FARM DEPARTMENT. 161 



to the eyes of seed pieces, it would doubtless be necessary to repeat the 

 tests hundreds of times in different soils, and with different varities. 

 'Enough is as good as a feast,' bnt what would be enough in a wet 

 spring might prove too little in a dry one; what might serve in rich soil 

 might prove insufficient in a poor soil. The quantity of flesh which 

 should go with each piece, is, theoretically, that which without unneces- 

 sary waste, will best support the eyes until, by the growth of the roots, 

 support from the flesh is no longer required. " 



" SHALL THE DISTANCE APAET OF THE SEED PIECES PLANTED BE PROPOR- 

 TIONATE TO THE SIZE OF THE SEED?" 



Conditions of the experiment: 

 Soil, an impoverished clay loam which was fertilized with Mapes' potato 



fertilizer, 1,000 pounds per acre. 

 Method of planting, The pieces were placed in trenches four inches deep 



and three feet apart, measuring from the middle of each, on a plot 



of 1-40 of an acre, thirty-three feet square. 



Table XXII.— Shall the distances apart of the seed pieces he proportionate to the size 



of the seed. 



Seed. 



132 pieces 1 eye, 8 in. apart. 

 66 " 1 " 6 " " . 

 66 " 2 eyes, 6 " " . 

 33 ^ potatoes, 12 in. apart . 

 33 whole potatoes, 12 " 



Total 

 yield. 



187 

 209 

 227.33 

 227.33 

 282..3ii 



" It appears, therefore, that whole potatoes of medium size, placed one 

 foot apart, in trenches three feet apart, yieled over 95 bushels per acre 

 more than single eye pieces placed three inches apart; 73 bushels more 

 than single eye pieces placed six inches apart, and 55 bushels an acre more 

 than either two eye pieces or half potatoes." 



^^ Again. As to the size of seed pieces. I beg to remark here that my 

 experiments during the past fifteen years ought to throw some light upon 

 the important question of the size of seed. As a result, my belief is that 

 no one can say or will ever be able to say, whether it is better to use 

 whole potatoes or any given number of eyes, or sizes of pieces, as a guide 

 for all potatoes and difPerent soils. The number of sprouts desirable to 

 have in a hill depends to a great extent upon the distance apart of the 

 hills, and upon the vigor of the vines. 



" Last year I dug up seed pieces of different varieties planted ten days 

 previously. Any one who will do this at such a time will find that the 

 size of the seed must be determined by the number and vigor of the eyes." 



For example, the R. N. Y. No. 2 has not only few eyes, but those of the 

 seed end alone were pushing, notwithstanding the seed potatoes had been 

 exposed to the light and heat for a week or more before planting. Half 

 pieces of this variety were planted. My No. 3 has also few eyes, yet 

 from evei'y eye planted a sprout was growing. Does it not follow that 

 smaller pieces of the No. 3 than of the No. 2 should be planted? The 

 Everitt potato has many eyes, and a peculiarity is that all seem equally 

 sensitive or ready to grow. 

 21 



