ON ROOT CROPS. 



llf 



spring as I can, and tip it on top of the other. I never dis-» 

 tuib it until I fill it to put in the hill, minding to mix it well 

 then. To my certain knowledge, there has not been ono 

 heap of manure forked over on my farm for forty years, and I 

 believe my crops are as good as others in my vicinity. I know 

 some will say that this manure has lost all its strength, and is 

 about worthless ; but strange to tell, it makes my potatoes 

 grow well. I know the motto now is, to cultivate but little 

 land and manure high ; but I am confident that is not the best 

 way for potatoes ; they do not need so much manure, nor that 

 of the strongest kind. As for medicines they need none, and 

 all that is applied to them I consider as quackery in the ex- 

 treme. 



I will here make a few remarks concerning the rot in pota- 

 toes. As to the great cause, or why it so differs from that of 

 former years, I believe no man can solve ; but I do believe 

 some preventives may be practised by most farmers, with but 

 little inconvenience and no expense. I always did think, and 

 do now, that the weather has much to do about it ; and I 

 should think the result of the two last seasons was sufficient 

 to convince any man of this. Much depends on the seed, 

 those being best that are hardy and vigorous by nature. With 

 my mode of planting, I have succeeded with old degenerated 

 kinds, to that degree that the price obtained has more than 

 remunerated my losses. But with my seedlings, called the 

 Danvers Reds, my success has been complete. Not a little, in 

 my opinion, depends on the manure. I think mud a bad in- 

 gredient, particularly when worked over by hogs, or any other 

 strong manure. Something too depends on the manner of 

 cultivation, after they are planted, and much depends on the 

 land. That which is mellow and porous, is by far better than 

 that which has a hard pan. 



These opinions are formed on my own experience and ob- 

 servation. I could explain at large on each, if I had time and 

 inclination ; but those that know me well, know that I am 

 not much given to making converts to any of my notions, 

 therefore they cannot expect I shall be very anxious in making 

 converts to ray way of raising potatoes. 



