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These were so planted that the eye readily distinguished the position of each family, while the size, color and shape of the foliage and the vines as readily distinguished many of the individuals of each family, and threw them into striking contrast with each other. Upon some of these varieties we saw seed balls occasionally in large numbers, and were told that about six varieties had produced them. They were growing in the same general plat with Nos. 2 and 4 above.

Of these sixty-five sorts it was evident that about twenty were greener and stronger than those now generally cultivated, and of these twenty, ten were quite green. We dug a hill each, of some of the most promising of these sorts, and found them large in tuber and yield, and uniformly sound; indeed, some of them were varieties of high interest. Considering that this family of home seedlings is the first reproduction from an old and failing variety, and that a few of these varieties are equal in size and yield, and apparently in hardiness, (and we are told also in flavor,) to any thing we have ever seen on similar soil; we can not but view them as a striking and indisputable proof of the possibility of restoring the lost energy of this valuable plant by reproduction from the seed ball. Mr. Goodrich pointed out one single variety of flesh colored tubers in this family, which are equal to anything we have ever seen, though we were told that they were not quite equal in hardiness to some others of the same family which were not quite their equals in other respects.

6. Home Seedlings of 1851.-Theoretically, Mr. Goodrich does not consider the seedlings of 1849, (No. 5 above,) as perfect, since [Ag. Trans. 1852.]

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they are but the first step in the process of regeneration by reproduction. Having been able to ripen two seed balls on the seedlings of 1849, one of them upon his choicest variety, and the other upon a sort of inferior health; they were planted in his usual manner, and produced severally seventeen and eight plants, which were set, the former in eight, and the latter in four hills. It is upon this experiment that we think a higher interest concentrates than any other upon which Mr. Goodrich is engaged.

Here are twelve hills in the second stage of reproduction, all of them green and large in foliage, but the eight hills greener and larger than the four, in exact correspondence with the health of their parentage. To see the twelve, and especially the eight hills of seedlings whose seed was sown exactly five months before, with vines, the most of them of the largest size, and covered with flowers, and exhibiting the verdure of June, while some of the tubers were actually bursting from the soil, and of eatable size, was indeed, a rare sight. We think that no higher proof is needful or possible of the susceptibility of the potatoe, of restoration to its original vigor by careful reproductions than is here presented.

In conclusion, we can not but consider these experiments not only as being in the highest degree hopeful, but as perfectly settling the question, can the potato be restored by the wise importation of sorts from lands where it is indigenous, and also by the seedlings derived from such sorts. We consider the evidence equally perfect that it can be restored by a process of repeated and wise reproduction from the best old existing varieties. THOMAS GOODSELL, Utica, WILLIAM BRISTOL, Ulica, JOHN G. WEBB, Utica,

JOHN CUNNINGHAM, Whitestown,
WM. R. MILLER, Marcy,

H. H. DYER, Marcy,

THOMAS LANE, Marcy.

I also further state that I saw the potatoe balls, alluded to in No. 4 above, after they were gathered, and that they measured about two bushels and eleven quarts; I also measured the ground on which they grew, and found it to be about one seventh of an acre, I also saw his best home varieties, No. 5 above, after they were dug, and can testify to their fine appearance and large size. JOHN CUNNINGHAM.

Notes on the preceding.

As the above report left the crop in the ground, it seemed desirable to bring the history of it down to the conclusion of the season. A part of the varieties noticed in this report, are also noticed in the article at the close of the Transactions of 1850. At the time the preceding report was drawn up, neither the committee, (whose report it is,) nor Mr. Goodrich, knew that the article in the Transactions would appear; as the report of the committee. seems to be an impartial statement, corroborative of the article in the Transactions of 1850, and as it embodies many new facts, and suggestions, and the history of many new varieties, it is deemed advisable to publish it.

No. 1. Bogotas.-These met the frost Sept. 27th, in a high state of verdure. Tubers small and sound, not much improved in size beyond former years; no seed balls on moist soil.

No. 2. Bogota Seedlings.-Sixty-three varieties; twenty-two black, thirty-three red, and eight white. Most of them green when frost came; a few badly dwarfed by the insect, noticed in the report of last year. Two varieties showed slight disease in the tubers, an indication, however, scarcely to be noticed, when it is considered that it occurred in a family of tall growing varieties, whose tubers set amid the damp autumn, when all depositions of tropical plants, and often those of hardy ones are unhealthful. These tubers are much improved, compared with those of last year, and with No. 1 above, but are yet too yellow in flesh and watery, for the table. No seed balls on moist soil.

No. 3. Chilis of 1850.-Yield very large and sound, but although presenting a flesh of snowy whiteness, they are too watery for fine table use. Should future cultivation improve them in this respect, as analogy, in the case of other varieties, would lead us to hope, they must become very valuable. No flowers, not even the germ of them in this variety.

No. 4. Chilis of 1851.-1st. The light skinned class-These exhibited on digging, four varieties: all small and not very dry in flesh, of course not very eatable, but much superior to No. 1, above. They bore seed balls equally well on dry and moist soil. A few tubers were diseased, a result not all to be charged to intrinsic weakness, but to the period of lateness at which they set, as in No. 2, above.

2nd. The Red class.-There were three varieties: one, including nearly all of them, was probably identical with the Chili of 1850; see No. 3, above. Another, consisting of a very few, was not important. A third, not known to exist until dug, consisted of about six hills, and was exceedingly valuable. The tubers of this variety is a dark and dirty red, and very unshapely. The yield was equal to any thing I ever saw under equal circumstances, as one hill weighed eight pounds, (equal to the eighth of a bushel,) and one six. This variety was green until frost. It has a beautiful dry and white flesh, and as a table potato has no superior in the circle of my knowledge. It bore seed balls moderately and equally on dry and moist soils. Should another year justify the promise of the present, the introduction of this variety into our country will constitute an era in potato culture.

No. 5. Home Seedlings of 1849.-There is here little to be added to the full report of the committee. The leading sorts were all green until frost came, and were sound and very productive.

No. 6. Home Seedlings of 1851.-These twelve hills produced twenty-eight pounds of tubers, i. e., at the rate of two hundred and twenty-two bushels to the acre. There were nineteen varieties

nearly all of which are fine in shape, and of white flesh. One variety was slightly diseased. The most of them were green until frost came.

C. E. GOODRICH.

VALUE OF THE POTATO IN NEW-YORK.

The estimated product of potatoes, in the United States of America for 1847, according to the Report of the Commissioner of Patents, (p. 558,) was 100,950,000 bushels, which at 20 cents per bushel was. valued at $20,190,000, being, after wheat, Indian corn, oats, beans and peas, the sixth in value. In the State of New-York, the potato crop is second only to that of Indian corn in value. Estimating the potato crop of the State of New-York, at one-tenth that of the whole Union, for it must be remembered that very few, comparatively, are cultivated in the Southern States; we have 10,095,000 bushels, in this state, of the value of $2,019,000. Now estimating the loss for the year 1850 at one-third the crop, either by actual decay, or diminished yield, we have a loss of $673,000.

No. 2. THE POTATO DISEASE IN 1851.

In the Transactions for 1847, pg. 425-460, and for 1848, pg. 403-426, are two essays on this subject. In the same work for 1850, pg. 719-729, is an essay on the regeneration of the potato. These three essays were intended to illustrate the following propositions.

1. The immediate cause of the potato disease, is sudden alternations of weather, occurring at critical periods in the growth of the plant.

2. The remote cause is the exhausted energy of nearly the whole species cultivated in Europe and the United States.

Since the first conception of these sentiments in 1846, to the present hour, they have been almost constantly before my mind, while engaged in the cultivation of a market garden of from fif teen to twenty acres, embracing from three to six acres of potatoes annually.

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