Tillage Experiments with Potatoes. 205 



The old method vs. the imjyt'oved method. — 



J. I. Parent, Saratoga Co. Soil, a loam, with loam subsoil. One 

 plat was an old sod plowed about May 1st, ho manure, harrowed 

 four times, check rowed 39 inches apart, worked three times and 

 killed at the last cultivation ; not sprayed. Variety, AVhite Star, 

 yield 87 1-2 bushels per acre. The other plat had grown 

 strawberries. In 1897, the strawberries were dressed with 1,600 

 pounds per acre of a good fertilizer (analysis not given), no manure 

 in 1898. In 1899 the land received a light dressing of horse manure 

 and 500 pounds of fertilizer. Plowed May 1st, seven inches deep. 

 As to fitting and planting " followed bulletin directions as near as 

 possible." See page 197. Harrowed twice before plants were up 

 and once with weeder just as plants were coming through. Culti- 

 vated level seven or eight times — last time July 25th. Sprayed 

 part of them with Bordeaux mixture tliree times. 



Result : Variety, White Star, not sprayed, 146 2-3 bushels per acre ; 

 the same sprayed, 292 bushels per acre — a gain of 159 1-6 and 204 1-2 

 bushels per acre, respectively over tha old method. Some Carman No. 1 

 on the same plat, not sprayed, yielded 275 bushels per acre, while the 

 same sprayed yielded 298.3 bushels. 



This experiment illustrates two distinct systems of farming. 

 Mr. Parent writes, " I wished to compare special culture with 

 our old way on sod land. Special culture has paid me and I 

 wish to thank the College for its efforts in this, as well as in other 

 directions." 



Four cultures.^ hilled^ and once spy'ayed^ vs. seven eidtures, level, 

 and three times sprayed. — 



Neil Merritt, Niagara Co. Soil, a gravelly loam with clay sub- 

 soil ; ploW'Cd about May 1st, seven inches deep, harrowed once a 

 week till planting, May 23d ; furrowed and covered with a plow, 

 seed cut to two eyes and dropped one piece in a place 18 inches 

 apart ; leveled and dragged twice before coming up. Both plats 

 alike to this point — further treatment as stated above. 



Results : Four cultures, hilled and once sprayed with Bordeaux mix- 

 ture gave 138 1-3 bushels per acre, of which 20 bushels were culls ; 

 while seven cultures, level, and three times sprayed gave 205 bushels, 

 of which six bushels were culls — a gain of 81 bushels per acre of mer- 

 chantable potatoes for the better treatment. 



