EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 361 



SUMMARY. 



1. Potatoes deteriorate rapidly under ordinary cultivation, and it is nec- 

 essary to frequently change seed to keep them in their pristine purity and 

 excellence. 



2. Experience with the severe drouth well demonstrates the value of 

 continual cultivation in a dry season. 



3. The following varieties of potato are recommended for Michigan: 

 June Eating, Early Norther, Early Oxford, Early Ohio, Lee's Favorite, 

 Early Harvest, Early Pearl, Freeman, Notfs Victor, Thorhurn, Rural 

 Blushj American Wonder, President Lincoln, Rural JSfew Yorker No. 2, 

 Rochester Favorite, O. K. Mammoth, Summit, White Elephayit, and White 

 Prize. 



4. The following are promising new varieties: Carman, Colossal, Early 

 Everitt, Heavy Weight, Notfs Victor, Prizetaker, Quick Return, Sir 

 William, Vick Early Market. 



5. It is now well established that potato scab can be controlled easily 

 and cheaply by the corrosive sublimate treatment. 



6. Potatoes kept over winter lose much in weight. One hundred and 

 eighty pounds of potatoes stored in a potato basement September 30, 1893, 

 lost ll| per cent, in weight by May 1, 1894. 



7. The vitality of potatoes is impaired by keeping them where they can 

 sprout before planting. Three hundred and thirteen hills from unsprouted 

 seed yielded 240 pounds of potatoes, while 321 hills, using sprouted seed, 

 yielded only 221 pounds of potatoes. 



8. Fourteen varieties of potato were planted, to learn the effect of 

 removing the seed ends of seed potatoes. The potato planted normally 

 yielded at the rate of 140 bushels per acre. Those from which the seed 

 ends were removed yielded at the rate of 138 bushels per acre. In the 

 matter of earliness there was no difference. 



9. An experiment, tried to determine whether a selection, year after year, 

 of • the best potatoes for seed might not keep a variety from deteriorating, 

 seems to show from the first year's results that there is something to be 

 gained by such selection. The yield was larger and appearance of the 

 tubers better from the selected seed potatoes. 



10. An experiment with heavy and light planting of seed potatoes agrees 

 with the concensus of opinion of other experimenters; that is, that a 

 medium quantity of seed per acre is best. 



11. Indications are quite conclusive that a gain would be made if farm- 

 ers planted their potatoes earlier or later than they now do. 



12. Potato-growers who desire a large yield of potatoes from a very 

 limited amount of seed, may easily increase the yield by growing potatoes 

 from cuttings. 



13. If intelligently, carefully, and perseveringly attempted, farmers 

 may originate new varieties of potato. 



14. Potatoes often fail to come up because the seed is scalded by being 

 planted in open drills and left exposed for a few hours to the sun and wind. 



15. In selecting a variety of potato, productiveness, healthfulness, 

 uniformity of shape and size, adaptability to soil, and the market to be 

 supplied, should influence the choice. 



16. Potato rot {Phytophthora infestans) may be controlled, somewhat, 

 by preventive methods, treating the seed with corrosive sublimate or Bor- 

 deaux mixture, and by spraying the vines with Bordeaux mixture. 



4G 



