16 
SEED-TSM& AH© HARVEST 
THE BELLE POTATO, 
THE BEL,EE POTATO. 
This variety was first offered to the public in 
the spring of 1881, under the broad claim of com¬ 
ing nearer perfection, all points considered, than 
any other variety yet introduced. In again call¬ 
ing attention to it, I am happy to state that an 
other season’s trial in widely different localities, 
and under varying conditions, only more fully 
confirms the claim, it having in every instance, 
given the most unbounded satisfaction. During 
the past ten years I have planted and tested 
several hundred new varieties, including all the 
promising sorts which have been offered by the 
leading seedsmen, and many which have been 
forwarded to me for trial by my friends and pat¬ 
rons in various sections of the Union, and have 
as yet tested nothing which will surpass it in 
yielding or cooking qualities. I have been slow 
to bring new sorts to the notice of the public, 
recognizing the fact that there are already too 
many varieties of only ordinary merit, and wish¬ 
ing to be certain that I have one possessing very 
superior qualities before attempting to dissemi¬ 
nate it. It is, in my judgement, of about the 
best possible color, viz., a light red, with the skin 
slightly netted. Some specimens are mnch dar¬ 
ker red than otherB, so much so that you might 
at first think another variety mixed with them, 
but as the very darkest ones when planted sepa¬ 
rately produce some light colored specimens, I 
conclude that this peculiarity is the result of a 
“bud-sport” and cannot well be avoided. The 
medium sized tubers are usually very smooth 
and handsome in shape and appearance but 
some of the very large specimens are somewhat 
irregular in shape, yet never prongy. Last sea- 
eon I exhibited a bushel at the Pennsylvania 
gtate Fair which consisted of but 48 tubers, all 
fair and smooth, and this season, although severe¬ 
ly checked by the drought, I have had singk 
specimens weighing very nearly two pound* 
each, at which rate only 30 would be required to 
make a legal bushel, and yet the table quality ia 
remarkably fine for so large a potato. Many 
good judges to whom it has been submitted for 
trial have pronounced its cooking qualities su¬ 
perb, it being really superior to any other which 
will nearly equal it in size or yield. I appends 
few extracts from letters recently received, show¬ 
ing the estimation in which it is held by the 
writers: 
Office of Orange Judd Co., 
Publishers of Am. Agriculturist. 
Isaac F. Tillinghast, 
Dear Sir: Your parcel of 
the Belle potatoes was received either just before 
we left the old office or just as we were moving 
into the new place. In either case they managed 
to get out of sight and I only recovered the pack¬ 
age a few days ago. A trial on the table was 
made today and the whole family endorse my 
verdict of “splendid in every respect.” I do not 
now recollect a better potato. It was tried un¬ 
der slightly unfavorable conditions as having 
been for sometime in a warm office, the sprouts 
had grown an inch or so, and this did not help 
hem any at any rate. Respectfully, 
George Thurber, Editor. 
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Oct. 13, 1881. 
Mr I. F. Tillinghast, 
My Dear Sir: I wish to tell 
you of my success with the Belle potato. I 
have a weakness for good potatoes, and usually 
test all the varieties that come before the public. 
Late in May, I planted a peck of the Belle on 
clover sod, without any manure. After they 
came up I scattered among them bones that had 
been softened in ashes, This was probably of n« 
benefit to the crop, as we had scarcely any ram 
from that time until they were ripe. They re¬ 
ceived only ordinary cultivation and yielded 
over seven bushels of the finest looking potatoe* 
I have seen this year. A bushel of the fine*! 
contained 77. 
The quality is all that can be desired, or a* 
our girl said. ‘‘They are just as nice as they 
can be.” 
Peachblows planted along side the Belle yield¬ 
ed less than one-seventh as much. The Snow¬ 
flake has been our main dependence for some 
years, but. until I find something better I shall 
rely on the Beauty of Hebron for early, and the 
Belie for the main crop. 
Yours Truly, Matthew Crawford) 
