PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 327 



row of heaps first put on, and spread towards the last edge. I commence 

 plowing; at the same time, and plow but about four inches deep. I then 

 roll the furrows down well with a light sharp-tooth harrow, and harrow it 

 lengthwise thoroughly. I then apply about ten loads of good fine manure 

 to the acre, observing the same rule in its application as in the first 

 instance. I again harrow it well both ways, when it is fitted for planting. 

 I plant the seed corn direct from the cob, placing the hills at least four feet 

 apart each way, being sure to have the rows east and west. As soon as 

 the corn appears above the surface of the ground, I stir the soil well 

 throughout the field with a hoe and cultivator. As soon as suitable to 

 weed, I hoe again, . letting but four spears stand in a hill. Just before 

 silking, I hoe well again, drawing round the hill a suitable quantity of 

 manure and loose dirt. After it has fairly silked out, I take a sharp knife 

 and cut out all the suckers and barren stalks, and let them fall around the 

 lulls. After being well glazed, I cut it up, put five bundles in a stook, and 

 let it stand till well cured before husking. I plant as near the 15th of 

 May as convenient. I have the best kind of seed corn; it weighs 61 1 

 pounds to the bushel; it is sweet and very yellow; I get from t5 to 116| 

 bushels to the acre. If these few observations meet with a favorable 

 reception, as I hope they may, I will, in my next, give my views as to the 

 best method to insure a crop of potatoes, as I think I have the best quality 

 in America. 



Seedling Potatoes. 



Mr. G. M. Card, of Sylvania, Bradford county, sends me a box of two 

 kinds of seedling potatoes produced by him, which he thinks, of course, 

 rather better than any other potato ever grown. If he does not, he is 

 unlike other producers of new seedlings. Will any gentleman take them 

 off my hands and give them a trial ? 



Mr. John G. Bergen.— I have tried a good many new seedlings, but have 

 to come back to old and well tried sorts. I should not be willing to pay 

 express charges upon any seedling potatoes I have ever seen. If thes6 are 

 worth it. they are an exception. Of thirty varieties of potatoes that I 

 have experimented with, I have now only two or three, and I consider the 

 old Mercer one of the very best to rely upon. The Buckeye is a good ear- 

 ly potato and growing in favor with farmers. The Dikeman is also a good 

 potato for early marketing. 



Dr. Trimble.— I find the Buckeye in favor in Monmouth county for 

 two reasons. It sells well in the market, and the crop comes off in 

 time to sow wheat upon the ground, which is well prepared by diggmg 

 the crop. For quality, there is no sort superior to the old Mercer. Per- 

 haps the best for use at this season is the old blue Pinkeye. 



Mr. Bergen.— There is a kind brought here from Nova Scotia that is 

 excellent at this season. There are several sorts called Mercers. I have 

 grown two, quite distinct. My yield is from 80 to 200 bushels per acre. 

 The Mercers have given some of our Long Island farmers 300 bushels per 

 acre. The Carter is a poor yielder. The Peach-blow potato requires a lon- 

 ger season than the Mercer, and is not good if grown in a wet season 



Prof. Nash.— The Carter is the best potato in Massachusettt^, the Mer- 



