37 



were produced, which brought in the market 80 cents the bushel, 

 except two or three of the last bushels, which commanded only 67 

 cents. I believe that more than double the common time was spent 

 in p'-^.nting — in do'i.j which, the hoeing was so far executed that 

 little was afterwards done, except to move the surface of the ground 

 and keep it clear of weeds. Great caution was taken, not to 

 raise a high hill, and to leave a bason in each, to collect r id retain 

 the rains. The promise of the field was very great, until it was 

 checked by severe drought — soon after the rain fell, the rust seized 

 the potatoes, and another drought soon following, urged those on 

 the higher ground, to full and premature maturity. I have no 

 doubt, but you will have before you, a much larger quantity from a 

 moist field, and more extended experiments; but I have no tremors 

 from the thought, that I shall be exceeded in the cultivation and the 

 quality of the crop. The last year, when common potatoes were 

 selling from 25 to 30 cents, the black, and chenango readily com- 

 manded from 45 to 50 cents. Those from the seed of the balls, I 

 had none to part with then, nor shall I have this season, any to dis- 

 pose of except for seed entirely. I have an unhesitating belief, 

 that these sorts combine as great a degree of excellence, as can be 

 found in this region in the same number of sorts. If this may be 

 thought an expression too emphatic, I shall be gratified, if the 

 movements of the day will admit of their being rightly cooked, that 

 it may be done. If it may not be thought too stern a pressure for 

 favor, I will add my full conviction, and that of better judges than 

 myself, that the form of planting gave at least a quarter part more 

 crop, than the [common loose method, and that the crop is from a 

 quarter to a third less, from the drought and rust, that the field had 

 to encounter. It has been often repeated, that small potatoes were 

 as prolific for seed, as the larger size. Last Autumn when I took 

 Nos. 1 and 2 from the ground, their quality was such, as induced 

 me to select for seed all the fair ones as large as a pigeon's egg — 

 they were planted in distinct rows, in the midst of the others, and 

 the result is, that the crop from them is a sixth part less, and the 

 small ones much more numerous than from the large seed. If I 

 shall be present at your meeting, I shall be pleased, to be closely 

 interrogated on both my experiments. 



