The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-03-26

these cars.
LINKENSALE.
AGRICULTURAL.
improvement in Potatoes.
Dear Sir:-Understand-
ing that you invite communications
from farmers, I avail myself of the
privilege by giving your readers an
account Of my success the past sea-
son, ofgrowing some Of the nsw vari-
ties Of potatoes that haze, Of late, be-
come so popular amorg our Eastern
Producers. It is well known that NO
crop depends go rauch upon q choice
of the best varitiss of seed, or is 80
much benefited by q change of seed
from one soil and climate to another
as the potato. But far more impor-
tant than this, is the production Of
healthy varities, free from constitu-
tional disease, combining superlative
merit as productive and edible sorts.
Several years ago, when the potato
rot first appearance in the East, and
threatened to put an end tothe prof.
able production of potatoes in this
country, the Rev. Chauncy Goodrich,
of Utica, New York, commenced ex-
perimenting with growing now seed
ling varitics, hoping to originate
some new kinds, that should possess
unimpaired constitutions and be free
from disease. His success was re-
markable. Out Of thousands of new
seedlings that he produced, after
about fifteen years Of patient expert
ment and trial, he selected q few var.
ties Of wonderful excellence, and
which, according to the best authori.
ties among agriculturits, have never
been known to rot. As evidence OF
the great value of these seedlings,
l quote the following from the New
York Tribune:
"The State Agricultural Society of
New York recommends that the
Legislature give $1,000 to the family
Of Rev. Chauncy Goodrich, for his
improvements in potatoes. Said fam
lily is poor and respectable; said i'm
provements are worth to the State
hundreds of thousands of dollars"
So universal has been tho failure
in the potato crop in the East the
past season, on account of the rot,
that the American Agricultural
makes this remarkable statement:
"Millions of dollars would have
been saved to the country, if these
new seedlings had generally been
planted the past season, instead Of
the old varities. Many who planted
the old varities did not got their seed
back, while adjoining fields planted
with new seedlings had no appearance
Of the disease. The disease was
probably owing entirely to the va
rieties planted. The new seedlings
are free from rot and ought to be i'm
mediately adopted"
sent east last spring, and procur-
ed, at high price, seed Of the Early
Goodrich, Early Sebec, Gleason,
Harrison and Faulke. I planted
them late, about the first of June on
stiff sod ground, cut to two eyes on
the piece, one piece in the hill, hills
three foot apart each way, and raised
of the Goodrich, Ssbec, and Faulke,
about at the rate Of 160 bushels per
acre and of the Harrison, 220 bushels
to the acre. From . peck measure
even full of seed Of the Harrison /
grew 20 bushels. l do net hesitate
to say that any of these varities will
produce one hundred bushels to one,
and if given fair chance will pro-
duce 300 to $50 bushels per acre as is
represented by eastern producers.-
As to quality they are all they have
been represented to be; I believe their
introduction to our section of the
country, can only be compared in
value to the introduction of the best
breeds of stock, and must add to the
productive wealth Of this vicinity by
many thousands of dollars.
AUSTIN GRAY.
Eddyville, Mar. 20, 1868.
The following is Andrew Johnson's
communication to Chief Justice
Chase, in reply to the summons to
appear before the impeachment com.
mittee, and the official announce
ment of his counsel.
Mr.. Chief.J Justice, I Andrew John
son, President of the United States,
having been served with summons
10 appear before this memorable