352 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Most of the potatoes of which a record is given, have been grown on the 

 station grounds for several years, and, though good seed has always been 

 planted, in looking up their records we find that nearly every variety has 

 shown a tendency to deteriorate. This accentuates the fact that, in our cli- 

 mate, potatoes can not be grown in their first excellence and purity, year 

 after year, and that it is necessary to change the seed occasionally by 

 getting potatoes from another locality, even though it be not far distant. 



The experience with the drouth well demonstrated again the value of 

 continual cultivation during a dry season. Farmers still seem to be in 

 doubt as to whether it is best to cultivate during a drouth. To all 

 such we can positively say that it is best to do so. Begin to cultivate as 

 soon as you can and keep the cultivator going as long as you can. The 

 culture should be shallow and need not be given oftener than once a week. 

 This is a general statement, applying to other crops as well as potatoes. 



Data from the records of the last few years seem to show that in the 

 matter of earliness we have about reached the limit, as in this respect the 

 new varieties show but little advance. The standards of quality and pro- 

 ductivenese, however, in the early sorts are steadily being raised. 



VARIETIES FOR PLANTING. 



It is a difficult matter to give a list of potatoes for any great extent of 

 territory, but the following varieties are recommended for Michigan, more 

 particularly the lower part of the state: June Eating and Early Norther 

 for extra early. Early Oxford, Early Ohio, Lee's Favorite, Early 

 Harvest, and Early Pearl for early. For main crop Freeman, Notts 

 Victor, Thorhurn, Rural Blush for medium; American Wonder, Presi- 

 dent Lincoln, Rural New Yorker No. 2, Rochester Favorite, O. K. Mam- 

 moth, Summit, White Elephant, and White Prize for late. 



A few good varieties, well adapted to the grower's market and soil, are 

 better than a large number, not only because new varieties may turn out to 

 be worthless, but because an unknown sort does not sell as well as an old' 

 and favorably known one. Whoever invests largely in a new variety, 

 depending on the seedsmen's catalogues or even neighbors' experience, 

 may be woefully deceived. Every grower should try, however, the more 

 highly recommended new varieties in an inexpensive way, because, having 

 served their day and generation, the old sorts must go and new ones take 

 their places. 



POTATOES DISCARDED AS WORTHLESS. 



Each year it is found necessary to discard a large number of varieties of 

 potato that are worthless in this state, or at least this part of it. The 

 seedsmen have many of the discarded varieties for sale and it may be of 

 value to know that they are worthless here. All varieties that failed to 

 give an average yield of 100 bushels per acre for three years, and that were 

 below the average in quality or appearance, and that had noticeably bad 

 features, have been discarded. More than as many more are practically 

 worthless here, but we hesitated about blacklisting them until further 

 trial, and because they had qualities which might make them desirable in 

 other localities. 



