182 



Bulletin 228. 



Preparation of the Seed-Bed. Potatoes thrive best on a deep, well 

 drained, moist, mellow, cool soil, and the preparation given to the 

 seed-bed should aim to bring about these conditions as fully as 

 possible. The suggestions made as to place in the rotation have 

 this point in view. Undecomposed sods interfere with thorough 

 preparation and working of the soil, but when broken down and 

 mixed with the soil the effect is highly beneficial. 



In the Cornell experiments the fitting of the land was very thor- 

 ough and was alike for all the plats, the plan of the experiments 

 having to do with the inter-tillage, spraying, etc., of the crop. It is 

 evident, however, that the fitting had very much to do with the re- 

 sult, since those plats that were given the most common treatment- 

 after the plants were up, nevertheless produced very satisfactory 

 crops. 



This is shown in the following table giving the minimum, maxi- 

 mum and average yields and also the average yield in the State for 

 the years 1895 to 1898 inclusive. 



Table I. — Yield of Potatoes Obtained on Cornell University Experiment 



Station Plats, 1895 to 1898. 



This land did not contain large amounts of nitrogen, phosphoric 

 acid or potash, as shown on page 430. It had no manure or fer- 

 tilizer after the winter of 1893-94. It produced heavy yields of 

 other crops the alternate seasons when it was not planted to pota- 

 toes. The difference between the minimum and maximum yields 

 is due to the difference in the treatment of the crop after it was up; 

 but the very creditable yields given in the minimum column evi- 

 dently must have depended upon the preparation given the soil be- 

 fore this time, for afterwards these plats had the very commonest 

 treatment — that is, they were " laid by" at the third cultivation. 



Fitting the Experiment Plats. Each fall as soon as the season's 

 crop was removed the land was deeply plowed, thoroughly harrowed 

 and sowed to a cover-crop. This cover-crop w^s, usually wheat or 



