756 Transactions of the American Institute. 



came out as smooth, firm, and Lard as they were the day they were 

 dug. He put up forty barrels, and has not found a dozen rotten 

 potatoes. 



Mr. H. L. Eeade stated that his experience with these potatoes was 

 the same as Mr. Springsteed's. Last fall he had put up some, and on 

 opening them a week ago he did not find a peck of rotten ones. He 

 considered this variety the best for keeping purposes. They were 

 the best kind also for planting in sandy land. 



Dkain Tile and Drainage. 



This subject was brought up by a communication from Mr. A. 

 Pearce, Arlington, Va., who wished to b« informed as to the feasi- 

 bility of making tile on his own farm. Would hydraulic cement 

 answer ? The chief object is to save money ; and inch and a half 

 earthen tile in that vicinity is worth thirty dollars per 1,000. 



Dr. J. E. Snodgrass. — The whole region of country from which 

 our correspondent writes needs to be thoroughly drained ; but I 

 expect it would be better to patronize some public establishment than 

 to undertake to manufacture tile, or a substitute for tile, at home. I 

 am informed that a shrewd Quaker has recently put up a tile factory 

 on the outskirts of the Mount Vernon estate, and probably he will 

 supply his neighbors at fair rates. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn. — Our friend will find it better to use good qual- 

 ity of clay, and make the usual drain-tile. If five or six farmers will 

 combine they can get a machine which they could operate themselves 

 at odd times. I have bought much tile at fifteen dollars per 1,000, 

 but if I had occasion to use 50,000 more, I should certainly get a 

 machine and make thom myself, and thus save money. There is 

 another idea about drains which has recently come to my knowledge, 

 and that is the practice of using hemlock boards. A neighlwr lately 

 told me that he had just lifted a drain made of this material, and put 

 down twenty-two years agc>, and he found the timber still remarkably 

 well preserved. The drain was put down the same as horseshoe tile, 

 and he said he likes it better than ordinary two-inch tile, and that it 

 costs less. I would advise our correspondent to look about George- 

 town and see what he can buy hemlock boards for, and if he can get 

 them as favorably as we can get them in Xewark his drains need not 

 cost him more than a cent and a half a foot. 



Dr. Isaac P. Trimble. — My convictions, the result of many years 

 close study of the theory of farming are well known. I believe in 



