Third Report on Potato Culture. 183 



tory are Carman No. 3, Rural New Yorker No. 2, and Mill's 

 Endurance. 



Field potatoes. — An area of i.oi acres, the larger part of which 

 had been devoted for several years to the raising of mangold 

 wurzels, was planted to potatoes May 28. The land was fitted 

 similarly to the manner described on the plats. Part of this land 

 had been fertilized for several years with annual applications of 

 barn manures, and had been brought into good condition. 



Prtparation of the seed. — About three weeks before the pota- 

 toes were planted the seed was cut. It was the purpose at the 

 time of cutting the seed to plant the potatoes within a few days, 

 but almost continuous rains delayed the work until the end of 

 May. The potatoes which had been so long cut had been very 

 much weakened in vitality, having heated and moulded some- 

 what. They were planted, however, and the stand secured was 

 very poor, a considerable portion of the field having to be 

 replanted. 



The furrows for the potatoes were opened with a double mold- 

 board plow, the rows forty inches apart and the potatoes were 

 dropped one piece in a place at distances of 14 to 18 inches apart. 

 The double mold-board plow was then used in covering the pota- 

 toes and the soil was left ridged up above the rows. As a 

 portion of the field was a clay loam soil and rather wet at the 

 time of planting, the harrow was used within one week and the 

 ridges were leveled down and clods were pulverized before they 

 became too hard and dry to crush easily. The soil was warm 

 and moist and the potatoes came up quickly. About the time 

 they were breaking through the surface the weeder was used 

 with good results. It broke the crust and destroyed weeds that 

 could not be reached with a cultivator. Bordeaux mixture with 

 Paris green was used five times and five cultivations were given. 

 The yield from the field containing i.oi acres was 216 bushels, 

 or a yield of 214 bushels per acre. 



Lessons drawn from the acre of potatoes. — Seed should not be cut 

 for an}' considerable period before planting. If it becomes neces- 

 sary to delay planting for some considerable time after potatoes 

 are cut, the cut pieces should be dusted with plaster and spread 

 out in a moderateh' moist, cool place. At least the}^ should not 



