220 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The table shows the following yield from 



Marketable. Unmarketable. 



Whole tubers weighing if oz 88 lbs., 12 oz. 15 lbs., 



Whole tubers weighing 3} 2 oz 86 lbs., 10 oz. 7 lbs., 10 oz. 



Half tubers weighing 1^4 oz 103 lbs., 14 oz. Tibs., 8 oz. 



Whole tubers weighing 1% oz 83 lbs., 14 oz. 10 lbs., 13 oz. 



Half tubers weighing J^ oz 73 lbs., 5 oz. 10 lbs., 9 oz. 



Single eye, cut deep 41 lbs., 10 oz. 5 lbs., 2 oz. 



If the results be reckoned for an acre they will be as follows: 



Quantity of Seed. Marketable. Small. 



Whole tubers weighing 4f OZ 60 bu. 370 bu. 62^^ bu. 



Whole tubers weighing 3H oz. 44 bu. 361 bu. 31^4 bu. 



Half tubers weighing 184 oz 22 bu. 4.33 bu. 31 bu. 



Whole tubers weighing 1'54 oz 22 bu. 349 ^^ bu. 45 bu. 



Half tubers weighing Jg oz 11 bu. 305^2 bu. 44 bu. 



Single eye, cut deep 1733^ bu. 21)'^ bu. 



We have here a repetition of the first experiment so far as the results were 

 concerned. A half tuber weighing 1| oz., or at the rate of 22 bushels per 

 acre, giving the best results. Whole tubers at the rate of 44 bushels per 

 acre gave a larger yield than whole ones at the rate of 22 bushels, but the 

 gain in yield was not equal to the increased amount of seed. It would also 

 seem that the halves of medium-size potatoes are better than whole ones 

 of the same or even of a much larger size,and are by far preferable to strong 

 eyes from the same potato; while, as shown by the previous experiment, 

 the eighths and quarters, containing from two to four eyes each, are also 

 much less productive than larger pieces. 



It is often claimed that a strong eye, planted in good soil, will yield as 

 many marketable potatoes as if a half or whole tuber were used. The soil 

 used this year was far better than the average potato land, and it was well 

 prepared for the crop. If they will do well anywhere they certainly ought 

 to have done so in this case, especially as the distance, one foot, between 

 the pieces, was against the large tubers. 



From the time the plants appeared above ground there was a difference 

 in favor of the large pieces, the height and vigor of the plants gradually 

 increasing from the single eye up to the whole large potato, and when we 

 came to dig and weigh the product we found an increase in about the same 

 ratio. 



HOW SHALL WE PLANT OUR POTATOES? 



It was determined to test a number of the methods that are recom- 

 mended for planting potatoes, and arrangements were made as follows, 

 each plot containing one hundred hills. 



Plot 1, A six-inch furrow was two-thirds filled with soil, the seed was 

 then dropped and covered, and when the plants were well up the space 

 between the rows was filled with strawy manure to the depth of two inches. 



Plot 2. The furrow was half filled w^th fine manure, the seed was 

 dropped on this and covered two inches. Level culture was given. 



Plot 3. The furrow was filled so that it was three inches deep. One 

 bushel of unleached wood ashes was scattered in the bottom, and the seed 

 was then dropped and covered two inches. Level culture. « 



Plot 4. The method used here may be called very properly the Eural 

 trench system, as it was first brought to the notice of the public by the 



