PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 221 



of vines to enlarge ray vine-yard, I buried all my last year's 

 wood, and allowed an extra vine on each trunk to grow from a 

 point near the ground, which I have also buried. The side 

 branches of the old and new vines are taking root and growing 

 finely, and have not at all hindered a heavy growth for next 

 year's fruit of from two to three vines climbing up the poles; 

 but some of my neighbors inform me that the side branches, 

 commonly called suckers, will not produce good bearing vines ; I 

 therefore resort to the Farmers Club, New York, to settle that 

 question. 



Andrew S. Fuller — It will not make the least difference whether 

 the bearing vines are taken from such suckers as the writer men- 

 tions, or from the main stalks. 



A LONG ISLAND POTATO CROP. 



"Wm. S. Carpenter read the following letter from John McKann, 

 of Gravesend, Long Island, giving a detailed account of a cro;j 

 of potatoes grown this year : 



" My ground was plowed deep, and made mellow, furrowed 

 two and one-half feet apart. I then sprinkled three hundred 

 pounds sifted Peruvian guano in the bottom of the furrow, and 

 on top of the guano four loads of stable manure, and then after 

 cutting thirteen bushels of potatoes to two eyes, dropped them, 

 fourteen inches apart, on the manure, then covered the potatoes 

 about three inches deep. As soon as the potatoes were well up, 

 I plowed and hoed them. The plow was run through them twice 

 afterward. The fourth and last time, I applied a hcme-made 

 double mould-board, and fastened it upon the top of the iron 

 mould-board. This wooden mould-board is six inches wide, and 

 extends ten inches back of the plow, so that in passing between 

 the rows the dirt is thrown quite up to the vines, and covers all 

 weeds. This comprises the whole labor of cultivation. 



Cost of plowing, per acre $2 00 



Cost of planting, per acre 3 00 



Cultivating the same 3 00 



Cost of 13 bushels seed, at 50c. per bushel 6 50 



Cost of 300 pounds guano at 2|c. per pound 8 25 



Four loads stable manure at $1 per load 4 00 



Digging 245 bushels potatoes, at Gc. per bushel 14 70 



Total $41 45 



