282 Trans a ctions of the American Institute. 



To Obtain the Largest Yield of Potatoes pek Acke. 

 Mr. H. M. Robertson, Trenton, 1ST. J. — Select about an acre (for 

 initial experiment) of thoroughly enriched soil, which has been sown 

 with potatoes according to the latest approved method, and at the 1st 

 of June, or when the stems have attained a growth of two or three 

 inches above the ground, having prepared a top-dressing, consisting of 

 two-thirds sulphate and one-third nitrate of soda, finely ground and 

 intimately mixed together, apply a quantity equal to two heaped table 

 spoonsfull of this mixture to each hill of potatoes, incorporating it 

 with the soil. This will cause the stems to grow to the height of from 

 four to six feet, with a proportionate thickness, supporting a redun- 

 dancy of healthy, deep-green foliage, while the yield of tubers will be 

 from 300 to 600 bushels to the acre. This azotized alkaline mixture 

 furnishes sufficient nutrients for an extraordinary development of stems 

 and foliage, which latter, in its largely increased elaboration of sap 

 over that of plants of ordinary size, suffices to enable the roots to 

 extract from the rich soil the constituents for the production of tubers 

 proportionate in size and numbers to the . capacity of plant and soil, 

 while its alkaline character prevents the development of the fungus 

 of the microscopic acari, which causes the blight of the leaves, etc., 

 just as leached wood ashes perform the same office to a certain extent 

 for fruit trees. This refers to an actual yield produced under the most 

 favorable circumstances of climate and soil. 



Compost fok Hors, Cokn and Potatoes. 



J. W. Fancher, Broome county, 1ST. Y. — I take twenty bushels of 

 wood ashes, twenty bushels of hen manure, ten bushels of unslaked 

 refuse lime, one barrel of Onondaga plaster, and two bushels of com- 

 mon salt. I use the compound for hops, corn and potatoes. I have 

 always put it on after corn and potatoes were up. Would it be bet- 

 ter in the hill, and what quantity of salt can be used in the above 

 compound with benefit ? Would you add more plaster ? 



Professor Nash — When that letter was first read over I thought he 

 was all wrong in mixing his hen dung and lime, for the lime would 

 drive off the ammonia, but as he mixed plaster that effect is pre- 

 vented. His compost is good, a sound combination of the fertilizing 

 elements in theory, and efficient, no doubt, upon his crops. He will 

 get more direct effect on the first crop by using it in the hill. 



Dr. J. Y. C. Smith — Speaking of composts, reminds me of the 

 practice of my grandfather, who landed at Plymouth Rock. They 

 found the soil of eastern Massachusetts so poor that our pilgrim 



