EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



177 



It is well to obtain fresh seed for planting as often as once in two years, 

 since experiments have shown that, in potatoes as in other vegetables, a fre- 

 quent change of "seed" is desirable. 



DEPTH OF PLANTING. 



Three varieties of potato were planted at depths varying from one to 

 five inches. The average results seem to favor shallow covering, the 

 largest yield being obtained at one inch; the showing at two inches being 

 next best. 



Table XIV. — Depth of Planting. 



_ — 



CO > 



15 ^ 



* . 





*ja 



-C to 



•a 



154. 



115.5 



137.5 



150.5 



140.8 



157.1 



125.5 



149. 



194.5 



184.4 





78.36 



71.96 



81.83 



100.40 



120,53 



FERTILIZERS. 



To test the use of fertilizers and manures for potatoes, four varieties 

 were treated in sixteen different ways. The manure was applied at the 

 rate of thirty two-horse loads per acre; the fertilizers as indicated in the 

 table ranging from 900 to 1,400 pounds per acre, and wood ashes at the 

 rate of 67 bushels. The varieties were seedlings, which we desired to test, 

 and proved worthless. The crop was a very uneven one, and only general 

 conclusions can be drawn from the results. By comparing the yield from 

 the nothing plots, with the plots on either side treated with manure or 

 fertilizers, it will be noticed that a gain of from 25 to 50 per cent, was 

 obtained from their use. There seemed to be little difference whether the 

 fertilizers were applied above or below the seed. Although the fertilizers 

 gave slightly better results than stable manure, it can be attributed in 

 part to the nature of the season. The slight excess in yield will not 

 warrant the use of fertilizers at commercial rates where manure can be 

 obtained, as it can in most portions of the state, practically for the haul- 

 ing. Wood ashes can, as a rule, be easily obtained, and for potatoes or 

 any other crop can be used with profit. In addition to the plots mentioned 

 above, four others were used, in which sulphate of potash was tested against 

 unfertilized plots, but little or no difference was noticeable. 



23 



