THE FREEMHN POTHTO 



All I had for sale sold at $3.00 per pound in 1801. 



All I had for sale sold at $7.50 per bushel, $15.00 per barrel in 1892. 



All I have for sale in 1893 sure to go at $7.50 per barrel, j 



Mr. J. M. Smith, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is probably the best known market gardener in America. I doubt if there is any one man 

 In the business, who raises and sells as much truck as lie does in a twelve- months. For years he has been considered an authority on 

 anything pertaining to market gardening, and his articles in the "Rural New Yorker,'' "Ohio Farmer," "Practical Parmer," and other i 

 papers are eagerly sought after, and read by all progressive men in the profession. 



1892 was a very poor year for potatoes, especially in Wisconsin, this makes Ills report of the Freeman, all the more interesting and J 

 ■emphasizes my claim that WITHOUT EXCEPTION THE FREEMAN IS THE GREATEST POTATO SINCE THE EARLY ROSE. • 

 In The Practical Farmer, Sept. 19th, 1892, Mr. Smith has this to say about the Freeman potatoes, using six bushels and fifty-five pounds of large, nice-sized * 



I smooth potatoes, and ten bushels of the largest of the small ones. They were « 

 planted in drills 30 inches apart, one piece in a place and as near 12 inches apart as S 

 we could plant with an Aspinwall planter. It was set to plant them 3 inches deep. > 

 The land was manured with unleached wood ashes, put on after plowing and har- ¥ 

 rowed in. They were harrowed twice before they were large enough to have the i 

 cultivator used among them. They were cultivated three times, and the last time { 

 the shovel tooth, was left in the cultivator and made a light furrow between the ! 

 rows, and threw a little earth toward the rows but not much against the plants. ', 

 The weeds in the rows were destroyed by hand. We have lately dug and weighed t 

 them, and put them into winter quarters. We find that the weight is 47,432 pounds, » 

 at the rate of two hundred and ninety two and seven-tenths bushels per acre of h 

 sound potatoes. Those that were rotted or partially so, were thrown aside and j 

 not gathered. There were but few of them ; still it issafe to say thatthe yield was j 

 not less than 300 bushels per acre. There was also quite a difference in the yields > 

 between the large and small ones. The larger ones yielding at the rate of from 20 to J 

 25 bushels per acre more than the small ones. In size they are a little larger than : 

 lastsi-ason. In torm they are about perfect. In quality equal to any I have ever j 

 tasted, and I believe that my entire family agree with me on this point, although ' 

 such things are a mere matter of taste. Considering the yields of other pieces ( 

 planted, and the almost universal complaint of poor yields almost all over the ► 

 country, I cannot but regard this as a remarkably good showing. In order to make J 

 the test still more satisfactory to myself at least, I planted the balance of the plat , 

 above named with Rural Kew Yorker No. 2. This is as is well known a tremendous * 

 yielder. They were planted at the same time and in all respects treated in the same 

 manner as the Freeman. The entire yield of this plat of potatoes was at the rate of J 

 300 bushels per acre ; but nearly ten per cent of them were either rotten or partially F 

 so, and are worthless. This makes the showing of the Freeman still more valuable. \ 

 A few words about its defects, for we know there is nothing in this world that is ? 

 quite perfect. The plants set more potatoes in number than they can grow to a good 'it 

 size, and the result is that there are more small ones among them than I like to i 

 see; and one other fault is that they are so much scattered in the ground, that it . 

 costs more to dig them than it does the Early Ohio or any other of the close growers, h 

 Still, after allowing fully and fairly for all its defects, after two years of experi- t 

 menting with them, I cannot but believe that they are a very valuable acquisition 

 to our list of desirable varieties. 



One thing more. I am constantly getting letters of inquiry about them. Headers a 

 of The Practical Farmer please do not write to me about them. I haveno authority s 

 either to sell or give away any of them and have never done so. It adds to the 

 number of letters that I sit here and answer, and sometimes I get very tired while 

 d'ung so. I have told you honestly what I think of them and hope you will be 

 satisfied." 



Freeman : 



" Among other things that we are harvesting at present is our Freeman pota- 

 toes. We set some men at work digging them this A, M. I wish you could see 

 them as they lie upon the ground. They are a'sight to gladden one's eyes as well as 

 his pockets. I think that our wives will surely fall in love with them beyond that 

 -of any of our present varieties with which I am acquainted. 



There are a number of small ones among them, but the bulk of them it seems 

 to me, are the most beautiful potatoes I ever saw, just about large enough for table 

 use and scarcely one in a bushel that has any prongs or rough places upon it. The 

 eyes are out almost full}' even with the skin. They will be easily prepared for either 

 boiling or baking. I am certainly much pleased with them, and with your consent 

 -will have something more to say about them after we get them all dug and weighed 

 up, and put away in their bins, where we expect them to remain safely until they 

 are wanted for planting next spring." 



In the issue of Oct. 29th, 1892, Mr. Smith writes as follows, in the same publi- 

 cation : 



'This has been a very poor season for potatoes, yet I can hardly understand 

 ■why the crop should have been so disappointing on both earl}- and late planted 

 grounds, as it has been. The Government reports show it to have been so all over 

 the country. lean perhaps give a better idea of the Freeman by comparing them 

 .and their yield with others that I have raised this season. Early in the spring we 

 planted a piece with the Triumph and Early Ohio- They were upon a light, sandy 

 soil- It was well manured and had been every year for twenty years past. I 

 thought a large crop almost a certainty. We saw that the crop would be a poor 

 one for us to have, so we dug them early and sold them. I do not believe the yield 

 was more than 100 bushels per acre, and I can give no reason why it was not two or 

 three times that amount. 



I had anotherapiece of entirely new land, containing about six acres. I put it in 

 as good condition as I knew how to do, and planted it with Early Ohio and Beauty 

 •of Hebrons. They were well cared for, and I certainly thought a good crop might 

 'be expected. Instead of that the yield was a very indifferent one, and a large pro- 

 portion of what we did get were rotten, or scabby, or both. Still another piece late 

 planted with Early Ohios, upon land that has been cultivated, manured and 

 •crowded as hard as I knew how to crowd land for 25 years, with one, two and some- 

 times three crops per year, gave me a fair yield of nice, smooth, sound potatoes, 

 and the only ones I have had this season that were anything like satisfactory 

 except the Freemans. 



Last spring I selected a piece of about 3 acres of what I consider good potato soil. 

 Strictly speaking two and ninety-eight-one hundredths acres. It is a black sandy 

 loam, has been heavily manured and as well cultivated as I knew how to cultivate 

 for 12 or 15 years past, and all the crops taken off and no green crops plowed under 

 during that time. We planted two and seven-tenths acres of this plat with the 



WHAT IS SAID OF THE FREEflAN IN THIRTY DIFFERENT STATES. 



Wrn. M. Field, Spring Hill, Ala.: "From four quarts of Freeman Potatoes I 

 raised one barrel, although we had very dry weather. Every person who ate them 

 pronounced them the best potatoes they had ever eaten. The New Favorite 



John Stowell, Warrenville, Ills.: "I consider the Freeman the best potato I 

 ever raised, and you cannot speak too highly of it. Could have sold all I raised 

 this year for a good price, but would not part with them at$5.00 per pound. I shall 



water Melon turned out fine. I planted one acre, and sold §160 worth of melons, i plant all I have next year and see what they will do 

 They are early and large ; mine run from 20 to 40 pounds." 



S. E. Gaskill, Campo, Cal.: " I planted 1 pound of Freeman potatoes and raised 

 125 pounds of large potatoes." 



M. G. Miller, Artesia, Cala.: " From the 1 pound of Freeman bought of you I 

 raised 80 pounds of nice smooth potatoes, nearly all mercantile size. Their 

 •qualities are -good yielder, smooth tubers, good even size, and a disposition to form 

 the potatoes well down in the soil, even wnen planted shallow." 



Leonard Scott, Vancouver. B, C: "I have just received a report from my farm, 

 and my foreman informs me that the Freeman is as good a potato as he has ever 

 seen, and he appears to be highly pleased with them. They were planted in new 

 land without fertilizer of any kind." 



Arthur Kitchen, Capetown, Ont., Can.: "I can recommend the Freeman 

 potatoes verv highly indeed; I have grown a great many potatoes in the last 10 

 years, but have never had any to equal the Freeman. I planted \Y Z pounds, from 

 ■which I raised 4 bushels and 43 pounds." 



Alfred A. Ennis, Danielsonville, Conn.: "I planted the 1 pound of Freeman 

 potatoes purchased of vou last spring in an ordinary potato soil, cut one eye to each 

 piece. They were manured only moderately with stable manure aud phosphate, 

 and received no extra culture. The quantity raised from this 1 pound was 2 bushels 

 of large-size potatoes, many of them weighing 1 pound and upwards. The Free- 

 man excels for its prolific yield and excellent qualities, and as a table potato has no 

 superior. While I regarded your price at the time of purchasing as almost 

 exorbitant, I am now more than satisfied with the results." 



R. P. Pendleton, South Canaan, Conn.: 'I planted 2 pounds of Freeman 

 potatoes May 13th, dug 76 pounds of fine potatoes September 27th. I consider them 

 the best early variety I ever saw." 



A. S. Halsted, Del Norte, Colorado : "I am well pleased with the Freeman 



potatoes ; they are a very good variety for this country " 



Cuseine Land and Cattle Co., Aspen, Colorado : " We planted 4 pounds of the j 

 Freeman potatoes in new soil at Gvpsum, Colorado, 6500 feet above sea level. We \ ever raised and the best I have ever seen grown anywhere. From 1 pound of seed 

 have not gathered them vet. They have done nicely, are large, well-shaped and I T rni=»<i nmrshTishokdfnntatnps" 

 very prolific. The vines" show a strong, healthy growth, and I believe they will 

 prove entirely satisfactory." 



M. A. Bunker, Grover, Col.: "The seeds you sent me came O. K.,and were all 

 good, especially the Freeman potatoes. I made 129 pieces out of the 4 pounds, 

 planted them on the 25th dav of Mav, and every one of the 129 hills is now up 

 (June 16th), some of them are 4 and 6 inches high. They look strong and vigorous 

 and I believe are going to be a fine potato for this country." 



Geo. Proctor, Eden, Ills.: " I purchased 4 pounds of your Freeman potatoes last 

 spring planted them in ordinary soil, gave them the same cultivation as my other 

 varieties, and I dug 4 bushels of fair sized potatoes, although the season being so wet 

 made it unfavorable for all potatoes. I prefer the Freeman for an early potato, and 

 for cooking qualities it is unsurpassed. They yielded for me at the rate of 480 

 bushels per acre and I think in a good season they would double the yield. ThePo- 

 aaris Potato done well also, but the Freeman isunsurpassed, I prefer it to all others." 



J. W. Baker, Tiskilwa, 111.: " I am delighted with the Freeman potato, having 

 iustdugthem. From the 4 pounds I have full 4 bushels. They were cut tosmgle 

 «yes and planted April 25th. The frost nipped some and injured them greatly in 

 yield as thev never recovered their natural strength and vitality. Considering tins 

 and their having so few eyes, I think my yield was a good one. They are beauties 

 and no mistake. Everyone seeing them is enthusiastic in their praise. I think 

 them a valuable acquisition. During their growth and maturing in July and fore 

 part of August we had two drought periods, each lasting nearly two weeks. Only 

 for this I am satisfied the yield would have been a third heavier. They are all I 

 could desire in a potato, and I am more than pleased. In 100 kinds I don't think 

 any will surpass them in all good qualities." 



Mrs Mary J. House, Eureka, Ills.: " I have just dug my Freemans, and must 

 sav thev are a nice, large, smooth potato. After they were planted we had a very I 

 Ion" cold wetspell, and most of them rotted ; but I got over half a bushel from 2 at 

 hills. With a good season I don't think they could be beat." tl 



74 



D. T. Miller, Belleville, Ills.: "I bought 1 pound of the Freeman potatoes, 

 divided the eyes into as small pieces as I could ; but in drying them the chickens 

 ate fully one-half. I planted the remainder and have just dug 99 pounds of nice 

 smooth potatoes. Although the pieces I planted were very small, and the season 

 here a remarkably dry one, the vines made a strong growth, and there are less 

 small ones than in any new potatoes that I gave like treatment." 



Elias Graimes, Danville, Ind.: " I am well pleased with the Freeman potatoes. 

 From one peck I raised 9 bushels." 



Mrs. Jacob B. Eby.Elkhart, Ind.: " From'l pound of Freeman potatoes I raised 

 73)2 pounds; they are excellent potatoes and most all of a nice size. lam highly 

 pleased with them. It is so dry here that the earl.v Ohio potatoes have made but 

 half a crop, and have rotted agreat deal : not one of my Freeman's have rotted yet, 

 and they are one to two weeks earlier than the Ohio." 



Edward Reynolds, Straughn. Ind.: " I planted 1 pound of the Freeman potatoes 

 and dug over 30 pounds, and I claim thedry weather shortened the result. I regard 

 them as a very fine and productive potato. Every one who has seen them are 

 highly pleased with them It would take about purchase price to buy any of my 

 seed if I would sell at all." 



Samuel Mayne, Bancroft, Iowa : " I have dug one hill of Freeman potatoes and 

 baked them ; they were as white as flour and of a most delicious flavor." 



L. G. Perry, Dayton, Iowa: "Everything considered, I believe the Freeman 

 is the best potato ever introduced ; color, shape, growth, size and yield are of the 

 very best. I cut them to one eye, aud gave them only common care ; still, I got 105 

 pounds from the 1 pound of seed." 



William H. Saville, Washington, Iowa : " My Freemans did not 'have a good 

 chance for yielding, but they made 1 bushel to the pound." 



D. Baker, Mingo, Iowa: ' I raised 95 pounds of the Freeman potatoes from 1 

 pound, on poor soil." 



Samuel Bingham, Newbern, Iowa : "The Freeman is the best potato I have 



r raised and the best I have eve 

 I raised over 3 bushels of potatoes.' 



B. E. Tavlor, Neodesha, Kan.: " We received the pound of Freeman potatoes 

 rather late for this latitude, but we raised Ki bushels. They are the smoothest and 

 best>flavored potato we have found yet. We also have the Potentate and Peoples, 

 bought of vou, and we call them good, but the Feeeman is thebest." 



Fred. Maver, Erlanger, Ky.: "Your Freeman potato is unexcelled as a good 

 yielder and a'large potato. Your XX Sugar Corn is the best I have ever raised." 



Samuel Cyrus, Staley, Ky.: " I have had very good success with the pound of 

 Freeman potatoes sent me. "I planted them in 5 hills and dug 127 potatoes of an 

 average size. From one of these hills I dug 39 potatoes. I think the Freeman will 

 lead all other earlv potatoes in this neighborhood." 4 



T. Edward Hambleton, Baltimore, Md.: "The results from the Freeman , 

 potatoes were very satisfactory, but the ground was specially adapted to the growing, , 

 and being on a very limited scale, it could hardlybe called a fair test. I have kept | 

 about a bushel for seed next year and will then be able to give you an opinion." 



W. C. Haines, Lansing, Mich.: "I take pleasure in informing you that this 

 morning (Julv 16th) we had the Freeman potatoes for breakfast, and much to our , 

 surprise, found them so ripe that the skins cracked in steaming. The quality is J 

 excellent and I think vou cannot recommend it too highly. Mine were planted ', 

 April 28th, which was followed by a month of cold, wet weather. The Early 

 Mastodon corn has got too high to cultivate and istasseling out. Considering the 

 very backward season, I think I can show as good, if not the best corn in the " 

 couhtrv. Some of my friends say it is the best." 



George Weatherston, Ishpeming, Mich.: "I purchased 1 pound of Freeman 

 potatoes from you and let a neighbor have half of them ; we cut the pound into 52- 

 sets, he taking 26 and I taking 26 sets. We have had frosts every month during the 

 summer, hut July 19th was the heaviest and it killed my neighbor's altogether, but 

 I saved mine by cutting off the tops in the morning, after which they grew rapidly 

 and have done'extraordinary well, vielding 60 pounds to the M pound planted, or at 

 the rate of 544 bushels to the acre. They done better than any of the others that I 



