214 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The weather was cold and wet for three weeks after the plats were 

 planted, and in several cases one or two pieces failed to come np. In the 

 table showing the yield of the different plats, the actual yield is given, and 

 underneath is the computed yield reckoned on the basis of the full number 

 of hills. The weight of the seed, and the number of eyes are also noted. 



An attempt was also made to answer the question as to, "How much seed 

 to use and how shall we cut it?" in the same plat. There is among farmers 

 a great difference of opinion regarding this question, some using only 

 single eyes and others going to the other extreme and using whole large 

 potatoes. 



If the former are right and can get as large returns from single eyes as 

 the others from whole potatoes, the latter certainly waste a large amount 

 of seed, but on the other hand if the increased yield by using a large 

 potato will be several fold greater than the difference in the amount of 

 seed, it will certainly be very poor economy to use small single eyes. 



Various experiments have been tried to ascertain the quantity of seed 

 required for the best results, but contradictory conclusions have been 

 reached. One cause for this may be found in what may be termed the 

 individuality of the tubers. To counteract this in a measure, the pieces 

 were taken, as in the experiment, to learn the value of the seed end, from 

 the same potatoes. This experiment w^as also carried out in triplicate, 

 three different varieties being used. 



Twenty-five medium-size potatoes of each variety were selected and cut 

 lengthwise. One half from each tuber was used and the remaining pieces, 

 were halved, and so on until we had halves, quarters, eighths, and single 

 eyes. Each variety was j:)lanted by itself in the above order, and then a 

 row of whole tubers was planted. 



Similar notes were taken upon their growth as on the seed end rows. 

 The following, taken on the 22d of June, show in a striking manner the 

 effect of the size of the seed used on the growth of the young plants: 



Halves, 10 to 12 in. high, strong and even. 



Quarters, 8 to 10 in. high, quite even. 



Eighths, 4 to 8 in. high, rather weak and uneven. 



Single eyes, 3 to 6 in. high, very weak and uneven. 



Whole tubers, 10 to 12 in. high, strong and even. 

 The notes on the appearance of the rows grown from seed, middle, and 

 stem parts of the tuber were: 



Seed end, [ 8 to 10 in. high, growth even, the 3 rows nearly alike. 



Middle, -| Plants from the stem-cuts perhaps a little smaller than 



Stem end, l^the other. 

 The varieties used in this test were: Superior, Timpe's No. 2 and 

 Pringle's No. 2. The yield obtained is shown respectively in Tables I, II, 

 and III, which give the number and weight of the tubers in the total, mar- 

 ketable, and unmarketable yields. Table IV shows the averages of the yields 

 of the three varieties from the seed, middle, and stem ends of the tubers,, 

 and Table V their averaq;es when seed of different sizes was used. 



