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timated by weighiug a sample rod. In selecting the potato plot, it is 

 well to have some variation of moist and dry soil, for we have some- 

 times excessive drought to hinder the growtli ; but wherever it is, let 

 the preparation be thorough, the application of fertilizer liberal and 

 the cleaning of weeds complete. Of all the extravagance in farm- 

 ing, the permitting of our fertilizer to produce a large crop of worth- 

 less weeds, as is often seen in potato fields, is one of the worst econ- 

 omies of time and effort. In stocking the ground with seed, the best 

 results have been obtained by selecting tubers of the size of hens' 

 eggs, and cutting in the middle from seed to stem end ; then drop in 

 rows three feet apart, and from one and one-half to two and one-half 

 feet in the row. In experimenting the past season there was no per- 

 ceptible difference in the size of toi)s or yield of tubers where halves 

 or whole potatoes were used. The crop of H. C. West shows what 

 can be done as a money crop, while the crops of L. W. West and 

 sons in testing a large number of varieties, makes an interesting 

 study for the intelligent reader. Mr. Dillon shows what can be done 

 under unfavorable circumstances. 



All the above is respectfully submitted for your consideration. 



James Comins, 

 Chairman of Committee on Field Crops. 



