No. 216.] 795 



the plough for 18 years, with alternate crops of potatoes and wheat. 

 The product was about 100 barrels per acre. This potatoe is fit for 

 the table about the first of July if properly cultivated. I cultivate 

 this potatoe on the wheat stubble as follows. Eaily in the spring 1 

 take manure from the barn-ya:d and stables, made during winter, 

 which is very coarse (as we use plenty of straw for bedding for 

 horses and cattle,) and cover the ground with it and plough it in deep, 

 as deep as an ordinary plough can be made to run. Deep ploughing 

 helps to absorb the heavy rains and also to keep the plants fresh du- 

 ring a drought. I then harrow the ground smooth and plant not deep 

 2| feet apart in hills each way. When they begin to break the 

 ground in coming up it is best to put on plaster of Paris, which 

 besides its fertilising power, will enable the man who should follow 

 with a horse and plough to see the rows more plainly, it being es- 

 sential to stir the ground thus early to prevent the top from spindling. 

 This potatoe is the more valuable because, it being early it brings a 

 better price in market, and enables the farmer to clear off the crop 

 in time to sow wheat in good season. 



I also prepare a field for a potr.toe crop in the following manner, 

 I take a pasture field on which the timothy and red clover has lun 

 out and suffer no cattle to run upon it until June, when in my land 

 there will be a good crop of white clover in full bloom mixed with 

 other fine grasses which I turn in with the plough very deep, I then 

 let it lay in the sun till the proper time for sowing buckwheat thtn 

 harrow smooth and sow the buckwheat upon the surface and cover 

 it with the harrow. You will have a good crop of buckwheat and 

 the ground will be in good condition for a crop of potatoes the fol- 

 lowing year and be in good condition afterwards for a good crop of 

 wheat. 



Plant and cultivate the potatoe upon this ground as upon the wheat 

 stubble. My motive in calling your attention to this potatoe is, that 

 we may through your influence, get an exchange of a good early va- 

 riety or late or both of the potatoe from the south of France, as I 

 know from experience that the potatoe carried from a warm to a 

 cooler climate is of better quality and more prolific. 



Yours Respectfully, 



JAMES KNOWLTON. 



The Chairman presented tomatoes 5 imported by Mr. Broas, in the 

 Steamer Northerner, in 60 hours from Charlestoi', South Carolina. 

 They were perfectly ripe. 



