FARM DEPARTMENT. 



189 



their M^ei^ht exceeded that of the cuttings the larger ones were replaced 

 with smaller until their weights were equal, and vice versa. 



" The plats were planted May 2, the tubers or cuttings being placed 

 12 inches apart in the drills, and the crop was harvested Oct. 10 and 

 11, at which time the tops were, with the exception of an occasional 

 stalk, entirely dead. 



" In the following table the aggregate merchantable and total yields of 

 the four rows planted with the cuttings and with the whole tubers in each 

 plat are given separately, and also the differences in favor of each. The 

 size of the cuttings planted in the different plats is noted at the right." 



Table IjVII- Cuttings versus whole tubers of the same weight. 



" It is' possible that the number and magnitude of the experiments are 

 not sufficiently large to justify a final conclusion, but so far as their 

 teachings go, we may infer that, under conditions like those of the station, 

 little or nothing is gained by using cut potatoes for seed, while the labor 

 of cutting and the greater market value of the larger tubers may con- 

 stitute a positive loss." 



REMOVING THE SEED ENDS. 



"It has been asserted that the maturity of potatoes may be hastened 

 by cutting off the end of the seed tuber opposite to the stem. 



" An experiment made upon some of our experimental plats did not 

 confirm this proposition. The plats were planted May 16, with tubers 

 of medium size, those planted in alternate rows having the ' seed ' ends 

 removed, and the remainder having an equal amount cut from the oppo- 

 site end, the tubers being placed 2 feet apart. No difference was per- 

 ceptible in the time of dying of the tops. The yield showed an excess 



