176 



STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE BULLETINS. 



weight of the piece is the controlling factor, even when the common 

 method of cutting to eyes is followed. In order to complete the argument 

 it is necessary to show what relation exists between the number of stalks 

 and the yield. The facts in this connection may be gathered from the 

 following table: 



" Both varieties teach exactly the same lesson. There is a uniform 

 increase in the average number of stalks per hill to correspond wath the 

 increased size of the seed tuber used. With the increase of the number 

 of stalks per hill there is also a practically uniform increase in the weight 

 of the product, whether considered as total yield or separated into small 

 and large tubers. 



" The increase in yield is absolute np to a limit that is likely to include 

 all requirements of the cultivator. But it will be noticed that while seed 

 tubers weighing up to 4^ ounces give increasing yield to correspond with 

 the weight of the seed material used, above that point there is a falling off 

 in yield of merchantable product. This is doubtless due to the crowding of 

 the hills with stalks, which prevents the proper development of the 

 individual tubers." 



SUMMARY. 



" The question of the right number of eyes to the piece of seed tuber 

 has long engaged the attention of cultivators and experimenters without 

 receiving a generally acceptable answer. The experimental data here 

 brought forward proved that the number of eyes per piece is immaterial^ 

 but that the weight of the piece is a very important factor. The proper 

 manner of cutting potatoes for planting, therefore, is to divide them into 

 pieces of suitable weight (size), without regard to the distribution of the 

 eyes. Instead of attempting to have one, two or three eye pieces, as the 

 case may be, the approximation should be to one, two or three ounce 

 pieces, or some other definite weight." 



Since the above experiments show that the yield is more in proportion 

 to the weight of the seed planted than to the number of eyes, the common 

 practice among farmers of cutting out the eyes is to be strongly condemned. 



