— 8o — 



March 29th, and were subsequently handled the same as seedling 

 plants. Seeds of Ignotum and Lorillard were sown April 1st, 

 and seedlings of Sunrise sown January 15th were used in the 

 test. We obtained the following figures from the plants : 



No. ripe frts. Average wt. Average wt. of 

 Variety. No. of before of product individual 



plants. Sept. 1. per plant. fruits 



Ignotum, 



Seedlings, ... 12 17 6 lbs 8.4 oz. 



Cuttings, .... 6 4 3 " . ... 7.6 " 



Lorillardy 



Seedlings, ... 12 37 4-9 " .... 5 



Cuttings,. ... 4 6 4.2 " .... 6 



Sunrise, 



Seedlings, ... 6 2 2 " . ... 4.7 " 



Cuttings,. ... 2 o 1.1 " .... 4 " 



These figures show that the seedlings gave the earliest and 

 largest returns. The numbers of plants in the contrasted lots 

 were not the same, so that the second column of figures does not 

 represent proportionate earliness. Making the proper calcula- 

 tions, however, we find that twice the number of fruits were ripe 

 per plant Sept. 1st upon the seedlings as upon the cuttings. The 

 figures stand as follows, respectively, in favor of seedlings : 



17:8. 37:18. 2:0. 



The lateness of the planting and certain other causes resulted 

 in a poor yield, but this fact does not invalidate the figures for 

 comparison. 



5. Trimmings Plants of Potato Leaf, Golden Queen, Volun- 

 teer, and Bay State were headed back from three to six inches on 

 all the leading shoots July 28th and August 25th, and all the 

 sprouts from the base of the plants were taken off. In every case 

 there was an important gain in earliness and productiveness in 

 favor of the trimmed plants. The labor of trimming is very 

 slight, and it would appear to be profitable. The following 

 figures show the extent of gain : 



