446 Transactioxs op the American Institute. 



der the}^ don't succeed better; " potatoes don't do as well as they 

 used to ! shall have to buy potatoes this season ! " &c. 



Now, reasoning from analog^'-, " like begets alike," and for the 

 same reason that I would select the best ears of corn, the best and 

 heavist wheat, rye or oats for sowing, would I select the best, largest 

 and smoothest potato for planting, believing as I do that such pota- 

 toes are earlier, maturer and better developed thtm small ones. / 



True, such seed would bring a little more than small ones in the*^ 

 market, but a few dollars and cents gain there is no comparison 

 to the gain I believe I get in the increased yield, continued health 

 and vigor of the future crop. 



I believe one chief cause of the failure and deterioration of the 

 potato is the persistent use of small and immature seed. My expe- 

 riments have led me to practice cutting seed to one or two eyes, to 

 prevent overstocking, and to allow the growing tubers room to 

 " spread themselves." 



2. The Soil. — I generally follow com with potatoes. If the 

 corn was well manured with stable manure, and the sod well 

 decomposed, I plant the potatoes in drills or rows about thirty 

 inches apart, and ten to twelve inches apart in the rows, with only 

 a slight dressing of lime, ashes, or plaster applied on the seed after 

 dropping. If the soil is poor, I apply ,a good dressing of well 

 decomposed manure broadcast and harrow it in. (Green, unfer- 

 mented manure is to be avoided, as it tends to engender disease.) 

 In cither case I apply the dressing of lime, plaster or ashes in the row 

 before covering, and plant early. If the ground is very foul I plant 

 in hills two and a half to three feet apart, and cultivate both ways. 

 As soon as the young plants begin to peep through, I hitch to the 

 harrow and cross the rows. This is the first cultivation. In about 

 a week or ten days I run a plow through, turning the furrow from 

 the rows, and hand hoc, taking particular pains to loosen the earth 

 around the plant, which by this time is apt to be somewhat baked. 

 For this purpose, or hoeing of any kind, I have never seen an 

 instrument that will compare with an unpatented pronged hoe 

 which I have had made to order. The next plowing is done just 

 before blooming, the furrow turned towards the row, hand hoed 

 and hilled moderately. No further attention is given them till 

 harvesting, unless it be to go over and pull out any weeds that may 

 have escaped our attention at the last working. 



3. Harvesting. — If attacked with rot, which is readily seen by 

 the blight of the leaf, the sooner the potatoes are out of the ground 



