iggmg potatoes.

ofUpper Freetown used to use a mud digger to remove the mud from a local bog and applied it to his fields. Animal manure, seaweed, fish offal and limestone were also used in the 18005 as soil fertilizers and conditioners. Limestone was available locally. The 1871 census reported two lime kilns in Lot 25 and eight in Lot 26. These kilns used local calcareous rocks and through a heating process extracted lime (calcite and dolomite) for application to fields.

In 1870 Potatoes continued as a major crop on Lots 25 and 26, with 49,927 bushels produced on Lot 25 and 60,342 bushels on Lot 26. Potato production in the Freetown area continued to increase through the seventies. The 1881 census revealed that 480 acres were grown on Lot 25, with 608 acres on Lot 26. The average yield on Lot 25 was 167 bushels per acre. On Lot 26 the yield was 190 bushels per acre. Both lots were higher than the Island average of 155 bushels per acre. The average farmer on Lots 25 and 26 grew about three and a half acres of potatoes. In the early 1880’s the major potato varieties had changed from those of the sixties. In 1881 they were: Early Rose, Black Kidney, Sherry Blue, Prolific, Snowflake, Compton’s Surprise and Burbank seedlings. This latter variety was the forerunner of the current Russet Burbank or Netted Gem potato. The Burbank in turn was a development of the Early Rose Potato.

Prior to 1880 there had been some dissatisfaction among farmers caused by the different sizes of barrels and other means of measuring potatoes. Potato buyers, up to this time, supplied their own containers and this caused several problems. Island farmers preferred to sell by measure rather than by weight. The Island sent a representative to visit the Federal Minister of Inland Revenue in the winter of 1879-80 and as a result, the inspector of weights and measures introduced a new potato barrel. Effective with the shipping season of 1880, all potatoes had to be shipped in the new uniform size barrel. It measured 25 imperial gallons with a 18 inch diameter opening at the top, had a small bulge in the middle and was constructed of sound hardwood.

All other barrels, including half bushel tubs, were discarded.

In 1890 the number of acres of potatoes on Lot 25 increased to 575, and on Lot 26 to 660. The average yield on Lot 25 was 177 bushels per acre and, on Lot 26, 163 bushels per acre. The average yields varied significantly during this era because of blight conditions, the availability of fertilizer, and climate conditions. The chief varieties in 1890 were: Bliss Triumph, Pearl of Savoy, White Star, Beauty of Hebron, McIntyre,

Empire State, Black Kidney and Early Rose.

In 1891 a hundred pounds of potatoes sold for $1.60 in Charlottetown. Based on an average yield of 150 bushels per acre the production cost per hundredweight was about $1.70. The Freetown area had yields of up to 177 bushels per acre, on average, suggesting they made small profits. The expense, per acre for growing potatoes at this time were as follows:

Rent ......................................................... 8 shillings

Plowing ...................................................... 6 shillings 3 pence

Dung (35 loads) ............................................... 1 pound 9 shillings 2 pence Spreading dung ................................................ 4 shillings 6 pence

Second plowing ............................................... 4 shillings 3 pence

10 bushels seed ................................................ 10 shillings

Cutting, planting .............................................. 3 shillings 11/2 pence Cleaning, ridging .............................................. 4 shillings 9 pence

Raising, storing ................................................ 1 pound 5 shillings Delivering (150 bushels) ......................................... 18 shillings 9 pence

Total cost = 5 pounds 15 shillings 101/2 pence

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