374 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



POTATOES. 



Prof. Mapes. — It is very important to ascertain how much seed per aere. 

 In an experiment in the island of St. Helena, made with military exactness, 

 with whole and cut potatoes, and at all depths, the following results were 

 ascertained. Whole potatoes gave the best monetary results, and the best 

 potatoes. And flat surface culture is recommended in all cases, and so is 

 shallow planting — that is six inches deep. The experiments were made 

 under the direction of General Beatson, and he has published a large book 

 full of these nice details. I loaned this book to some gentlemen at the 

 American Phalanx, in New Jersey, and they tried the experiments care- 

 fully, and came to the same conclusion that Gen. Beatson did. I have alsa 

 tried these and other experiments, and have come to the same conclusion, 

 that whole potatoes for seed are altogether the most profitable. I would 

 plant those of large size, and very round. Potatoes left in the earth where 

 they grow over winter are much the most solid and nutricious. A potato 

 will be preserved sound through the winter at less than ©ne foot deep. 



Mr. Carpenter. — We all know that a whole potato pushes forward earlier 

 than cut ones. But, as there is an average of eight eyes to a tuber, there 

 will generally be too many stalks. Where I plant two eyes, my potatoes 

 grow sound, and of large size. I believe that three inches is deep enough 

 to cover the seed. 



Prof. Mapes. — Upon two fields, one underdrained, and one not, both 

 planted alike, with the same seed, the crop nearly all rotted upon the un- 

 drained land. When I plant whole potatoes, my crop is of very even size. 

 One of my neighbors used 40 bushels per acre on the black loam of Newark 

 meadows, and got 550 bushels per acre. I get, with much less seed, 40O 

 bushels per acre. 



Mr. Carpenter. — My neighbors have become convinced that a great sav- 

 ing can be made in seed potatoes by cutting the seed, and that the result is 

 in all respects as good as when they plant their seed whole. My crop last 

 year produced tubers rather too large to suit this market. Seed may be 

 put in the ground as soon as it is cut, or kept out, and coated with plaster 

 or dry dust. 



WHEAT PLANTING. 



Prof. Mapes. — In England farmers are of late years disposed to dibble 

 wheat. This will only answer in well prepared soil. In undrained land 

 there is a necessity for using more seed, because the wheat does not tiller 

 as well. By dibbling, only one-eighth as much seed is used as by broadcast 

 sowing. It is stated that the use of Croskill's clod-crusher makes a differ^ 

 ence of five bushels per acre. This is effected by breaking the lumps, and 

 putting the land in the best possible condition. 



Mr. Suydam, farmer, of Long Island. — The farmers on the island wha 

 grow potatoes for this market have studied a good deal about how to plant 

 potatoes and how to save seed. Some of them cut their seed like Mr. 

 Carpenter, and plant it in drills twenty inches apart, the rows aJ three feet 

 distance. Others plant in the same way with whole seed, and, I believe, 



