REPORT OF COMMITTEE. 61 



The old cut-and-cover system of plowing, is in vogue in 1873, 

 as well as in 1823. 



We remember, when boys, the object was quantity and not 

 guality ; regarding the complete breaking up and removing of the 

 sod, a matter of minor importance. Now, there will always be 

 boys in the field, until the theory of good plowing is better under- 

 stood. 



POTATOES. 



Of all crops now grown in New England, in no other form can 

 so large an amount of human food be grown from an acre, as in 

 edible roots or tubers ; and of these the potato is by far the most 

 acceptable. Other roots are used occasionally, by way of variety, 

 or as giving relish to other kinds of food ; but the potato alone 

 forms a part of the every day diet to all. 



SOIL AND PREPARATION. 



The farmer who has a dry, warm soil, well covered with decayed 

 or decaying leaves or brush, may expect to grow from it a good 

 crop of potatoes, provided the seed be sound and good, and under a 

 clean cultivation. Grown on dry, new land, the potato always cooks 

 dry and mealy, and possesses an agreeable flavor not usually found 

 in those grown in any other soil. In no argillaceous soil can the 

 potato be grown to perfection, as far as regards quality, although it 

 may be so as far as it respects quantity. 



To produce roots of the best quality the soil should be dry, 

 deep and porous, and to get a large crop the ground should be 

 well filled with humus. Nitrogenous manures should always be 

 excluded ; if they must be used, it is far better to apply them to 

 some other crop the year previous to growmg the potato. An ex- 

 cellent manure for the potato is to mix one cord of well seasoned 

 muck with one, cask of air slaked lime, using salt liberally at the 

 time of slacking and applying about eight cords to the acre. As 

 soon as the shoots break the ground a small quantity of some 

 good fertilizer applied renders material aid in hastening the crop. 

 Another cheap and profitable manure has been found by using 

 one cask of pure bone meal to the same quantity of unleached 

 ashes thoroughly mixed together ; let the heap remain upon the 

 barn floor for a week or ten days, shoveling it over once in a day 



