170 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE BULLETINS. 



''^The Beauty of Hebron, all in all, is the best potato grown. This was 

 the general verdict of the meeting. The jDotato election in the Homestead 

 last spring had the same result." 



EESULTS FKOM PLANTING DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF SEED ON COLLEGE 



FARM. 



1. The question is often asked, in planting potatoes, what amount of seed 

 will give the best returns in yield and quality. 



Potato growers differ greatly in their views, — from a single eye to each 

 hill to a whole potato. 



I am of the opinion, however, that most of the tests made indicate that 

 when potatoes are cut to about three eyes to the piece, and one piece 

 planted in a hill, the yield and quality will be better than with a greater 

 or less amount of seed. 



2. Desiring to add our mite, in determining this question, five plats of 

 potatoes were planted on June 2, 1885, of the Burbank variety. 



The soil was a sandy loam, well adapted to potato culture. No fertilizers 

 were used except a dressing of well-rotted barn-yard manure, which was 

 plowed under. The plats were put in good condition, rows three feet 

 apart, and potatoes planted eighteen inches apart in row. 



During the season of growth the soil was thoroughly cultivated and kept 

 free from weeds, 



3. The following notes give, the appearance of the vines and other items 

 of interest during the growing season, while the table gives the number of 

 plats, amount of seed, date of planting and digging, weight of large and 

 small 23otatoes, total weight of each plat, per cent of small potatoes. 



NOTES ON POTATO EXPERIMENTS. 



June 35. Those from one eye are very thin. Did not come up as well as 

 the others. There are from one to two stalks in a hill. Those from two 

 eyes are larger and not so thin; but not so large as those from more seed. 

 From three to five stalks in a hill. Those from three eyes are making 

 good strong growth, with from five to eight stalks in a hill. Those from 

 one-half of a potato are making rank growth, having tops nearly as lai'ge 

 as those from whole potatoes. Those from whole potatoes present the 

 largest growth, having from five to ten stalks in a hill. The tops are not 

 as rank as some of the others; they are long and slim. 



June 30. Vines from whole potatoes are largest ; and from one eye the 

 smallest. 



Those from one eye do not spread out so much. 



July 7. Same as last observation. 



July 14. Those from whole potatoes and those from half are nearly same 

 in growth. Those from one eye are large, but there are only two or three 

 stalks in a hill. 



The vines from three eyes are very strong, making vigorous growth. 



Observations were taken at various times during the season, but there 

 were no apparent changes from condition referred to in these notes. 



The table gives the results so far as yield is concerned. There was very 

 little difference as regards the quality. The potatoes from whole seed were 

 not quite as smooth as those from a less amount of seed. They grew more 

 rough and scraggy than the othei's. The table indicates that three eyes in 



