Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 637 



Potato Culture — The Lesson of 1869. 

 Mr. P. T. Quinn.— The potato crop of this country is an important 

 one, both to the producer and consumer. It forms a large part of 

 the daily food of all classes ; and is frequently spoken of as " the poor 

 man's bread." The failure of tliis l^uber for a succession of year^ has 

 brought terror to the hearts of an entire community. Twelve or 

 fifteen years ago, when the culture of the Carter potato, and many 

 other old varieties, became unprolitable, and the favorite Mercer was 

 seriously threatened by the potato disease, farmers were alarmed, 

 lest the culture of this edible tuber, as a source of profit, would have 

 to be abandoned. About this time the late Prof. Goodricli was 

 devoting his whole time to the production of new varieties of potatoes 

 from parents of robust habits. A few years later a large number of 

 these "seedlings" were introduced. Among those more generally 

 known and cultivated, were the Early Goodrich, as an early sort, and 

 the Harrison, as a late one. Both of these varieties were exceedingly 

 productive ; with ordinary culture yielding 250 to 300 bushels per 

 acre, and not subject to rot. During the years 1865, ^QQ and '67 the 

 Early Goodrich gained favor, and was pronounced by all to be fiir 

 the best early market potato. Ripening two weeks before the " Early 

 June" or "Dykeman," producing one-third more to the acre, and 

 commanding the same price in market as these varieties, soon made 

 the Goodrich popular among potato growers. The Harrison, although 

 more productive than the Goodrich, was inferior in quality ; but 

 growers said they could well aftord to sell the Harrison for twenty- 

 five cents a busliels less than the "White Peachblow, and make more 

 money than cultivating that variety. In the spring of 1868 the 

 Goodrich and Harrison w^ere extensively planted for northern markets. 

 The season proved to be very wet, rain falling every two or three 

 days during the summer months, keeping clay ground constantly wet 

 and soggy, making it impossible to give crops the proper culture, or 

 keep weeds down. Owing in part to the season, the yield per acre 

 was far below an average, and the quality of the potatoes so poor 

 that during the fall or winter there was little or no demand for either 

 Eort. Speculators who contracted for the Harrison early in the sea- 

 son at three dollars per barrel for seed, were glad to find customers 

 during the winter at one dollar per barrel. One dealer ofiered to sell 

 me 1,000 barrels of Harrisons for $1,000, including the barrels, which 

 were worth twenty cents apiece. 



