FARMERS' CLUB. 



January 20, 1846. 

 POTATOES. 



Nathaniel Sands, Esq., of New Windsor, Orange county — ^I will 

 state my experience in raising potatoes. I have found that in plant- 

 ing them as early as possible I have good crops. The tops perished 

 in August. I let the potatoes lie in their hills till September, and 

 had perfectly sound ones. I have seen some disposed to decay, up- 

 on which I put lime, and these were saved from further rot. A 

 neighbor of mine had a pond, from which he let the water flow upon 

 his potato field in dry weather. For ten years past he has had al- 

 ways sound potatoes. They are of a fine quality. To prove the 

 efficacy of this watering of his potatoes, he had another field which 

 was left dry, and there his potatoes rotted. There are many fields 

 which may be selected for potato planting, so situated as to admit 

 of such watering. 



Mr. Wakeman. — From the examination which I have made of 

 this subject, early planting cannot be altogether relied upon. Some 

 late planted crops were good, while the early ones were rotted. A 

 good crop seems to demand all the benefits of a favorable season. 



Mr. Sands. — In 1843 I first noticed this disease. I took pains 

 to procure tubers from sound crops. I planted them very early; they 

 grew well and kept sound. Those which I planted in April were 

 good. Those I planted on the 25th of May proved nearly all dis- 

 eased. By my mode, we seldom now have a diseased potato, and ge- 

 nerally speaking, those planted late prove to be good. 



The tops of my potatoes totally died in August, but the potatoes 

 kept well in their hill till dug in September. What I call late plant- 

 ing is late in June. I do not let my planted potatoes be in immedi- 



