44 ROOTS. 



the greater number of eyes, and planting the other section, that is the 

 smooth part, and found these potatoes superior both in quantity and 

 quality, the cultivation being the same. Doubtless the best j&avored 

 potatoes are grown upon '* old pasture land," or lands that have never 

 tjeen cultivated, using a light dressing of plaster. The climate also, has 

 much to do with the potato crop ; probably the potatoes grown in the 

 north of Ireland, are superior in quality to those in any other quarter 

 of the world, while the same crop cultivated in France and Spain is 

 very insipid. The northern counties of Scotland, it is said, produces 

 this crop to much greater perfection than in the south of England and 

 Wales ; so also, those grown in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, 

 are preferred to those cultivated as far south as forty degrees North 

 latitude, or in Massachusetts, even ; all of which may be attributed to 

 the different degrees of climate. Hence the location best adapted to 

 this plant is between forty-five and fifty-five degrees North latitude. 



In Worcester County the soil that produces the greatest return is on 

 *• meadow land reclaimed." We are informed that very extensive 

 fields have been grown in Worcester North the past year on soils of 

 this character, produoingf at the rate of four hundred bushels per acre. 

 It is pretty generally conceded that this soil does not produce a crop 

 equal in flavor to many others, yet the quantity is much greater. 



The cost of reclaiming peat lands varies according to location, 

 usually, however, at about one hundred dollars per acre. Now a 

 farmer that makes it a leading pursuit to supply milk for the market, 

 and is in possession of lands of this character that does not pay the 

 interest of ten dollars per acre, what farm work can he pursue to better 

 advantage than reclaim and cultivate a portion of his " old meadows ? " 



Milch cows fed with this root probably produce a greater quantity of 

 milk than from any other root cultivated. 



Having discussed the root crop thus far, the main question may be 

 raised. Which is the more profitable business for a farmer in the 

 north of Worcester County to pursue, to cultivate those perishable 

 articles for the market that he must push from off the farm at a certain 

 time and suffer a loss of a large per cent. , or make it his main object to 

 cultivate such crops as he is not obliged to dispose of when the markets 

 are full ? 



Probably by cultivating root crops he may have more ready money 

 at hand, and in a series of years be in possession of more bank stock and 

 Treasury notes, but, that he is in possession of more or better property 

 than to cultivate such crops as can usually be expended on the farm, 

 and thus improve the same from year to year, your committee doubt. 



In behalf of the Committee, 



EPHM. GRAHAM. 



