300 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



wasting, and puts the plaster just where it is needed, and saves the labor 

 of a man or boy when planting of putting it in the hill. 



The seed may be cut at any leisure time in winter, and put into barrels 

 or boxes, and be ready for use at planting, and the drying of the seed is a 

 decided advantage to the crop to prevent their rotting. 



After the potato is up, so as to be seen in the rows, a light dressing of 

 plaster is useful, and then a cultivator should be run in each row, once or 

 more, to cut up the weeds that may have started, and to loosen up the soil 

 to warm the ground. This is all that is needed till they are up sufficiently 

 to receive a little earth; cultivate again and hoe, after which another 

 dressing of ashes and plaster mixed will fit them for the second hoeing or 

 hilling up, which should be done before they blossom or begin to fall down, 

 as too late hoeing makes small potatoes that don't get ripe. 



Potato seed should be changed often, as well as other seeds; some do it 

 every year, others never. 



Any person that makes a business of raising potatoes will do well to 

 plant every year a few seed or balls of the potato and raise neio varieties; 

 it is very troublesome to get potatoes in this way, as it takes many years 

 to do it, but the securing of a good potato will pay for some extra trouble. 

 A word about keeping potatoes after they are dug, or in the cellar: they 

 should never be exposed to the sun, more than to dry them, — or be bruised 

 more than apples, or be left scattered about, as light and air injure them, 

 — but should be put in barrels or piles and covered up with straw, saw- 

 dust or dry sand. The reason that the potatoes in the cities are so poor 

 is that they are roughly handled and exposed to air and sun, and are only 

 bought as they are wanted for the table, a peck or less at a time; much 

 better get them of some one who grows good ones on dry soil, and keep 

 them covered as above described, and then always have fresh potatoes for 

 the table. I am now raising only three varieties, Bulkeley's seedling. 

 Monitor and Prince of Wales, all of my own originating from the seed. 

 They combme more desirable qualities in my estimation than any others 

 with which I am acquainted. The first named has been widely distributed 

 within the last three years, to the entire satisfaction of all growing or eat- 

 ing them. The other two varieties are newer, and are but just ready for 

 distribution for seed; both are unsurpassed in excellence for the table, the 

 first for boiling, the last for baking. All three produce largely, are of good 

 size, shape and color, ripen seasonably, and are more mealy and proof against 

 the rot than any of the approved varieties with which I am acquainted. 



The pen of the theorist has been for years scratching off conjectures 

 about the cause of the potato disease. The hoe of the practical farmer 

 must now take its turn, and with due attention to seed, soil, season and 

 scratching, we shall bring back the old times of bounteous crops with 

 greatly improved varieties. 



Mr. William S. Carpenter.— The method detailed in Mr. Bulkeley's paper 

 gives an expensive way of growing potatoes I am successful in grow- 

 ing them upon sod ground, simply plowed once, harrowed, and planted 

 without manure, and when the soil is heavy, covering only three inches 

 deep. I prefer to renew my seed from a distance every year. I cut it, 

 and dry it one day in the sun, which gives the cut part an artificial skin! 



