352 Transactions of the American Institute. 



harrowed after turning so as to blend the compost with the two or 

 three inches of mellow tilth at the surface. The other put on a very 

 heavy dressing or rank fertilizer from a slaughter-pen, and by harrow- 

 ing mixed it partially with the surface, but many clumps and bones 

 and heads were left on the top, and the odor of the decaying animal 

 matter could be smelled half a mile. The plants were set out at the 

 same time, the cultivation in both cases was clean, and the season 

 was good for tobacco. The field where the manure was turned and 

 mixed with the surface soil gave a third more tobacco than the other, 

 and the leaf was finer and cured better, making a more marketable 

 article, which commanded two or three cents more per pound. 



Mr. Henry E. Col ton — The sum of this matter may be stated as 

 follows : Manures which contain nitrogen likely to evaporate should 

 be covered with earth ; those which are slightly soluble may be 

 spread on the surface ; very soluble manures it would be best to plow 

 in, as they would be likely to run off in the wash. I have seen the 

 richness of barn-yard manure thus running away on a somewhat 

 clayey soil. Another point is that when plowed in, the manure should 

 not be put much deeper than the seed. I have seen fish manure or 

 offal used on the Albemarle and the Potomac, and there the best 

 results are gotten by plowing in the offal. In manuring for grain, and 

 especially for wheat, it is best always to mix the fertilizer with the 

 three inches of top-soil in which the seed sprout and through which 

 most of the roots are spread. 



Adjourned. 



November 28. 1871. 



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

 Experiments with Potatoes. 



Mr. Gerard C. Brown, Croton Falls, N. Y. — I herewith send sche- 

 dule of my experiments with various varieties of potatoes this sum- 

 mer, specimens of which were at your fair on exhibition. If the 

 results of this experience of mine are in some slight degree beneficial 

 to my brother farmers I shall not count the cost on my part. 



Figures, like facts, speak for themselves, but I wish to call particu- 

 lar attention to two or three varieties. The Peerless certainly has 

 earned its name, as the yield of 160 barrels to the acre in such a dry 

 and unfavorable season amply testifies. I have heard some grumbling 

 in certain quarters as to its quality, but I can't complain of it ; and I 



