150 



STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE BULLETINS. 

 Table II. — Comparative yields. 



Seed. 



One eye. 



Total 



Small 



Marketable.. 



Mulched. 



92 



85 



Cultivated. 



101 



93 



Mulched in hill. 



70 



13 



57 



Average for three 

 divisions. 



88 



10 



78 



Seed. 



One eye 



Fourth potato 

 Half potato... 

 Whole potato . 



Net 

 value 



of 

 large. 



$32.97 



67.40 



~0.12 



68.52 



A study of the table yields shows in the first and third divisions, a very 

 marked increase in both total and marketable, from the smallest to the 

 largest amounts of seed. The results in the second are practically the 

 same, for though the total yield for the half potato was three bushels 

 greater than that for the whole, the marketable yield for the whole was 

 greater by seven bushels. Thus in every case the one eye cutting gives 

 the poorest yield and the whole potato the best. The average for the three 

 divisions shows decisively this increase, figures for the averages of market- 

 able being 78, 160, 178, 183 bushels per acre respectively. The great 

 similarity of results under the different methods of treatment, is a striking 

 feature. 



It will be noticed that the per cent of small potatoes is lower with the 

 smaller amounts of seed. 



We have had occasion to notice the fact (page 5) that this increased 

 yield does not necessarily mean an increased profit, since the increased 

 cost of the larger amounts of seed must be considered. 



Yields are given in bushels per acre unless otherwise mentioned. In all 

 Michigan experiments average sized potatoes were used unless otherwise 

 stated. In the experiments which have been cenducted on the farm depart- 

 ment every precaution has been taken to secure uniform conditions for all 

 the different amounts of seed planted. In every case several rows of pota- 

 toes have been planted around the border of the experiment. 



In the case of the whole potato (table III), we see that the greater 

 yield was not sufficient to counterbalance the extra amount of seed. Up 

 to the whole potato there is a decided increase in net yield, but the net 



