AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 3S3 



improvement in their habits, and render them less lial3le to suffer 

 from periodic famines. And they will eventually come to this, 

 if its price continues to bear such a relation to the cost of potatoes 

 as to render its consumption more economical than that of the 

 potato. 



The nutritive products in one thousand parts of the potato, 

 compared with the turnip, carrot and parsnip, is as follows : 



Soluble or nutritive matter. Mucilage or starch. Saccharine matter. Gluten. 



Potato, 240 160 11 32 



Turnip, 45 7 34 2 



Carrot, 98 3 95 1 



Parsnip, 99 9 90 1 



The table speaks for itself, and shows that there is no vegetable 

 product, not even excepting grain, or the most useful of the palm 

 family, which has proved of such immense importance to people 

 of the temj)erate regions, as this admirable tuber. Notwithstanding 

 it is a tender plant, we find it growing luxuriantly in nearly every 

 part of the world, from Norway to the equator ; and although it 

 is generally planted early in the spring, yet by selecting an early 

 ripening variety, you may plant it successfully even in July. 



Seed jDotatoes occasionally fail, and so do the seeds of all other 

 plants at times, and the necessity of a change of seed is recognized 

 in almost every agricultural district ; potatoes growing on low 

 lands, are preferred by those planting on high lands, and vice 

 versa. 



I have made experiments with regard to the change of seed, 

 which will lead to the most valuable practical results, and teach 

 us how we may at all times secure fruitful seeds, without in a 

 single instance being compelled to import our supplies from a 

 greater distance than the confines of our own farms. When per- 

 fectly satisfied in regard to these important matters, I will com- 

 municate the process, and in this connection may state, that for 

 the past eighteen years, I have not found it necessary to renew, 

 except on my farm, any variety of garden seeds or cereals, and so 

 far from degenerating, they are far finer now than they were at 

 the commencement. I have sown the same rye, wheat, oats and 

 corn, for that period of time, successfully. 



