638 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Thousands of bushels of Goodrich were fed to hogs and cattle, 

 because they would command no price in market. 



In the spring of 1868 the " Early Rose," a new variety from Ver- 

 mont, were offered for sale in small quantities at high prices. Few 

 persons planted more than a peclf of this variety, and from that down 

 to a single pound. At harvest time there was only one opinion 

 expressed about this new claimant to public favor, that it was very 

 early, more productive than the Harrison, and a superior table 

 potato, equal in quality to the White Peachblow. Last spring 

 potato growers were at a loss to know what to plant. The previous 

 years' experience with Harrisons and Goodrich wore anything but 

 satisfactory. The Peachblow is subject to rot in heavy soils if the sea- 

 son is wet, and the Early Rose, at forty dollars per barrel, was too 

 expensive to plant as a general crop, considering it had only one year's 

 trial. I, in common with many others, were puzzled to decide what 

 to plant under the circumstances. After consultation with some of 

 my neighbors, wiio are engaged in growing potatoes for market, I 

 decided to make the following division of seven acres marked out for 

 potatoes : One acre Early Rose ; two acres White Peachblow ; three 

 acres Early Goodrich ; one acre Harrison. 



The ground was well prepared, and fortunately all the varieties 

 were planted early. The season in New Jersey proved favorable for 

 early planting. The crop per acre and quality of tlie Goodrich and 

 Harrison were better than I anticipated. However, at first I found 

 it difficult to find buyers. Owing to the inferior quality of these 

 two kinds last year, " middle-men " were very shy about " handling " 

 them. I succeeded in selling the majority of my crop at seventy-five 

 cents per bushel as soon as taken from the ground. 



The Early Rose, after another year's trial under field culture, more 

 than fulfilled the expectations of its warmest friends. The same par- 

 ties who brought the bulk of my crop of Harrisons and Goodrich at 

 seventy-five cents per bushel would give me $1.37 per bushel for 

 Early Rose for table use. Early in the season I sold some Early 

 Rose, and the grocer who bought them told me that he was very 

 sorry his customers tasted the Early Rose this season, for no other 

 kind of potato suited them afterward. It is without doubt the most 

 promising new variety on the list, and will be extensively planted 

 next year for market. In 18G8 it showed some indications of rot, 

 but this year the crop has kept well so far. 



The lesson learned by the past season's experience in potato cul- 



