MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 103 
Whitewash mixed with 1 pound of salt to every bucketful 
was the material used. 
TESTING OF POTATO VARIETIES 
During the season of 1918, which was particularly un- 
favorable for potato culture in this vicinity, a number of 
varieties were tested at the Garden in order to determine 
the relative value of each under the climatic conditions of 
St. Louis. While too great reliance should not be placed 
upon the results, since they represent the tests for but a 
single year, the table given below indicates that there is a 
wy decided difference in the yield from different varieties, 
and that while within certain limits the number of potatoes 
obtained from one variety might vary, the probabilities are 
that of those tested the Irish Cobbler, Early Ohio, and 
Triumph potatoes are the ones most likely to produce the 
highest yield in this vicinity. The table also indicates that 
the much-advertised method of planting potato peelings in- 
stead of strong eyes does not seem to be worth while for 
St. Louis growers. 
3 .| Amount Length of Harvest 
dt La planted row Per 210 ft.| Per acre 
Irish Cobbler........ 1 pk. 210 ft. 1.92 bu. | 161 bu. 
Early Ohio... 2.5... 1 pk. 210 ft. 1.43 bu. | 120 bu. 
SEO ha parents 1 pk. 210 ft. 1.12 bu. 94 bu. 
Early Seer ae 1 pk. 210 ft. -76 bu. 64 bu. 
Carman No fo 1 pk. 210 ft. 68 bu. 57 bu. 
Rural New Yorker... 1 pk. 210 ft. 59 bu. 50 bu. 
fgg: 0) anne ree oe ee 1 pk. 210 ft. .40 bu. 34 bu. 
| ee RES Reem errs 210 ft. Roe Sie eee ee. 
Since many ingenious methods for ei ine, Sate ee have 
been developed at various times for the benefit of the 
amateur, a few tests were made in order to determine 
whether these methods were practicable or not. One of the 
most widely advocated means of growing potatoes for the 
backyard is the so-called barrel method. Last spring a piece 
of ground 2 feet square was carefully fertilized, and 500 
ams of selected pieces of potatoes were planted 2 inches 
eep in this space. A barrel open at both ends and with 
perforations at intervals on the sides was placed over the 
— area. As the vines grew the barrel was gradually 
led with rich soil until finally the foliage extended over 
the top. According to the claims made for this system, 
tatoes should form all —— the vine to the top of the 
ony producing a crop which far exceeds one grown in 
