REMARKS OF HON. WARREN BROWN.

At the meeting at Hampton Mr. Brown said: The potato crop is one of great value to the country, as it is an important article of food among all classes of people. When the country was new abundant crops were grown with little cultivation, which continued until the appearance of the disease, which made it an uncertain crop. Good crops were raised in this town, large quantities being exported. The repeated cropping of the land, which has been cultivated for two centuries, and the appearance of the disease, have greatly reduced the yield; but few are now sent to market. From one hundred to one hundred and fifty bushels per acre is considered a good yield. While we hear that Coos county raises from three to four hundred bushels on an acre, it is of the California and coarser varieties. We can raise nearly as many of the popular varieties which have a demand in the market, as they, which is gratifying to us, as we had conceded an advantage in this respect to the upper counties of the State. It is often the case that sections which have acquired a reputation for certain crops do not possess all of the advantage claimed. The pink-eye potato was raised extensively about here; it found a ready sale in the fall for shipping to the West Indies and southern ports. It was in demand because it came out in good condition at the end of the voyage, which better varieties failed to do.

The newer varieties have not generally done well for more than a year or two at a time, without change of seed. Many procure seed from the east every year. The Goodrich varieties did not do well for more than a couple of years, and long ago ceased to be planted as they decreased in yield and depreciated in quality. The Davis Seedling has been a valuable variety holding its own since its introduction. Change of seed is generally advocated, but does not always hold good. On our farm we raised the Pink-eye potato for a great many years. A number of times I procured seed from other farms, but it never did as well as the seed we raised. The same has been true with the Davis Seedling.

On a large farm where the same ground is not planted more than once in ten years, change of seed is not necessary, if vigorous varieties are grown. We formerly seeded heavily, cutting only the very largest, one piece to the hill. Of late we have cut leaving but two eyes, with full as satisfactory results. I was led

to do this from a circumstance which I will relate.

Having hired an Irishman with the provision that he have land enough to plant a barrel of potatoes, he cut them smaller than I had ever seen, in many cases not more than one eye to the hill. It took nearly half of my potato ground. I awaited the harvest with great interest, his crop was as good as mine. We had used four times as much seed. Since then we have seeded light with good

success.

The experience people have had with the Early Rose should teach us a lesson in seeding and good cultivation, as good care and cultivation would make a great difference in the yield of the common varieties. Dry land is essential in raising potatoes. Water induces disease. Plaster is often used with good success; I have seen the crop doubled by the application of a tablespoonful to the hill. Should not favor the use of ashes, as is often recommended by speakers and writers. Having used large quantities for the grass crop, we found on breaking up and planting potatoes that they grew rough and were eaten on the surface, rendering them unfit for the market. While the ashes seemed to promote growth the tubers were unfit for use. Have seen good crops raised with green, unfermented manure. Contrary to general opinion it did not induce disease. Bone manure is especially valuable. Dry land, well cultivated, with any of the manures named except ashes, do not often fail to make a good yield.

THE EAST AND THE WEST.

BY CARLOS G. HAWTHORNE, ESQ., OF HOPKINTON.

Thirty-five years ago I found among my father's books a copy of the works of Thomas Jefferson, which I read with considerable attention, and I trust I was instructed and improved thereby. At least, I am sure of this, that the information and impressions I thence derived became no small part of the intellectual and moral force with which, in my humble way, I have met and endeavored to perform some of the most serious duties of my life.

Of the multitude of great ideas contained in those writings, which have "grown with my growth and strengthened with my strength," I clearly recollect this "Let the farmer forevermore be honored in his calling, for they who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God! in whose breasts he has placed the peculiar deposit of substantial and genuine virtue." Since I first read that high tribute to the farmer and his calling, I have had frequent occasion, among the hills of New England and upon the broad prairies of the West, by professional and other business intercourse with all sorts of men, to learn and know:- That, all things considered, the worthiest life-work of men is some one or all of the varied forms of agricultural industry; and that he who intelligently follows it, "though hard the hand and brown the cheek," is the peer of men who pursue other vocations.

Entertaining these views, you cannot wonder, then, my friends, that I learned with the greatest pleasure, a few days since, of the organization of your society, for the purpose of achieving a higher intelligence and culture, and a fuller success in regard to every part of the wide field of agriculture. And you can well believe that it is with mingled feelings of diffidence and pleasure that I

stand to-day in your presence to say a few words touching the comparative advantages of

AGRICULTURE EAST AND WEST.

An old adage runs as follows: "A rolling stone gathers no moss." Another saw, as true as old, also coincides with nearly every one's experience "Contentment is true riches." The man of business mainly related to one locality cannot hope for large success by frequent change of base. Nor can he, engaged in any calling, hope to win the smiles of Fortune who steadily imagines that he labors at too great disadvantage, either in place or circumstance, for so discontent comes, that unnerves his arm and befogs his brain, till he becomes "as worthless as a sucked orange."

Another thought strikes me with some force: A prime condition of success lies in understanding the conditions under which, if at all, one employs his energies, no matter what the purpose may be.

With these suggestions let us consider the topic.

GEOGRAPHY.

And first for the geography of the question. The East shall comprise New England, and the West that portion of our wide domain lying west of Lake Michigan, and east of the mountains, and north of the Ohio river.

SOIL.

The cornfields of the West, i. e., the sections wherein that grain is most easily and largely produced, comprise the Grand Prairie of Illinois one hundred by one hundred and twenty miles in extent; southern and western Iowa, including five to fifty miles in width along the eastern bank of the Missouri; large portions of Kansas and Nebraska, and nearly the whole of the great State of Missouri. Those sections were evidently the last to be submerged by the vast inland sea which once covered the whole tillable prairie, and contain the accumulated detritus and humus of hundreds of thousands of years, varying in depth from ten to thirty feet; and so rich in all the elements required in successful corn-growth as to be practically inexhaustible. Five years ago I