Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-04-11
For tho VERMONT FARMER
THE BROOKS SEEDING POTATO.

This potato originated in Lunenburgh in
the hands Of Hon. Jonah Brooks. The po-
tato balls from which it came were taken
from potato known in Lunenburgh as the
Hastings potato, being there introduced by
Lambert Hastings, of st. ,Iohnsbury. II is
a very fair, sqand. white po@to, sud seems
to be hardy variety Mr.. Brooks planted
quantity of balls from this potato in 1865,
from which came eight varieties, all of which
were planted the second year, but only three
Of which seemed in any way remarkable.
One Of these is reddish potato, little
darker on the outside than the Early Rose,
but very white within, is longish in shape,
appearing with eyes deeply indented, and a
smooth skin. Another is in shape like the
one described only clear white with tinge
of pink about the eyes The third is white
aud more nearly round, the eyes being mostly
at one end aud not so deep set. These were
kept along, being partly used and partly
planted, until 1868, when Mr.. Brooks plant
ed little over half an acre in one field
which exceeded in growth anything in the
potato line raised for many years, at least
They seemed to have only arrived this year
to perfection, and their dark, rich color and
exceedingly large leaves attracted the atten-
tion of the public Many Of the larger sim
gle leaves were six inches long by four and
one.half inches wide, and one was found seven
and one-half by six inches Farmers came
for many miles just to look at them, and in
all probability so fac growth Of potatoes
was never seen in this section before
Mr.. Hatch, OF Northumberland, n IL.
came to see them, and offered Judge Brooks
three hundred dollars for the field. This
was refused, and five hundred dollars asked.
j. b. Blondin, Of Littleton, at one time al.
most concluded to buy at that figure, but
Mr.. Brooks at length made up his mind not
| to sell at any price aud so the expected bar
gam ended When dug in the fall the piece
| yielded between four and five hundred bush
els. The potatoes were like the tops very
fue, all Of good size and remarkable beauty
Mr.. Brooks fixed his price at four dollars
per bushel as the price was so high there
was great distribution of them; they went
probably into the hands of one hundred aud
fifty farmers, at least. Many predicted fail.
/ l,,t E,,l ,nl al
dinary crops.
John Smith, Of Acworth, n. H., from one.
half bushe raised seventy-eight bushels
Hon. Milton Cook, of Bloomfield, from
fifteen pounds raised thirty.fve bushels.
j. NJ. Dodge, of Lunenburgh, raised six
hundred and forty bushels to the acre
G. G. Brooks, Of Lancaster, y. H., own.
ing a meadow farm where potatoes do not
grow the best. raised one thousand four hun
dred bushels from three and one-half acres
But it is useless to follow single examples
as a whole, all were not only satisfied but
very sorry they did not buy larger amount
Of seed The next spring the seedlings were
sold for two dollars per bushel, and there
were many who desired to buy that could
not fnd potato.
In 1870, immense quantities were plant.
ed; the price the ensuing spring was one
dollar per bushe, and they were so much
better to eat than any other variety that
parties paid that price for them to carry to
the city market. In 1871, perhaps one-ha!i
Of all the potatoes planted in this town were
Of tina. kind, and the amount raised in this
town alone was more than fifteen
thousand bushels, Potatoes generally brought
about 20 cents per bushel, but about half OF
this crop was bought up by company
in Lancaster, n. H., at forty cents bushel
This was called the Brooks Potato
Company They intended to force up
the price and make money, but the large
amount raised and the general disposition
among farmers not to plant 50 many pota-
toes, prevented their expectations from being
realized, aud few hundred dollars loss was
the result Everywhere these potatoes have
proved themselves superior to others for gen.
eral use. They are not what would be called
an carly potato, yet they ripen in ample
season. When presented at various agricul,
tural fairs they have been awarded the pre-.
MUM.
Last season when almost all other varieties
were very poor, these were good, yet not as
good as in previous seasons. They are free
from rot, aud yet have very thin skin, and
dig free from dirt-looking clear and bright
OF course they now sell only for eating pur'
poses or rather that purpose controls the
price, yet they bring several cents more thar
other potatoes. The white varieties are
mixed together, and think always have beer
thus raised, but the red are true to theil
kind and unmixed. They are doubtless the
best potato that can be planted at the pres
ent time for all purposes except early pota'
toes. The great quantity of them thrown
upon the market will Of course accommodate
all wanting seed
have thus written out the history Of this
potato as requested, and | trust it may be oi
advantage to all who procure them for plant
ing purposes,
H. A. CuTTING.
Lu1lenJlTgh, March 25.
The census Of 1870 shows that there are
upwards of 100000 women in this country