Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 281 



prefer to feed it dry, others to mix it up with, cold water. They are 

 fed after this until the first flow of milk is established, which will be 

 some time after they have been out to pasture. Unless there is a great 

 abundance of pasture, a piece of ground is sowed with corn, which is 

 fed green when the pasture gets short ; but, if there is an abundance 

 of feed all summer, it is cut and cured for winter feed. In the fall, 

 when the after-swath is well grown, they are turned into the meadows. 

 From this they receive nothing but hay, straw or corn-stalks until the 

 next spring. Cooking the food for cattle has not been tried enough 

 to know whether it pays or not on the Reserve." 



Adjourned. 



June 20, 1871. 



Nathan C. Ely, Esq., in the chair; Mr. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 

 Eaelt Potatoes. 

 Mr. E. Frank Hynes, West Plains, Mo. — At one of the meetings 

 of the Club, Mr. J. C. Thompson, of Rhode Island, exhibited his 

 method of getting early potatoes. He stated he cut his potatoes in 

 halves, and placed them in sand in boxes ; after sprouting he cuts 

 apart, and in this manner he expects to obtain new potatoes in sixty 

 days from planting. I obtained from Mr. Gregory, of Marblehead, 

 Mass., the early rose. This year I cut to single eyes ; planted, with- 

 out sprouting, the 22d day of March ; on the 10th of May they were 

 in blossom ; on the 15th commenced to use, having plenty as large as 

 a good-sized hen's egg, fifty days from planting. The land is new, this 

 being the second year. I manured with partly decomposed stable 

 manure, and thoroughly mixed with soil. The soil thus made acts in 

 some degree as a cold frame or hot bed, and the result is always satis- 

 factory with me. At this writing my potatoes are ripe, vines dead, 

 and the yield is excellent of large sized potatoes, few small ones. I 

 shall dig about the 12th of the month, and plough, manure the patch 

 again, and by the last of August shall harvest my second crop from 

 one seed and from the same land. With the early rose I have always 

 been successful in raising two crops the same year, in this manner 

 For the benefit of all seeking new homes in a healthy climate, with 

 rich soil, where land is cheap, I will say, in this county there are yet 

 subject to homestead or cash entry 200,000 acres of good farming and 

 grazing lands. 



