, 1872-03-07
King Co. Farmers Club.

MEETING, March 2, 1S72.-Present
Messrs. Lawton, Larrabee, Whitworth
Clymer, Yesler, Mcfarland, Bird. Hor
ton, White, Matthias, Mercer, Russo
and Settle.
Mr.. Whitworth reported that he had
written to Garfelde and the Commits
sioner of Agriculture for seeds for dis
tribution. He also said that while il
Olympia the Secretary of that Club told
him about the Fair in Olympia and
wanted this Club to give up the Fair this
year and join with them, and that they
would return the compliment next year
Col. Larrabee said he thought it would
be time to consider the matter when for
mally presented by resolution of the
Olympia Club. He was not favorably
impressed with the idea.
Mr. Yesler agreed with Col. IIarrabee
Mr.. Clymer said the potato was deter
iorating. 1t is neither as prolific nor as
healthy as it was ten years ago. He
thought the reason was that proper care
has not been taken in selecting seed.
Mr.. Bird said that the Kidney potato
was the only one that had deteriorated.
That the Jackson potato seemed to mix
with others.
Mr.. Clymer differed from the last
peaner. The jackson did not mix more
than Others
Mr.. Bird had planted seed from the
ball of the Kidney potato and produced
five different varieties none of which
were like the original.
Col. Larrabee-When you speak OF
varieties mixing you mean through the
flower, not in any other way +?
Mr.. Bird-Certainly. Potatoes do not
mix in any other way.
Col. Larrabee-As every seed produc-
es different variety how can there be q
mixing of varieties
Mr. Bird thought the varieties mixed
in the flower just as corn or the melon
family.
Col. Larrabee said be knew thirty-fve
distinct kinds produced from one potato
ball
Mr.. Mcfarland said the popular idea
was that the potato mixed in the hill,
but this cannot be.
DR.. Settle asked if the potato could be
changed by fertilizing the flower
Mr.. Mcfarland was quite certain nc
other result was produced than in the
seed of the ball
Mr.. Whitworth said the difference in
the same variety arose from the differ.
ence of soil and cultivation.
DR.. Settle said the blue potato produc-
ed the best in sandy soil.
Col. Larrabee asked if the newer va
rieties of potatoes had been introduced
here yet.
Mr. Bird said he had tried the Good
rich and it was a failure. The Early
Rose is a good potato.
Mr.. Whitworth and Mr. Lawton had
the early rose and other new varieties.
Mr.. Bird said the Buckeye was a bet
ter potato than the Early Rose. s-,ss
Mr.. Whitworth said the Early Rose,
in his garden, was the best of potatoes
He planted late in May and commenced
using the last of July. They were very
prolific.
Mr., Bird said he planted eight pounds
of Early Rose potatoes and harvested Il
bushels.
Mr.. Whitworth presented the Clut
with aumher of fine apples, the variety
not hnoxn. No member of the Club
could kahae the apple.
Col. Larrabee thought the country
better adapted to the cultivation of grass
.es than aRy other portion of the Pacific
Coast. That this should be butter
and cheese country. He asked whether
fir timber colld not be girdled and dead
ened so as to permit the sowing of grass
seed without clearing the land.
Mr.. Whitworth said that on a ridge Of
gravel land he raised luxuriant crop o1
clover. He knows of many high, dry
ridges that produced the finest crops Of
clover.
The President said it was easy to xii
tRe fir trees, and thought the plan good
one. A much larger breadth of GROUND
could be got in in this way. 7D
Mr.. Whitworth thought it would bt
an advantage to leave enough large tres:
for shade. The grasses would grow bet
ter. Especially this would be well OIL
dry ridges. t.s
Col. Larrabee suggested giant powder
as means tc clear up forests.
The President ard Dr. Settle though
the suggestion good one and it wa.
agreed by the Club to institute a serie,
of experiments.
The President showed the Club fou-
different varieties of potatoes from seet
importe | by him from England:
1st. Sutton S Early Race Horse, f
for the table in six weeks from time 0
planting, long, smooth, yellow, kid
ney-shaped potato with few eyes. y