Tillage Experiments with Potatoes. 193 



crop after the pltuits have come uj_>^ for previous to this time all 

 were treated alike. It will be seen that this ainounts to more than 

 100 bushels per acre. Certainly it is worth while tocarefully study 

 the methods of tillage that have produced these results. 



The fact of greatest significance, however, is that the yields 

 given in the minimum column are so high. The average of this 

 column, which is made up of the lowest yield obtained from any 

 plat each year, is 228.1 bushels. Remember this is naturally poor 

 land, it has had no manure or fertilizer since the winter of 1893-4, 

 it has produced heavy crops of grain, roots or forage each season 

 since, and it is not of a texture that is supposed to be favorable for 

 potato growing, because it is quickly affected by drought. What, 

 then, is the secret of these high yields when so many of the con- 

 ditions are unfavorable ? Ko attempt is made to here answer this 

 question in detail, but the reader is urged to carefully study Bulle- 

 tins 130, 140 and 156 for information concerning the growing of 

 these crops. 



To briefly answer the above question, it may be said that these 

 high yields were obtained : 



1st. By thorough preparation of the land before planting, thereby 

 developing in the soil an abundant supply of readily available plant 

 food and securino; the storao^e of a laro^e amount of water. 



2d. By deep planting followed by frequent and prolonged tillage 

 of the crop, thereby preventing waste of moisture by {a) evapora- 

 tion from the surface of the soil, or, Q)) transpiration from the 

 leaves of weeds, and at the same time bringing more plant food 

 into available condition. 



3d. By maintaining healthy and vigorous foliage on the plants 

 throughout the season by spraying with Bordeaux mixture and Paris 

 green. These three counts may be considered as the three legs of a 

 stool, w^anting any one of which the stool may easily be toppled 

 over. 



Co-opeeation of Farmers Desired. 



It is desired to secure the cooperation of a considerable number 

 of farmers in the State with a view of testing the methods of 

 potato culture in vogue in their vicinity as compared with the 

 13 



