i 4 ON VEGETABLE PRODUCTS. 



hundred acres, simply because of the superior skill in the ap-^ 

 plication of labor. It is impossible to pass through the coun- 

 ty, without being strongly impressed with the fact, that not 

 one quarter of the lands can be said to be cultivated at all ; 

 and the further fact, that they are susceptible of producing at 

 least four times as much as they now do. It is idle in the ex- 

 treme, to think of abandoning our own soil, for the more fer- 

 tile prairies of the west, until we have tested their productive 

 powers to their full extent. 



On examining the products presented, several general ideas 

 occurred to the mind, which we think will be more use- 

 ful, than extended commentaries on p»articular articles — 

 many of whfch were of good quality — but not extraordi- 

 nary. 



Our attention was particularly arrested by specimens of po- 

 tatoes exhibited, viz : the Danvers Reds, raised by Mr. John 

 Bradstreet ; and the Middleton Reds, raised by Mr. H. L. 

 Gould, (we use these names as distinctive, without authority.) 

 Mr. Bradstreet's potatoes sprang from the seeds of the balls 

 planted in 1845. He has continued them distinct for six 

 years, with remarkable success, as to quantity and quality. 

 We took occasion, after the show, to visit Mr. B. and to ex- 

 amine minutely into his culture. He has raised more than 

 nine hundred bushels of this kind, the present year, on five 

 acres — averaging a bushel to sixteen hills. We saw his men 

 digging, and have no question of the fact. We have never 

 seen potatoes of better appearance. If they prove as good on 

 the table as they appear in the field, they will be a treasure 

 indeed. Mr. Gould exhibited a basket of pale red potatoes, 

 which sprang from seed obtained from the Eastern part of 

 Maine, in 1849. These we saw growing in the field, at Mid- 

 dleton, on the farm of Dr. A. Nichols, and have since found 

 them good on the table. Mr. G. represents them as being very 

 productive, yielding on an average, a bushel to twelve hills. 

 Both Mr. B. and G, were particular in the selection of their 

 seed, and in planting,' taking care to use only sound and fair 

 potatoes, with about three eyes in each piece, with generally 

 three pieces to a hill. In this way, their large product is in 



