NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



181 



At the fii-st hoeing, only three stocks -were left to 

 the hill. Just previous to the second hoeing, I 

 applied ten bushels of strong wood ashes, distribut- 

 ing them in small heaps around the stocks of corn, 

 and leaving them, at hoeing, slightly covered with 

 earth. This, I think, is the preferable way to apply 

 them, especially when the weather is dry, as was the 

 case in the above instance. I have made frequent 

 use of ashes, on light, dry soil, for corn and wheat, 

 and always with the best result. I am not sensible 

 that it adds much to the growth of corn fodder, or 

 straw ; but there is a verj- perceptible increase in the 

 yield of grain. 



In 1838, I raised one hundred and fifteen bushels 

 on this same piece of land, and it was then managed 

 very nearly as the above. I am of the opinion that we 

 had better apply our ashes to our farms than to sell 

 them for twenty-five cents per bushel ; and on certain 

 soils, and for many crops, I believe them to be worth 

 more. I have made several experiments, on various 

 crops, with ashes, lime, and plaster of Paris, side by 

 side, and the yield of grain has ever given a decided 

 preference to the ashes. Indeed, I have never found 

 much benefit in using plaster ; yet I think it valuable 

 manure for certain soils, and where the transporta- 

 tion is not too high, it would be beneficial to all 

 farmers to use in their compost and yards, it being 

 such an excellent thing to fix and retain the ferti- 

 lizing gases. 



The cost of producing this crop, including all of 

 the labor, eight dollars for taxes and use of the land, 

 and one half of the manure at one dollar per load, 

 was nearly sixty dollars. The value of the crop, in- 

 cluding the fodder, was ninety-four dollars, leaving a 

 profit of about thirty-four dollars. I have I'requently 

 raised large and profitable crops, and think I know 

 how to apply labor to as good advantage as farmers 

 in general ; yet I am never able to obtain so large 

 profits as I frequently see published. I have seen 

 accounts of raising corn in New England at a cost of 

 one shilling to twenty-five cents per bushel. It 

 strikes me that when such statements are given, a 

 full allowance is not made for taxes, interest money, 

 and manure, if these things are noticed at all. The 

 above crop is a more profitable one than I often 

 raise ; yet I thmk this corn must have cost me nearly 

 fifty cents per bushel. 



Although we may derive much benefit from an 

 acquaintance with the successful cultivation of farm 

 products, yet I think the manner in which large and 

 jjrofitable crops are usually published, is calculated 

 to disappoint many who may undertake to produce 

 like crops, and to deceive the public in relation to 

 the profits of farming. It should be borne in mind 

 that such crops are generally grown under the most 

 favorable circumstances, having a soil well adapted 

 to the crop, a favorable season, and cultivated in a 

 thorough and cheap way. And in judging of the 

 profits of farming, it should be remembered that, 

 even on well managed farms, some of the many 

 crops grown may not pay the cost of production, 

 and that occasionally a crop may prove an entire 

 failure. These things are a heavy drawback upon 

 the profits of farming. I would not have one infer 

 but what I think judicious farming profitable ; yet I 

 think it is not as profitable as what is usually pub- 

 lished in relation to agriculture would seem to 

 indicate. As the expense of labor in producing a 

 large and small crop is nearly the same, I believe 

 farmers would find it much more profitable to culti- 

 vate less corn ground, and make that more produc- 

 tive ; and the same might be said of nearly all of 

 our farm products. EBENEZER BRIDGE. 



PoMFRET, Yt., May 5, 1849. 



N. B. I think corn one of the most valuable gi-ains 

 for the table and stock ; besides, the fodder is verj- 



valuable, when cut in season and well cured. With 

 me, the raising of corn has been more sure and 

 profitable than any other grain, and I believe it to 

 be a less exhauster of the soil, in proportion to its 

 value, than almost any other crop. It might not be 

 improper to state, that I was awarded the society's 

 first premium on this acre of corn by the Windsor 

 Co. Agricultural Society. 



For the New England Farmer. 



LARGE OR SMALL POTATOES FOR 



SEED. 



JIr. Editor : I do hope that definite experiments 

 will be made by manj^ farmers, showing whether it 

 is best to plant potatoes of a large, small, or medial 

 size. Published accounts of experiments on this 

 subject vary very much. One says that he gets a 

 larger crop from large potatoes. Another says that 

 small potatoes yield as much as large, and that the 

 potatoes are as large as those from large ones. 



If the rows of potatoes are three feet apart, and 

 the hills in the rows two feet apart, and potatoes 

 of half a pound weight, each are cut in halves, 

 and one piece in a hill, then the amount of seed 

 will be twenty-three or twenty-four bushels to 

 the acre. But in using small potatoes, about one 

 third of the quantity will be sufficient, saving fifteen 

 or sixteen bushels, which is an important item at 

 present prices. 



Now the important question is. Will the extra 

 produce from the large potatoes be enough more to pay 

 for the difference in seed, the interest of the monej', 

 and the difierence in the price of the extra seed in 

 fall and spring ? To cover all expense, and make it 

 an object to plant large potatoes, the extra yield from 

 large potatoes should be twice as much as the extra 

 seed used. DOWN EAST. 



Editoui.vl Remarks. 



Experiments in the use of large or small potatoes 

 for planting show very different results. In some 

 cases, we have raised one sixth more from large po- 

 tatoes ; in others, there was no perceptible difference. 

 In one case, we used a \\ hole large potato to a hill, 

 the hills only two feet apart, and the yield was 

 enough larger than from moderate seeding, to more 

 than pay for the extra seed. 



As a general thing, we think that it is the most 

 economical to plant rather small potatoes when they 

 are very high in spring, if the produce is to be sold 

 and consumed, for the deficiency in yield from small 

 potatoes is not, generally, equal to the saving of 

 seed. 



But in propagating a kind intended for constant 

 culture, a very important subject presents itself, 

 which is the general effect on the crop, as to im- 

 provement or degeneracy. On this point we have 

 no exact experiments, though we have some of a 

 general character, bearing on the subject as circum- 

 stantial evidence. 



We knew a farmer that always planted large pota- 

 toes, and he always had large crops. In another 

 case, a potato was cultivated on a farm for thirty 

 j-ears, under high culture, and with a good selection 

 of seeds ; and they improved on that farm, while 

 they degenerated in that region generally. We now 

 have Chenangoes that yield more than this variety 

 generally, and they have long been propagated from 

 good sized, f^iir tubers. 



