130 BOARD OF Ar.RICULTURK. 



Question. Have you ever tried the comparative meiits of small- 

 size<l potatoes and large ones? 



Mr. Hersky. Not side l)y side. I now have an experiment un^er 

 way trying the ditference between a small potato and a large one, and 

 I am not satisfied with the result. I do not believe it. The result 

 was largely in favor of the small potato, but I don't believe the small 

 potato is any better than the large one, but if it follows for six or 

 seven years I shall have to give it up. 



QuestioJi. I notice that you want the potato to sprout before you 

 plant them to see that they are good. Would you have these sprouted 

 in the cellar or taken out to the air and exposed ? 



Mr. Hersey. I would have the potato sprouted only just enough 

 to see its vitality. A potato that has a long sprout on it is very likel}' 

 to get injured and if you injure the sprout it weakens the power of 

 the potato. It should be sprouted only enough to show that the e^-e 

 is alive and in good condition ; that is whal we ought to tr}- to do, 

 select the seed aud take proper care of it. 



Qiiestion. If you plaut in the years to come will you use whole 

 small potatoes or whole large ones? 



Mr. Hersey. In order to save the large ones for sale I should 

 take those that are just below that, but from the experiments that I 

 am tr3'ing I am not sure but that I am doing wrong. 



Question. Do 3'ou think it makes any difference about the shape 

 of the potato? 



Mr. Hersey. In a trial of seven years in the selection of long 

 potatoes and the selection of a particular shape, as 3'ou speak of, it 

 has made no difference at all. The shape is in the variety, not in the 

 selection. I was told you could get a potato an}' shape you pleased 

 simply b}' selection. I am satisfied that it would not make an}' more 

 difference about the shape of a potato than it would the shape of a 

 squash you would plant. 



Question. Do you consider the potato an especially exhaustive 

 crop to the soil ? 



Mr. Hersey. The potato is especially exhaustive in potash, but 

 I do not see that the potato is exhaustive to the soil onl\' in certain 

 directions. The time is coming when farmers are going to be intelli- 

 gent enough to feed their land according to what it wants. Now it 

 is said that if you plant a piece of potatoes three or four years in 

 succession your land runs out. Wh}'? The cause is this. The barn 

 manure which you apj^Jy has not its proper proportion of potash, 



