AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 385 



tlian tlie mother potato, which was earlier, by two weeks, than 

 the Egyptian kidney. Sovereign, early frame, Mercer, or early 

 June. 



Thus I continued year after year until I produced the potato 

 in question, which, at the present time, is not surpassed for early 

 properties, and fine eating qualities, by any solanum now grown 

 in the United States or Euroj^e. Tliey will keep a year; and I 

 have never known one of them to rot. 



Furthermore, the sprouts that put out in the spring, before 

 planting, if taken oif carefully with the little spungioles and 

 rootlets attached, and planted precisely as the potatoes are 

 planted, will yield as abundantly as the potato sets themselves. 

 And if I was compelled to select between the two, I would choose 

 the sprouts. 



The top ends of all potatoes are more watery than the other end, 

 consequently they are not so fully ripened, and are, therefore 

 better calculated for seed. The shoot from the top end is invaria- 

 bly more vigorous than any other shoot on the potato. 



My potato ground is always plowed in the fall, and top-dressed 

 with muck and oyster shell lime. In the spring it is sub-soil 

 plowed to the depth of twenty inches; in May, drills are opened, 

 three and a half feet apart, and filled with barn-yard manure; 

 upon this the sets are planted, ten inches from each other, and 

 the drills reversed, which covers the seed. After two weeks have 

 elapsed, the whole field is harrowed across the drills, which relieves 

 the sets from a superabundance of earth, levels the field, and 

 destroys the weeds. When the plants are tliree inches high, horse 

 hoes are passed between the rows, followed by hand hoes, that 

 €ut all weeds not destroyed. No attention is then paid to them 

 until a fortnight elapses, when one horse plows are put in, to 

 plough from the potato plants; this permits air and water to find 

 its way readily to the roots. In ten days thereafter the drills are 

 restored to their original form, and so left until the crop is gath- 

 ered. That interesting period is indicated by the decay of the 

 tops and ease with which the skin of the tubers can be removed 

 They should then be raised, in dry weather, and housed. 

 [Am. Inst.] 25 



