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prepared in the way described. The same conclusions have been arrived at by many others, who have carefully experimented on the culture of potatoes. Among those, I may mention the series of experiments made on the Island of St. Helena many years ago. Gen. Beatron planted all sizes of potatoes, and from one inch to twenty inches in depth; he obtained the best yield from large whole seed and those covered with six inches of soil.

The experiments were afterward corroborated by the Phalanx in Monmouth county, N. J., and by many others since.

MANURES.

The potato draws from the soil large quantities of potash and phosphates, and this should be kept in view when composting manure intended for potatoes, or when purchasing a fertilizer. In Monmouth county, N. J., fine potatoes are grown on the sandy soils, with no other fertilizer than marl, which abounds in large quantities in that part of the State. The analysis of this marl shows that potash is its leading constituent. It also gives phosphate, in less quantity.

The following analysis of the potash shows its requirements, in the soil, to produce a large crop :

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From the above figures it may be easily ascertained what constitutes a good manure for potatoes.

Prof. Mapes recommends the following as an excellent stimulant for potatoes: one cord of muck, four bushels of salt and lime mixture, and one hundred pounds niter superphosphate of lime. He says: "With such a compost, potatoes may be raised more economically, and with greater certainty of success, than with stable manures; the liability to disease will also be lessened, as such a compost is not putrescent in its character."

Barn-yard manure, when thoroughly decomposed with muck, head lands or charcoal, and applied in the drill at the time of planting, or spread broadcast and plowed under, make a good manure for potatoes. I prefer the latter method of application, as the manure

is not brought in direct contact with the young tubers. This last method is very expensive, as it requires from twenty-five to thirty two-horse wagon loads to the acre to produce an average yield. Common raw muck is a good manure for potatoes, and strange to say it is almost worthless in that state for any other crop.

CULTIVATION.

The cultivation of potatoes means, in plain terms, to keep the ground loose and entirely free from weeds. It is to the farmer's interest to accomplish these objects at the least possible cost. This may be done by the use of the lifting subsoil plow, and Knox's or Howes' horse hoe. When the young vines are three or four inches above the surface, run a horse hoe between the rows to level the ridges, as the ground between is higher than the rows. The loose earth falling between the young stock, .prevents the weeds from appearing directly in the rows. plow on either side of the rows to a depth of this operation leaves the soil in nice order. later the horse hoe is again used, running close to the rows; the share so managed as to throw some loose earth between the stock at each cultivation. When the vines are eight or ten inches long, ⚫ the subsoil plow may again be used, running the same as the first time. The remainder of the culture may be done with the hand hoe.

Then run the subsoil six or eight inchesIn eight or ten days

By adopting this method of culture no hand tools are required, and the expense is lessened at least twenty-five per cent. As soon as the blossoms appear, all cultivation should cease; by disturbing the vines after that time the crop is materially injured.

GATHERING THE CROP.

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This operation, which used to be so tedious and laborious, is, since the introduction of the horse potato digger, made an easy task. I have used Allen's patent, and although not perfect by any means, still I have taken out with this machine, one pair of horses and eight persons, 250 bushels potatoes per day, and had to stop the team early in the afternoon for want of more help to pick up.` This digger resembles a double moldboard plow with the moldboard cut out in long bars or rods, leaving a space of two inches between the rods. In using it a horse walks on either side of the row of potatoes, and the digger goes under the potatoes; the fine earth falling between the bars and the potatoes are left on the surface. It is best to take out every alternate row first and then take out those left. When the field has been gone through in this way the digger is again run in each row to be sure the potatoes are all out.

STORING.

Potatoes should be stored when thoroughly dry, and in sandy or dry soils they may be placed in shallow pits, and covered with a mound of earth to protect them from frost. Before covering with soil a layer of straw should intervene, with an occasional tuft projecting to the surface so as to part with excess of moisture and prevent heating. They may also be kept in a cool and well ventilated cellar if perfectly dry, but in all cases they should be shielded from the light, as its presence produces solanum, or that active, poisonous, bitter principal found in potato sprouts or in the green skins of potatoes exposed to the influence of light.

PREMIUMS AWARDED BY THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, 1863.

AGRICULTURAL.

P. T. Quinn, Newark, N. J., for an essay on the culti

vation of the potato...

Silver Medal.

D. A. Bulkeley, Williamstown, Mass., for seedling potatoes

Silver Medal.

John W. Bailey, Plattsburgh, N. Y., for the Adirondac grape...

Silver Medal.

MECHANICAL.

... Gold Medal.

Charles Fontayne, No. 561 Broadway, N. Y., for a rapid photographic printing machine.. Wm. L. Fish, Newark, N. J., Wm. D. Russell, agent, No. 206 Pearl street, New York, for a successful and economical application of the burning of kerosene oil for the purposes of heating and cooking..Silver Medal. G. Tagliabue, No. 208 Pearl street, New York, for a coal oil pyrometer....

Henry Waterman, No. 239 Cherry street, New York, for a barrel elevator, used at the Metropolitan Mills

Silver Medal.

Silver Medal.

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GIUSEPPE TAGLIABUE'S PATENT COAL-OIL PYROMETER,

For which the Silver Medal of the American Institute was awarded.

This cut represents two views of the Coal-Oil Pyrometer. The first one is as it appears when it is ready to test the burning point of the oil, with the sliding cover turned one side; and the second view is when it is ready to test the explosive point of the vapor of the oil. The lower part of the instrument contains a bath of water, with a lamp beneath, for the purpose of heating the water. Within the water bath is a cup for containing the oil which is to be tested. Over this water bath and oil cup is a cover with a thermometer through it, and reaching down into the oil in the cup. The short cylinder on the sliding cover is for collecting the vapor of the oil when testing its inflammability. When the oil to be tested is placed in the oil cup, the lamp is lighted (burning with a small flame) and placed under the water bath, and the water and oil is gradually heated. The oil emits a vapor in proportion to its volatility. This vapor mingles with the atmospheric air, which is admitted through two perforations (marked d in the sliding cover), and thus forms an explosive mixture that ascends into the cylinder on the sliding cover; and on applying a lighted taper a slight explosion or puff of flame will take place, and on simultaneously inspecting the thermometer the temperature of its inflammability will be ascertained. After turning the sliding cover one side, as in the first view, and holding the lighted taper in contact with the escaping vapor till the oil ignites, on looking at the thermometer the burning point will be noted.

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DIRECTIONS FOR USE.

1. Lift off the cover, take out the oil vessel, and fill the water bath with water until the surface is just a quarter of an inch above the bent ends of the wires, or the support for the oil cup.

2. Fill the oil vessel with oil until it rises to within a quarter of an inch from the top of the vessel, or level with the top of the ring for the thermometer; then replace the oil cup within the bath, observing to press the projection on it into the groove or notch.

3. Insert the thermometer in its ring and secure the cover to the pins outside. (See the second view.)

4. Half fill the small lamp with alcohol, trim it so as to produce as small a flame as possible, light it and put it in its place below the water bath.

5. Allow the mercury to rise to within ten or fifteen degrees of the temperature at which the oil is to be tried, or at which it is expected to vaporize; then remove the lamp, and open the two valves which have previously closed the small openings d d in the cover of the instrument, so as to permit the entrance of atmospheric air, and its mixture with the vapor arising from the oil.

6. Then insert a lighted taper through the orifice c in the cylinder and a faint puff or small explosion of vapor will occur if the lowest explosive temperature of the oil has been reached. As soon as this puff is seen, the thermometer must be carefully examined, and the mercury will indicate the precise degree at which the oil produces an explosive mixture with atmospheric air.

7. If the taper does not cause a "puff," replace the lamp within the stand, and let it remain there a few seconds, until the mercury first begins to rise, then withdraw the lamp, and again apply the taper to the orifice c; but if still no "puff" occurs, repeat the operations described in this paragraph until it does so.

8. When it is desired to ascertain the temperature of the coal oil at the point of its ignition on the approach of a flame, first take out the lamp, turn the sliding cover till the surface of the oil is exposed to the air (see first view;) then replace the lamp beneath the water bath and watch the thermometer until the mercury has reached the degree shown by the first experiment. Remove the alcohol lamp, then repeatedly apply a small flame at the level of the edge of the oil vessel, and as soon as the oil begins to burn the thermometer will truthfully exhibit the exact temperature at which the oil becomes inflammable. In making this experiment, vapor will occasionally collect and escape over some single spot in the oil; it is here where the flame should be applied, and it should never be held longer over one spot than a few seconds. The alcohol lamp may be replaced if necessary, as in the first experiment, as in direction seven.

9. After the alcohol lamp is removed, the thermometer rising one degree per minute, will be best suited for uniform observation.

N. B. Care must be taken to follow the exact measures of oil mentioned in direction two-neither more nor less.

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