New England Farmer from Boston, Massachusetts • 5

AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 277 00 00 SIXTH AGRICULTURAL MEETING AT THE STATE HOUSE. Hon. Mr Calhoun in the chair. Subject The Cultivation of Potatoes and other Root Crops.

Mr Gleason, of Wayland, said he cultivated the potato in many different ways: he spreads the ma this mode of plowing left the ground lighter and open to atmospheric influence, which were important considerations in the raising of potatoes. The ground is then harrowed a number of times, so that it will work easy. He prefers bis manure made into compost, which when composed of 1 part stable manure to 2 of peat mud, and 1-5 leached 00 00 ashes, was equal in value to the same ouantitv of nure in all cases. 1 lie host crop lie had ever raised was on an acre of ground where he spread the manure upon the sod and dropped the potatoes To Edward Allen, for seedling Calceolarias, 2 To Win. Kenrick, for displays of cut flowers through the season, 3 To Azel Bowditch, for bouquets and cut flowers through the season, 3 To Samuel Walker, for a beautiful seedling Pansy, (the finest ever exhibited here,) 3 To Miss Russell, for continued displays of flowers tastefully arranged in baskets and bouquets, through the season, 3 To Thos.

Motley, for designs, bouquets, and cut flowers, 2 To Wrn. Quant, for fine grown Geraniums, 5 For fine grown plants, bouquets, 3 To John H. Richardson, for seedling To John Hovey, for displays of bouquets, 2 pure animal manure. With regard to the manner of applying manure, he thought there was no ob 00 00 00 00 as he plowed, in every fonith furrow, he furrow which covered them was plowed more shallow than the others, being about 4 inches deep the others 6 inches deep. The potatoes made their way through the sods quicker than those planted other 00 00 00 Recapitulation.

$199 214 00 and bouquets at Awarded for premiums, Awarded for, gratuities, Awarded for pot plants weekly exhibitions, Amount unappropriated 70 00 and reserved for jection to putting a light mellow compost in the hill but, generally, it was better to spread the manure and plow and harrow it in lightly. If furrowed at all, it should not be very deep, as it was not best to cover very deep, except in dry sandy soils. He understood that in Nantucket, where rhe soil was light and porous, deep planting was customary the manure being placed over the potatoesand that they succeeded much better in obtaining a good crop than when they planted nearer the surface in the common way. Mr Merriam had planted a field of potatoes on a bog that had been underdrained, without manure. He first drilled it, and planted the potatoes on the surface then, with a plow, run a furrow on each side of the potatoes, so as to cover them.

The opening or seam between the two swards covering the potatoes, was filled up with the mud taken from the furrows the furrows between the rows served to drain the land. No other labor was bestowed upon them until they were dug. It turned out an excellent crop better than where he bad manured and planted in the ordinary way. With regard to seed, he thought the best and premiums and gratuities on Camellias and Azaleas in February and March, 35 50 $518 occasioned In consequence of the necessity wise, lien uug, tney turned out to ue oue-tnini more than was got on ground near by, treated in the ordinary way. In addition to this large crop of potatoes on this land, he raised 50 bushels of flat turnips the same season.

lie thought potatoes one of the most profitable crops, when near a market. But for stock, he thought carrots and ruta baga better than potatoes. He was not so much opposed to ruta baga as many were. He had raised at the rate of 800 bushels of carrots to the acre, which, after paying the expenses of cultivation, manure, afforded him a net profit of $C2 50 per acre. For this crop he had manured with fine rotten manure: the year following, appropriated the same piece of ground for another crop and manured with green stable or barn-yard manure and fresh meadow mud but for some reason, either the fresh manure, or following with the same crop as the preceding year, he raised only at the rate of 525 bushels to the acre 800 bushels to the acre was equal to 1G tons, reckoning a bushel to weigh 40 which were worth with him, $8 per ton.

He feeds the tops to his swine, and values them at $5 per acre. He had a high opinion of sugar beets for swine they eat them greedily, either raw or cooked. The tops are also palatable to swine: three crops of them may he gathered during the season. He feeds his ruta bagas to his cattle that are fattening, and finds they thrive well upon them he keeps them in the barn, and gives no water, as the -fcT i' I be selected. An experi-tnade by Mr Plunket, of earliest varieties should ment on this point was Pittsfield, of which the following is an account.

He planted nine rows of potatoes, as follows: 1st row, 1 large potato product, 5 1-2 bush. 4 1-4 2d 2 middling-sized, 3.1 2 small, 4th 1 seed-end of large, 2 3-4 3 1-2 1-2 5th 1 butt do. of do. 4 6th 1-2 of a large, 4 the issue oi season tickets, to keep up successive shows from week to week, to meet the expectation of the public, many of the contributors of flowers have been obliged to make strenuous efforts to render the exhibitions interesting as the sale of flowers was prohibited in the Hall, by a vote of the Society, the committee have taken a little more than usual latitude in awarding gratuities, that some compensation might be made in consideration of the great sacrifice by a few of the members, in their free offerings of choice specimens of flowers in great profusion from week to week, during the season. The Committee have taken unwearied pains to do justice to the numerous contributors of flowers, and make such disposition of the munificent sums appropriated by the Society to the Flower Committee, as should give satisfaction to all concerned, and best promote the great interests for which it was designed.

All which is respectfully submitted. JOSEPH BRECK, Chairman. The reports of the Fruit and Vegetable Committees will be given in our next. Mr Editor The undersigned begs the privilege' to say to "Rio. Holmes" of the Maine Farmer, that his explanation in his last No.

is perfectly satisfactory, and he is exculpated from all blame. What he says, is worthy of him as one of nature's noblemen, and what his 1 adds, is worthy of him, and nobody else! None hut an imp of the author of all black deeds, would have charged the undersigned with "kicking up a muss" and none but one juice ot the roots is sumcicni. io uisagreeauie 7th 1 2 large, (many 8ih 4 1 mid. size pink-eye" 3 small) 9th I black kidney, 4 1-2" A Mr Lawton also planted five rows side by side, as an experiment, as follows 1st row, one large potato to a hill, cut in four or six pieces product, JO 3-4 bushels 2d, one do. do.

cut in eight pieces product, 10 3-4 bushels 3d, two small sized potatoes product, 8 1-4 bushels; 4th, one large, not cut product, 133-4 bushels; 5th, two largest size, not cut product, 8 1-2 bushels. effects of the ruta bagas on the flavor ot the beet are perceptible, provided the feeding of them is discontinued 10 days before killing. By feeding his milch cows with carrots in winter, they yield him as much profit as in summer. He thought carrots should be sown from the 20th to the 25th of May. lie plants in drills 2 1-2 feet apart, and thins out to 3 inches in the rows, which is as thick as they should stand.

His soil is a rich sandy loam. The compost for Ins carrots was with 8 loads of ureen manure, 0 bushels of ashes, and 25 loads of meadow mud. Mr Merriam, of Boston, (formerly editor of the Cultivator,) agreed with Mr Gleason in regard to the value of carrots and sugar beets for cows and Mr Merriam stated that his experience was in conformity with the results of the above experiments. Like produced like. He presumedthat in a dry season, the tops depend much upon the seed for nourishment, until the roots acquire sufficient vigor to yield the requisite support.

(Continued on next page.) Be not afraid of diminishing your own happiness by seeking that of others. He who labors wholly for the benefit of others, and, as it were, forgets himself, wliere is such a man is far happier than he who makes himself the sole object of all his affections and exertions. Selected. who was himself the very embodiment of greenness, would have suspected the undersigned of being But, notwithstanding these diabolical calumnies, the undersigned, (imitating the magnanimous spirit, and adopting the words, of those distinguished diplomatists, Messrs. Packenham and Buchanan,) avails himself of this occasion to tender to his brother genius of the Maine Farmer, the assurance of his distinguished consideration, and would couple with it the hope that each may strive to outvie the other in the acquisition of those rich and rare" attainments goodness, gumption and glory.

Past P. of the N. E. F. swine.

JJe Had seen swine in goou commioii, uiai were fed entirely with sugar beets, without any water. Mr M. went on to give some statistics relative to the value of the potato crop of the U. States that it was estimated to be worth from 25 to 30 millions of dollars per annum. It was a crop of vast pecuniary importance to the country, especially in all the old States, where it was an important article of food.

He usually plants from 3 to 6 acres with potatoes. He was not in favor of laying the furrows flat for potatoes on moist ground, but of turning them at an angle of about 45 degrees. He thought If you assist a man in cheating others, don't be surprised if he cheats you in return. Dog-wood, says an eminent author, may readily be distinguished by its peculiar bark..