Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-02-04

Potato Convention.
AUGUSTA, JAN. 18th. 1863

xVSoOO VOsAvO0oess
AUGUSTA, JAN. 18th, 1869.
Imperial Potato, the ruling power ofIre-
land FIR century. and shich appears al
the table OF Kings. ard on the bench OF
the peasant. alike welcome everywhere.
has Just held grand convention at the
Capitol Of Maine, undsr the auapices of the
State Board Of Agriculture. 1t was rare
scene to the beholder this Arst public gath
ering Of the nurphio q evssy shade Of
color. and every she's md form, from all
parts Of the State. accoopanisd by their
several admirers. and all tenderiy cared
for, and their highest claims for merit full
ly insisted upon. Curioasly enough. some
of the potato family were breugh. BY fas-
tidions young nen. in glass-cesered ma
hogony boxes, while other lots came, some
in bags. some In rags and some in great
coat pockets; all pressing forward fer rec
IGNITION; and, almost like human kind.
seeking prominence among their Nllows.
The potato family. as = whole, claim
without dissent from any quarter, 49,
they contribute more money TO the State.
BY their numbers annually exported. than
is received from the expectation OF any
other cultivated crop in the State, includ-
ing that Of hay. This fact alone is sufii-
Gent to arrest public attention. and TO ex
cite the interest Of all the people. II is
clear that the potato is the pc; OF the far
mers; and especially % Of those whose
location gives them an advantage as to a
favorable market. One man. an sdmire-
of a special variety. which had been super
coded in some portions Of the state BY sn-
periors. had with him pscssx~s 81 his
darlings, which he offered " ten cents
bulb. and thought himself . public bsne-
factor by so doing. Another man had
specimens Of his pct variety. aud stated
one of their great merits tina; they were
never known to rot. The attention was
Immediately called by the committee hsv-
ing the matter In charge. TO the fact that
oae Of his specimens was In the process Of
decay by rot. Bot these instances are
among the facetia Of the occasion.
The eminent domain Of utility claimed
for the potato. may well be allowed. and
the great question arises Is to the selection
Of the best variety. On this theme there is
great difference Of opinion. As the sever
al favorites were brought on, for sxamina-
ton, rivals, ~ many Of them were the ad-
mirers Of each. gave general representa-
lions Of their merits. embracing seemingly.
AL the potato virtues in a single variety
the one cultivated-the pet. But the rival
~ among them brought the examination
TO closer quarters and to more definite
terms. The examiners had none too many
potatoes to be caught by new names. or
by those destitute of a name. who
comes hsreT' was the question proposed
TO each specimen. and the variety to which
1t belonged was fully settled. This
brought the several families together snd
restored their proper names. The local
fancies about potatoes began to disappear.
and the qualities Of each variety to be def
'fnitely described. As the examination
continued. 1t became manifest thst pota-
toes should Be selected. AT least judged OF.
under three classes. and perhaps more.
Those intended for the general market
and fer table use; those INTENDED Tor iced
ing stock on the farm; and those intended
for use in starch factories. The location
of farmers will generally determine the
market he must depend upon. and that
will settle the variety Or class Of potatoes
which be should cultivate. because there
are essential differences sufficient to ad-
NIT and compel such classification.
Special attention Was given to the varie-
~ or name. and the special qualities Of
leach, including the sdaptation to different
soils and localities. Ofcourse every point.
even Of utility, could not be settled At .
single sitting. But the subjsct has been
very much condensed and eimplified and
rendered more practical. Sebec EARLY.
which did not originate Ia the town Of
Sebec. rs is oftsn supposed, Garnet. Glea-
son. Orono, Jackson, Goodrich's Early.
Early Rose, Early Blue. Davis Seeding.
Prince Albert, Castor, Mercer. White Blue
BOSE, and many other varieties came under
examination and are 70 be fully repo, ted
IPou BY the committee. One potato Of
some choice variety, has been offered to
each member Of the Legislature for trial
in his locality. The advantages Of this
special attention to the potato are too obvi-
Gus to require . full statement The po-
tate 10 the root Of prosperity IN Maine.
A working party Of Prussian soldiers.
who were making excavations ne ar Hill
densheim. recently, discovered and un-
sarthed curiously formed and ernamented
pieces Of silver plate. together with Plates.
dishes. drinking-cuYs, vases, and Candida
bra. all Of pure 81 yer. and all Of elaborate
design and workmanship. The large st
piece is a vase cover, with chasings in
eigh relief Of stays. dogs. and other ami
mails. In fine preservation is q sill
yer drinkins-cup. eight inches high,
with two handles. and ornamented
with . profusion Of vine leaves intsrmixed
with theatrical masks; all so fine in con-
ception and execution that the work is
pronounced a masterpiece not be surpass-
ed. and rs old AS the best period of Roman
art in the time Of Augustus.
WrxTRRINo SrocK.-Besides the fact
that good warm stables are necessary for
oomfert. health. and thrift of stock there is
af anita ruurh ,narsauca IN