at all, and makes one hoeing less than by the old fashioned 

 way. 



Paris Green is the best remedy for the bugs. Hand picking is 

 good, but it must be done every day, all the time, continually. But 

 vou can put on tiie Green and then go about your business ; and then 

 in a week or so when you see tlie bugs begin to appear again, put on 

 another dose, and so on. The great difficulty, I believe, is, that we 

 have neglected putting it on soon enough, and then putting on too 

 much. As soon as you find a few bugs on your piece, apply the poi- 

 son. Don't wait until they have got well at the vines, and you can 

 see that they are actually injuring them, but attend to it in season. 

 I found last summer that a quarter of a pound to a half acre, for each 



