270 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



FEB. 31,IS1< 



AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



Edited by Joseph Breck. 



Boston, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 1844. 



SIXTH AGRICULTURAI, MEKTING AT THE 



STATE HOUSE. 

 (Cnnlinued from page 207.) 

 Mr Slons, nf Beverly, said, in reference In these Agri- 

 cultural discussions, that we appenred to he getting at 

 the " root" (if the matter. T!ie gentleman who first 

 spoke, in his remarks on potatoes, had called up some 

 reminiscences, for he had been glad in times past to call 

 in the assistance of Mr B 's predecessor, to help him out 

 in a mailer where his vor.»':tty was at slake, relalive to 

 his account of a large crop of this \aluahle roof. The 

 potalo, lie considered one of the most valuable pools 

 cullivaled : no esculent entering so largely in domestic 

 consumption. In this respect there had been a great 

 change within the last two generations. A neighbor in- 

 formed him that his grandfather told him, that turnips 

 were used instead of potatoes ; that one year he laid up 

 50 bushels of turnips for family use, and had that year 

 a wonderful crop of G bushels of potatoes : that he was 

 disturbed at the great quanlity, and troubled to get rid 

 of them. It was now quite the reverse ; many families 

 would lay in 50 bushels of potatoes, and not know what 

 to do with the bushels of turnips. 



In his neighborhood, the cultivation of roots for cattle 

 was attracting the a'.tentinn of farmers, and many raise 

 them extensively. Mr Stone alluded to the accounts 

 which were published a few years ago in the newspa- 

 pers, conce.-ning the value tif the sugar beet for caltle. 

 A neighbor of his who had a largo number of cattle was 

 induced by reading these accounts to procure the seed 

 and cultivate it for his entile, but it did not come up to 

 his ejtpeclalions. Mr Stone said it was a good root but 

 not equal in value to the carrot ; his neighbour thouglit 

 his cows produced more milk and of a better quality 

 when fed on carrots, than when beets were used. He 

 was satisfied there was not merit enough in the beets to 

 give them a claim upon more attention than was bestow- 

 ed upon other roots. In M. Stone's neighborhood, many 

 substituted carrots in part for grain, and it was found 

 that horses particularly, thrived better than when fed 

 on grairi alone. As to the value of roots, it depended 

 upon circumstances : there was no rule that would an- 

 swer fur all locations to apply indiscriminately. I'arm- 

 ers should not be too much influeoced by accounls in 

 the newspapers, as the facls related although true, took 

 place under peculiar circiinistanccs, willi regard to soil, 

 climate, distance from market, &c. He tliought, how- 

 ever, all would find it for their interest to raise some 

 pfirlion of their fo{)d for cattle in roots. 



Mr Hobbs, said it was no doubt the want of proper 

 care in selecting the best potatoes for seed, which had 

 given rise to the complaints of iheir deicneraling. A 

 neighbor of his had planted the " long red," ever since 

 it was introduced, more than 30 years ago, nnJ the pota- 

 toes were as fine in quality and as produ'-iive as at first, 

 and he thought there was no better kind in the market : 

 this gentleman always saved the best for seed. Mr 

 Hobbs remarked that he knew it was the custom of 

 some fartners to plant their small potatoes, on account 

 of their being less saleable; but when small potatoes 

 arc pl-inled, it must be expected that the produce will 

 be of the same quality, and if such a course must be pcr- 

 •iaied in, farmers must expect their potatoes to degene- 

 rate. He remarked thai carrots were particularly good 

 for horses : he could speak from experience : he was in 



the habit of giving them to liis horses in equal porportions 

 with grain. 



Mr Knowies of Eastham, said he did not pretend to 

 know much about agriculture, living as he did, on the 

 barren sand of Capo Cod. But he would endeavor to 

 say a few words about roots. It was a general in)prcs- 

 sion Ito said, that cattle on the Cape lived on salt fisli 

 and herring, but he had seen this mode of (eeding prac- 

 ticed only in one town, viz. I'rovincetown. He said 

 theie were many small hog holes interspersed tiirough- 

 out his town, which when properly cleared and drained, 

 and sand, muscles and other shell fish had been carted 

 oil, produced a great abundance of very fine roots of ex- 

 cellent quality. So many were raised simie years that 

 it was found extremely difficult to dispose of Iheni to a 

 profit, as they were at a distance from the market. 



Mr Cole remarked that economy was of great impor- 

 tance in every branch of farming, but especially in rai- 

 sino- roots ; said ho had an account where roots had 

 been produced at 4 cents per bushel. 



He thought it best to prepare the land in the fall, that 

 the manure should then be ploughed in ; some he knew 

 would object to this course, but as he thought manure 

 would not filtrate, there could be no disadvantage in it. 

 As the roots of plants penetrate very deep, it was impor- 

 tant the soil be thoroughly and deeply pulverized. As 

 soon as the weeds began to start in the spring, the ground 

 should be plowed or harrowed again, to destroy them, 

 and the process should be repeated as often as they ap- 

 pear, until the last of May — when the seed should be 

 sprouted hy soaking and sowed. He thought by this 

 mode one half the labor would be saved on account of 

 less trouble from weeds. [Unless Mr Cole's land is diffe- 

 rent from ours, we should not suppose any thing would 

 be gained by this course. We might deslroy our weeds 

 in the same way till the middle of July and so on — and 

 the same evil must be contended with. Until the plant 

 shade the ground, the weeds will continue to annoy the 

 cultivator ; this is our opinion.— Ed.] 



In regard to potatoes, it was found by experiment that 

 they would not mix when'planted promiscuously togeth- 

 er when propagated from the roots. 



[Nature as well as science tells us that there can be no 

 mixture of varieties except from seedling plants, and 

 then from fructifying one flower from the pollen of 

 another. Our florists are fully experienced on this 

 point : they can keep their hundreds of varieties and even 

 tliousands distinct from generation to generation, whe- 

 ther their roots are fibrous, bulbous or tuberous, when 

 planted in beds together : but how easy (or them to pro- 

 duce a flower to suit tlwir fancy by judicious crossing. 

 —Ed.] 



Mr Cole thought two bushels of carrots could be rai- 

 sed with as much ease as one busiiel of potatoes : there 

 might be a saving in raising carrots to sow ihera in dou- 

 ble rows, witli a suflicient space between, to use the 

 plough or cultivator. 



Mr Allen enquired whether potatoes when planted 

 together would retain their flavor. Mr Cole said it was 

 the practice of Ins father to plant two particular varie- 

 ties together ; this had been done many successive years 

 without any change. 



Mr Buckminsler said, the great objection to raising 

 roots, appeared to be the cost. He should like to Know 

 by what process roots could be raised at 4 cenls per 

 bushel. 



Mr Cole said the case he alluded to was where a man 

 sowed an ounce of turnep seed on a lot of new land 

 which had been burnt over. That 180 bushels were 

 produced which only cost 4 cents per bushel. 



.Mr Melealf, of Medway, saiti he would relate the ex- 

 pe icnce of a neighbor in feeding carrots and rula baga 



to milch cows. He fed on carrots one week, and ti 

 on rula baga, and fnund the quantity of milk increa 

 one-third when fed on rula baga : the next week i 

 rots were used, and the qiianiily diminished ; but w 

 put on rula bagas again, it was increased, as be(. 

 Thecxperimcni was repeated, always willi the s! 

 result. This was in the winter season. ISo unplca^ 

 flavor is given to the milk, if the cows are milked 

 fore feeding. Mr M. said he had experimented v 

 potatoes, by planting a part on long manure from 

 stable, and the other part on hog manure. He obser 

 a striking difference in the growih between ih 

 Those on the hog manure looked very luxuriant 

 green, while those on the long manure looked pale 

 sickly. In digging, he found those manured with 

 hog manure produced one-third more. 



Mr Gardner, of Bristol, said he had a word to sa 

 regard to the deterioration of the potato, when 1 

 planted. He said the Chenango potato had been 1 

 •>0 years in cultivation, and was to this day consid' 

 the best variety, and brought the highest price in 

 city of Providence. He thought the remarks madi 

 Mr Allen about cutting potatoes, strictly true. It 

 impoitant to select the finest ones for seed. 



In relation to the cultivation of the carrot crop 

 thought by sprouting the seed before sowing, a sa 

 of labor in weeding would be eflfected. He said 

 great difficulty to be encountered was, to keep I 

 free from weeds, and with this care, a great crop c 

 be raised ; but farmers generally had so many c 

 matters of importance to attend to that they could 

 spend so much lime in weeding carrots as was requ 



Mr Haywood said he should like to get some ins 

 lion from practical farmers in relation to manuriri" 

 hog manure. He planted one year, one busliel of 1 

 Red potatoes from which he dug 2-2 bushels. The 

 year, he manured with hog manure; the vines loi 

 very fine, and he expectid a large return, but was s 

 disappointed in the result. He attributed the failu 

 the hog manure, for tlo' land and season were good. 



Mr Smith, of S. Hadley, thought the potato ci 

 valuable one ; but when he thought of the toil in 

 ging the crop in his young days, it even nov.' make 

 fingers ache. He thuight the turnip crop of more 

 portance to the farmer. His mode was to give j 

 dressing of ashes on the prepared land, which witi 

 seed was brushed in. They were the cheapest I 

 and good for fattening catile, pro\ided they were 

 used for the last few weeks belore butchering. 



Mr Allen remarked that in Ills experience liog 

 nure was very unfavorable to the potato crop. 



Mr Sheldon, a drover, had some experience in r« 

 roots. He considered potatoes the most important 

 — next carrots. He thought twice the quanlity ol 

 rots could be raised on a given quantity of ground, 

 of potatoes, but they required twice as much ma 

 and twice as much labor. He thought he laiser 

 bushels ol potatoes as easy and ut ns little exptns 

 the following manner He carted his manure i 

 field where corn was raised the year before : this 

 left in heaps and afterwards spread : the potatnes 

 then put between the old hills, wliich wore then 

 with the plow, and the potatoes thus covered, 

 thought potatoes were better for fattening cattle 

 any other root. He had never bought an ox iha 

 been fattened on potatoes, but turned out as well ; 

 expected. Mr S. said his son had a beautiful pi 

 fat three-year old steers, that had no other feed than 

 grass and potatoes. Carrots were belier than tut 

 wern more like grain, and kept creatures in better 

 dition ; the milk when fed on carrots, was of 1 

 quality and produced moie butter. He estimate 

 turnip criip as he sliould a "friend in need." 

 found his hfly and potsto crops were comin" sht 

 turnip crop could be raised late in the season, a 

 such an extremity it was highly to be prized. 



Mr B. V. French said he had been very much i 

 ested in the discussion, but it would have been i 

 more so had the cost of cultivating the different 

 been slated. He said there was a vagueness abou 

 statements which he hoped would be corrected. 



He would suggest an easy mode of raising roots, 

 year he had a good crop ot Chenanjro potatoes, « 

 lie got ofl' the field in season to sow Norfolk turnip 

 from which he obtained a good second crop of this i 

 he sowed very little seed. The turnip crop was a 

 exhausting one. 



Several other gentlemen spoke on the subject i 

 interesting manner, whose remarks are neccssaril 

 eluded for want of roi>m. 



