AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 89 



TESTS OF VARIETIES. 



The Experiment Station tested in the summer of 1886 a number 

 of varieties of potatoes, oats and barley. (See Station Report 

 1886-7, pp. 104, 107.) The same varieties, with some additions 

 were again grown in 1887 and 1888, also a large number of varieties 

 of peas. The results of the year 1887 were reported in Experi- 

 ment Station Bulletin No. 24. But as they have not appeared in 

 the annual report of the station tl)ey are reported here with the 

 trials of 1888. 



POTATOES. 



Report of Trials in the Year 1887. 



The varieties of potatoes were planted on a loam, somewhat lightejr 

 and less claye3^ than the college farm in general, a soil uniform in 

 character and well adapted to hoed crops. This piece of ground 

 was manured, after plowing the previous fall, wath about ten cords 

 of good stable manure per acre, and in the spring a small quantity 

 (300 lbs. per acre) of a mixture of dissolved bone black and muri- 

 ate of potash was spread broad-cast. Each variety occupied a row 

 ninety feet long, containing sixty hills, the hills being eighteen inches 

 apart and the distance between the rows, three and one-half feet. 

 In each hill was planted a piece of potato having three good eyes. 

 All the rows vrere carefully cultivated at the same time and in the 

 same manner. 



Injury by the potato beetle was carefull}- guarded against by the 

 use of Paris green, and it can be said that the trial was not dis- 

 turbed by mishap of any kind, the growth of the plants being very 

 uniform and satisfactory. 



In the tables which follow are recorded : 



(1) The date on which each variety was first noticed to blossom, 

 this being an indication of the time of maturing. 



(2) The yield of large and small potatoes per row, and per acre 

 (calculated), also the total yield. 



The date of planting was May 18th and 19th. It was intended 

 to record the date at which the tops began to die as an indication of 

 ripeness, but this was rendered impossible b}' the fact that the tops 

 of all the varieties remained green until the date of digging, Septem- 

 ber 12th and 13th. All the varieties were comparative!}' free from 

 scab or rot, and all presented a fine appearance when dug. No test 

 of qualit}' for eating has been made of these varieties, but the com- 

 ing season an attempt will be made to do this. 



