448 Transactions of the American Institute. 



:m extent that an offer to send them by mail, under the provisions 

 of the postal law just passed by Congress (which, by the way, I 

 consider one of the most wise, sensible and beneficial to the people 

 of ally act that ever emanated from the councils of that august 

 body), resulted in the spring of 1865 in my sending about tAvo hun- 

 dred jDackages, of four pounds each, by mail, from Maine to Kansas. 

 The yield from these four pound packages, as reported to me, 

 varied from three to eight bushels. Of these four varieties, I 

 regarded the Coppermine as the best in quality, and its smoothness 

 added to its popularity. In some localities it has done even better 

 than with me, and proved an acceptable substitute for the Mercer 

 by those who grew the potato largely for market. The Chili was 

 somewhat tender, and being of a red color and variable in quality, 

 failed to achieve the position it would, had it a white skin. 



In point of hardiness, the Rusty Coat exceeds them all. It will 

 grow on the strongest soil, and endure green, unfermeuted manure 

 with impunity. In fact, it requires strong soil to develop a crop 

 of good sized tubers. Although not as fine grained or white in 

 flesh as desirable, it is an admirable keeper and excellent for spring 

 use. The Cuzco was the most productive and the poorest in quality, 

 though some seasons it was very fair, especially when mashed, as 

 it was rich in gluten; but its numerous deep eyes were very much 

 against it. 



In point of health, all these varieties were a great advance over 

 the JNIercer, the Coppermine being the tenderest. The prejudice 

 entertained by some people against ncAv varieties of anything as 

 well as "Ijook farming," is stubborn and deep-seated, and ofttimes 

 is a serious obstacle to the introduction of things of real merit. 

 "Facts," also, are "stubborn things," and in the contest prejudice 

 is gradually yielding. 



As an illustration, I cite the following: A neighbor, who joined 

 me in testing the new varieties, planted his Coppermines a little 

 thinner towards the close, in order to save a couple of tubers to 

 give to his nephew. On presenting them they were refused. He 

 had finished planting — had no room for them. The Mercer was 

 good enough for him. You could not sell them after raising them, 

 <fcc. He Avas finally prevailed on to accept and plant them. In 

 the autumn he harvested half a bushel, and was rather pleased 

 Avith the potatoes and the experiment, so that in 1863 he planted 

 the whole, and harvested twenty-two bushels. In 1864 he planted 

 the whole of those, to the exclusion of the Mercer, and even 



