118 
THE CULTIVATOR 
Experiments in the Culture of Potatoes. 
Oakland Farm, Southfield, Staten Island, April 22, 1841. 
Dear Sir —Your sister made a visit to this farm during the 
ast winter, and on seeing some of my large Rohan Potatoes 
esired me to send you a sample, which I was about to do 
when the Hudson river should be clear of ice. In the mean 
time I saw your communication in the Cultivator, (March num¬ 
ber, page 55,) wherein your experiment with Rohan and Merino 
potatoes turned out in favor ol the latter. Thus finding you in 
possession of the article, I was disappointed in the pleasure of 
sending you some of my crop of Rohans, and I therefore con¬ 
cluded to relate to you my experiment with them and other po¬ 
tatoes. 
In 1840, 1 planted three patches of different varieties, in sepa¬ 
rate fields, all in rows, and after gathering the crops, measured 
the ground, and calculated the proportion of yield. 
The first patch of early potatoes were of three kinds, viz: 
Scotch Greys, Mercers and Kidneys, cut in pieces and planted 
about a foot apart in the rows. 
Of these, were planted 11 bushels. 
The produce was 132 bushels. 
The proportion of yield 12 bushels for one planted. 
The ground occupied contained 35,856 square feet. 
The superficial area of the patch contained over three-quar¬ 
ters of an acre, (an acre being 43,560 square feet.) The manure 
was distributed in the rows, and was horse dung purchased in 
New York, and as it subsequently appeared, was full of foul 
seeds. From the consequent weeds which infested the patch, 
the potatoes suffered, at a time when the pressure of other 
work and the want of hands prevented weeding. The tubers 
were also injured by being nibbled by bugs or grubs under 
ground, rendering the surface of many of them rough and un¬ 
sightly. 
The second patch contained late kidneys, which were small 
and planted whole, the same distance apart in the rows as the 
first. 
Of these were planted 14 bushels. 
The produce was 197 bushels. 
The proportion of yield, 14 bushels for one planted. 
The ground occupied contained 58,820 square feet. 
They were manured in the rows with coarse unfermented 
barn-yard manure. The tubers were handsome, fine and 
smooth. There were also planted and grew in the same patch, 
a quantity of pumpkins and squashes, valued at $11-25. If we 
estimate the potatoes to be worth 37 cents per bushel, the 
value of the pumpkins and squashes will be equal to 31 bush¬ 
els. If these be added to the potatoes raised, they will make 
the total yield 228 bushels, or sixteen for one planted. 
The third patch contained Rohan potatoes, cut in pieces, 
planted in June, in rows the same distance apart as the two 
others. 
Of these, were planted 2$ bushels. 
The produce was 64 bushels. 
The proportion of yield, 25 bushels for one planted. 
The ground occupied contained 11,160 square feet. 
These were also manured in the rows with coarse unferment¬ 
ed barn-yard manure. The tubers were large, fine and smooth, 
and not the least injured by insects. 
When these potatoes were planted, I had no idea of an experi¬ 
ment, but it occurred to me afterwards that I might as well 
keep memoranda, and compare the results, which you have as 
above. The potato crop here, being of secondary considera¬ 
tion, no particular attention was paid to either of the patches. 
It will be seen, however, by the foregoing statements that the 
Rohans produced the largest amount in proportion to the quan¬ 
tity planted, and also to the ground occupied. These facts will 
more clearly be seen by the following table, calculated by the 
rule of three, Thus : 
As 
ii. 
160 : 
64: 
: 58, 
820 : 
337 
+ 
instead of 197 the actual produce. 
a 
ii, 
,160 : 
: 64: 
: 35. 
,856 : 
: 205 
U 
132 
U 
d 
35, 
,856 : 
132: 
: 58! 
,820 : 
: 217 
+ 
it 
197 
a 
a 
35; 
,856 r 
132 : 
: 11 
,160 
: 41 
4* 
(C 
64 
n 
U 
58. 
,820 : 
: 197 : 
. 11, 
,160 : 
: 35 
4- 
a 
64 
a 
That is to say, if 11,160 square feet of ground will produce 
64 bushels Rohan potatoes ; 58,820 square feet (which contain¬ 
ed kidneys,) ought to have produced, under equal circumstan¬ 
ces, 337 bushels and a fraction, instead of 197 bushels, the ac¬ 
tual produce. And so of the others. 
In the above calculations, I have thrown away the fractions, 
indicating them by the sign •+■ plus. The measurement of the 
ground, including headlands in each patch, was reduced to 
square feet, being easier understood and calculated than in 
acres and fractional parts of an acre. 
These experiments, I think, are a pretty good test, and yet 
perhaps they may not be considered so by others, as the cir¬ 
cumstances were not all equal. They were not planted at the 
same time, were not manured alike ; one portion of the ground 
was overrun with weeds, and another had pumpkins and squash¬ 
es in it. In two of the patches, large potatoes were cut into 
pieces, and in the other small potatoes were planted whole.— 
But notwithstanding these differences, the results may be worth 
noticing, and lead to something useful. Hence I deem it ad¬ 
visable to give them to you. 
Your experiment was certainly not a decisive one. The sea¬ 
son with you was unpropitious, and part of the potatoes you 
received and planted were spoiled by salt, and the remainder 
were probably injured. And I should suppose too, a priori, 
that the slaty clay soil of your farm, on the banks of the Wall- 
kill, were not well calculated for potatoes. 
Some persons have considered the introduction of the Rohan 
potatoes as a humbug, but from the various accounts I have 
read in the Cultivator and elsewhere, together with my own 
experience, I believe them to be superior producers. Doubtless, 
however, they will not answer in all soils, in all climates, and 
under every variety of weather and treatment. Some of the 
experiments made have been on a small scale, under favorable 
circumstances, in a garden well manured, and particularly at¬ 
tended to. Thus Mr. A-- produced from a single potato cut 
into small pieces, and planted in his garden, one bushel and a 
quarter. Mr. B- raised thirty-seven bushels from one.— 
These and other instances of a large yield, have induced others 
to calculate a pro rata result when cultivated in the large way, 
and hence disappointment, because it is impossible in field cul¬ 
ture, to bestow the same attention as to a particular and small 
experiment. 
There has, no doubt, been considerable speculation in the 
recommendation and cultivation of this variety of potato.— 
The price has been too high, even allowing it to be a great pro¬ 
ducer, to be cultivated usefully and profitably. For, after all, 
it is only a hog potato, as, upon trial, I agree with Mr. Be- 
ment (of Three-Hills farm, near Albany,) that it is a second rate 
edible one, and will not be eaten by human beings unless they 
cannot procure better. As long, however, as the price keeps 
up it may be profitable to raise this variety of the solanum to 
sell for seed, as it is too valuable to be consumed by man or 
beast, while superior edible potatoes can be purchased at a less 
price. This period cannot last long, as when Rohans find their 
level they will be raised on account of their productiveness on¬ 
ly to feed swine. 
This time is fast approaching, as I have observed a new vari¬ 
ety lauded under the title of the Sommeilier potato, said to be 
more productive than the Rohan. This variety has been sold 
at from eight to ten dollars the bushel. Mr. C-- paid this 
large price for a bushel, planted them in his garden, and was 
grieviously disappointed; the. produce being lesv than the Ro¬ 
hans which he had planted the year before. When such high 
prices are demanded for products of agriculture for seed, it 
borders too much on speculation for a prudent man to pay 
them. 
The following circumstances induce me to believe that a new 
variety of the Rohan may be produced. I purchased a barrel 
of Rohans, and placed them in the barn until the beginning of 
June, 1840. On opening the barrel to cut the potatoes for plant¬ 
ing, they were found matted together by long sprouts, and 
many of the eyes had growing from them small potatoes, from 
the size of a hazlenut to that of a hickory nut. They were 
closely attached to the parent potato by a single fibre, and had 
numerous fine fibrous roots an inch or more in length, diverg¬ 
ing over its surface. From these, which were broken off' and 
thrown among the sprouts, I selected a quart or two of the 
largest, gave some away, and planted the remainder in two 
rows by the side of the larger ones cut in pieces. These minia¬ 
ture potatoes came up more slowly than the parents, but as the 
season advanced they grew as well, and no difference could be 
seen between the large and small ones. When they were dug, 
the tubers were as large and productive as the others. The 
produce of the small ones filled two barrels, which I have pre¬ 
served separate, and intend planting by themselves, to ascer¬ 
tain the result. 
Remember me to your uncle, Dr. Green Miller, and to my 
former pupil, Dr. M. Wharry. Inform him that my health be¬ 
came so much impaired that I forsook my professional business 
in the city, with the hope of being benefitted by agricultural 
employment, and that so far it agrees with me admirably well, 
and I am much improved. Tell him I hear with pleasure of his 
increasing practice and reputation as a physician. 
Yours, with respect and esteem, 
SAMUEL AKERLY. 
To P. V. C. Miller, Shawangunk , Ulster co., N. Y. 
National Agricultural Society. 
Messrs. Editors —As no subject treated of in your valuable 
journal is deserving of more importance, or will be attended 
with more beneficial results than the establishment of a Nation¬ 
al Agricultural Society, I beg leave, in aid of its former advo¬ 
cates to suggest to the American Farmers and Planters some 
additional advantages which will result from such an associa¬ 
tion. Besides the great benefits mentioned by your former cor¬ 
respondents, there is one which I believe equal to them all. 
You, Messrs. Editors, I have no doubt, have witnessed with 
pain and mortification the too frequent attempts of politicians, 
both at the South and the North, to arouse and enlist the pre¬ 
judices of one portion of our hitherto blessed Union against the 
other. I believe that when our people come to meet together 
as farmers, as friends, actuated by the same feelings, having 
the same interests, and working together for the common good, 
that they will contribute more to remove those prejudices and 
to cause a more friendly feeling between different parts of our 
country than all the essays and speeches ever published. Our 
interests are common,—no sectional divisions should separate 
us. Another benefit to the agricultural community will be, 
that implicit reliance will be placed in whatever is published 
by such a society. You are aware with what doubt and scep¬ 
ticism many agricultural publications are now received. Agri¬ 
cultural, like political journals, too often have their prejudices 
and their favorites. Whatever issues from such a society will 
be always received as the truth. 
If we can succeed enlisting in our cause the farmers and 
planters of every portion of the United States, it will not 
take a half a century, as now, for the improvements of one sec¬ 
tion to be known in another. Besides the National Journal, 
suggested by your very worthy, able and zealous correspon¬ 
dent, Solon Robinson, every paper in the Union would; no 
doubt, publish the most important information to be derived 
from this soicety, and it would thereby be conveyed to every 
portion of the country. The Smithsonian legacy can be consti¬ 
tutionally appropriated to the establishment of a National Ag¬ 
ricultural School. 
This fund was given to the whole people of the United States 
for their general good. It is different from our National reve¬ 
nue. I believe that Congress has no power to appropriate mo¬ 
ney from the National treasury for any other purpose than 
those specifically enumerated by the constitution; and this 
opinion being pretty general, we need expect no further aid 
from that source. Yet I believe the Smithsonian fund amply 
sufficient to carry into successful operation such an institution, 
and when once fairly on the way, it can be so managed as to 
yield a revenue, instead of being attended with additional ex¬ 
pense. With a farm, work shops, &c. <fcc. attached, it must 
yield a handsome income; at least it cannot fail to sustain it¬ 
self. The surplus, if any, which may arise, after paying the 
necessary expenses of the institution, I would appropriate to 
the payment of the expenses of the officers and members of the 
society. Should we fail in our attempts to establish an Agri¬ 
cultural School, I would still more earnestly insist upon the 
formation of the National Society; and I hope all such as 
Messrs. Robinson and Garnett will not cease their efforts un¬ 
til we carry our point; and, though but a young man and a 
young farmer, if my feeble aid can avail any thing, it shall be 
at all times cheerfully rendered. F. R. G. 
Mecklenburg, Va., May 15, 1841. 
Messrs. Editors— There have been several commtmications in 
the Cultivator on the subject of a National Agricultural Socie¬ 
ty and School, by men who seem to be very zealous in the 
cause. Mr. Robinson, in his address to the farmers of the Uni¬ 
ted States, gives his views, and invites others to give theirs. I 
will therefore give mine. The friends of the Society think the 
greatest difficulty will be in getting a Society organized. I 
think the greatest difficulty will be in making it useful after it 
is organized. 
The communications of your correspondents, who recom¬ 
mend a National Society, are calculated to elevate the charac¬ 
ter and standing of the American farmer, and I very much ad¬ 
mire them, and really think that friends Robinson and Garnett 
are benefactors of the human race and an honor to the profes¬ 
sion; but when they treat of this great National Society, they 
are, as I think, but letting off some of their visionary notions. 
As soon as a National Society is formed, Congress is to be asked 
for half a million of dollars to establish a National School, 
from which the greatest blessings are to flow. This school is 
to be established in the city of Washington, or in some other 
city or town, where some two or three hundred boys are to be 
taught at the expense of the government. And what are they 
to be taught? Farming? A very appropriate place for that 
indeed. 
I, Messrs. Editors, am a farmer, and a very poor one at pre¬ 
sent, but am in hopes that I may some day be a good one, and if I 
ever am, friends Robinson, Garnett, and others, will be entitled 
to a great share of the credit of making me such; but I cannot 
help deprecating the idea of an honest, independent farmer 
supplicating any other power but the Great Power that sends 
him sunshine and rain. To see a farmer lobbying about the 
halls of Congress, or the legislature, asking aid, is mean and 
low-lived. It looks too much like the bankers who depend on 
government more than on their own honesty and credit. One 
objection to a National Society is the great extent of our coun¬ 
try the difference of soil, climate and productions, so that 
what is interesting to one section is uninteresting to another; 
and the expense of such a society ought to be taken into consid¬ 
eration. Farmers ought to calculate as well as others; now 
suppose there should assemble at the city of Washington four 
delegates from twenty-five of the States, which would make one 
hundred; could they meet at a less expense than one hundred 
dollars each on an average ? I think not,—that would make a 
sum total of ten thousand dollars; and what would the com¬ 
munity get for all this expense ? Why, the delegates might get 
a big dinner, a few sups of good wine, tell and hear some large 
stories, build a few castles in the air, and return home again. 
Now, Messrs. Editors, I suppose you would, for ten thousand 
dollars, distribute twelve or fifteen thousand volumes of the 
Cultivator, which I will venture to say would be of more use to 
the farming community than the great National Society, should 
it be organized and exist for ever so long a period. I am a 
farmer that wishes to see the character of the farmer exalted, 
and the science of farming understood and practiced, as much 
as any one; but my plan is, in the first place, to try and make 
my self a good farmer, and if I can by any means advance fast¬ 
er in the art than my neighbors, I hope they will profit by my 
example ; and if every farmer that feels ambitious, would do 
likewise, we as a nation would advance full as fast as if we 
had a great National Society. Perhaps agricultural societies 
on a small scale, may he useful, but that is a debatable ques¬ 
tion. The spirit of competition raised in the minds of the ig¬ 
norant is not always beneficial. Real information in the art of 
farming is what we want; the farmer wants to know how to 
raise grain, pork, beef, &c., at a less expense than the real 
worth of it after it is raised, and I think the best way to gain 
this information is by a strict observation of all the methods 
practiced around him, and a diligent study of the agricultural 
journals and works of the day, and when he becomes a first 
rate farmer himself, he will be a first rate teacher for his 
sons. Respectfully yours, F. BURT. 
Coshocton, Ohio, May 25, 1841. 
Making- of Pasture Lands, 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —He who indulges in reading a 
political newspaper soon finds increased delight in the investi¬ 
gation of political subjects. The reading of romance begets a 
fondness for fiction. The constitution of man is such that the 
mind soon finds delight in those subjects upon which it may 
chance to be fixed, even though disagreeable at first. It is with 
agriculture as with all other subjects ; he who reads monthly 
or weekly an agricultural paper finds soon increased delight 
and interest in the subject of agriculture. The accounts of ex¬ 
periments and improvements by those engaged in similar pur¬ 
suits are but the seeds of new experiments and increased ef¬ 
forts to promote the common interest. Wishing that your pa¬ 
per may have its circulation greatly increased, not so much for 
your individual interest as for the good of the country, permit 
me to introduce the subject which I wish more particularly to 
notice —The making of Pasture Land. There are few farmers 
in this State who have not large, or considerable amounts of 
timber land, that is of but little value to them; not yielding 
annually as much as would pay the tax thereon, while their 
farm stock is fed mainly, summer and winter, from the corn- 
crib,—themselves the servants of beasts. When this unprofit¬ 
able wood-land, if put into grass, would keep a sufficient or 
perhaps an equal amount of horses, cows and sheep without 
the use of a corn field at all. But we are disposed to plead our 
inability to grass our lands, when at the same time half the 
labor spent in this way would make us full as much as if spent 
in raising grain for our stock. In this latitude the most of 
farm stock will live ten months in the year on good blue grass 
pasture alone. But some object, that to grass their lands they 
must destroy their timber. To this I answer, that nothing need 
be destroyed less but the useless timber; the rail timber and 
valuable timber trees of every kind may be left, and fire wood 
for all time to come. But as the expense is probably the most 
serious difficulty, I have made a very accurate calculation of 
the cost of putting wood-land in blue grass. The calculations 
are made from the prices at this place; and for a section of 
land, or 640 acres, and for any smaller amount, the calcula¬ 
tion may easily be made by a division of the cost of this 
amount. The useless timber is to be “ deadened” or chopped 
round one year previous to sowing the blue grass seed; the fall 
before sowing the seed, the leaves on the ground should be 
burned off, and seed sowed (he following spring. 
Deadening one section, 640 acres, at 12 cts. per acre, ••• ■ $76 80 
i bushel blue grass seed per acre, at $1,50 per bushel, •• 240 00 
Sowing seed, 12 cts. per acre,. 76 80 
$393 60 
This ground should be fenced into four fields. The 
first field, of course, would have four strings of fence 
160 rods long, the second and third which would be ad¬ 
joining, would have but three strings of fence, and the 
fourth would have but two ; fence nine rails high. 
Fencing first field, 75 cents per hundred for making and 
laying up rails on fence,.$S7 00 
Second field, do. do. 65 25 
Third do. do. do.. 65 25 
Fourth do. do. do.. 43 50 
Fencing 640 acres into four fields,.. 261 00 
To which add cost of deadening, seed and sowing,.$654 60 
And you have the cost of making six hundred and forty acres 
of pasture, $654-60 cents, or about 102 cents per acre. 
The first year after sowing, the grass will be worth but little 
for pasture; the second year the grass will seed, and will be 
ready for grazing, and will improve every year for several 
years. It is quite astonishing to see how tall the grass will 
grow upon land in this condition. By the first of June, I have 
seen the grass so tall that the logs would be quite hid by the 
grass, which seemed to be stretching itself upward as though 
it was vieing with the tallest of the spice bushes. But what is 
still more pleasing, is to see a herd of cattle wading through 
and feeding upon this luxuriant grass, almost to their sides.— 
It is a matter to be much regretted, to see large tracts of wood¬ 
land in almost every neighborhood, lying out, and of no benefit 
to the owners, when it costs so little to put it into grass and 
render it profitable _t,o the owner. To show the great import¬ 
ance of thus grassing our woodland, I submit the following 
calculation for the first five years, so reasonable that none will 
doubt it: 
1st year, deadening timber, yield nothing,.$00 00 
2nd do. sowing seed, do. do. . 00 00 
3rd do. grazing to commence first of June, when the 
seed has ripened, graze five months, ten cents a month 
for each acre,. . . 320 00 
4th year, same,. 320 00 
5th do. do. . 320 00 
$960 00 
Which is almost one hundred per cent, on the amount laid 
out in the first five years. The second term of five years, the 
amount of grass will be one hundred per cent, more than the 
first five. The bushes in this time will begin to be destroyed 
bv the feeding of the stock, and the logs and brush will begin to 
rot and disappear. Much may thus be added to the beauty as 
well as the wealth of the country ; much added to our individ¬ 
ual ease and comfort,—while we will be gratified by looking at 
fat cattle instead of the lank-sided ones that we too frequently 
see half famished, hunting feed along the lane sides during the 
summer months. With much esteem, yours, 
Green Castle, Ind., Feb. 22, 1841. A. C. STEVENSON. 
