336 Circular No. 5. 



nuring. Plow immediately, or as early as the condition will per- 

 mit, and measure off the plats which are to be devoted to the 

 experiment. It is desired that this be an experiment to determine 

 the effect of tillage upon potatoes, and the following suggestions 

 as to size and number of plats are given to aid the farmer in 

 carrying out the purpose of this work. (See diagram.) Measure 

 off a piece of land 207 ^/^ feet long and 147 feet wide. (A space 

 of at least three feet should be allowed outside of the outer rows, 

 indicated by the outside solid black lines, so that cultivation may 

 be given to both sides of the potato rows. This will give the 

 total width over all of an additional 6 feet or 153 feet.) Divide 

 this up into six plats, each 24)^ feet wide and 207^ feet long. 

 This will provide for six rows of potatoes 3}^ feet apart to each 

 plat, and will leave a space of 3^ feet between the outside ex- 

 periment rows and the edge of the plats. A space of seven feet 

 will be left between the adjacent rows of the plats, and in this 

 space there should be a row of potatoes planted which is to be dug 

 before the other six rows on the plat are harvested. This extra 

 row is indicated by the solid black lines in the diagram, and the 

 rows of potatoes which are to enter into the experiment are in- 

 dicated by the dotted lines. Planted in this way there will be 

 one-tenth of an acre of potatoes to each plat. If it is desired to 

 have the plats only half the size of the ones shown in the diagram, 

 then instead of making them 2075^ feet long, make them only 

 half that length or 103 feet 9 inches long and the width the same, 

 243/^ feet, and plant the rows the same distance apart as indicated 

 above, 3 ^ feet. This will give plats of one-twentieth of an acre 

 each. If the circumstances are such that it seems desirable to 

 have the rows of greater length and not have the plats definitely 

 marked off, as in the diagram, it may be done by so measuring 

 the rows that a total of 1,245 feet in each plat shall be subject 

 to the special tillage desired. This will give a potato area of one- 

 tenth of an acre. If the smaller area of one-twentieth of an acre 

 is preferred then have a total length of rows in each plat of 622 )^ 

 feet. Where the plan of the diagram can be followed it is recom- 

 mended so that there may be as great a uniformity of methods 

 and results as possible. Eight additional feet should be allowed 



