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STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



tional rows of the Sir Walter Raleigh variety being planted, one-half potato for 

 each hill being used for row No. 2, and single pieces with 2 to 3 eyes each being 

 used for row No. 3; the potatoes being cut the same day when planted. All seed 

 was planted five inches deep, in hills 18 inches apart, the ground having been 

 plowed a week before, and given two harrowings. Planting was done October 30, 

 1901, and permanent snow fell on unfrozen ground November 6. The rows were 

 laid out as shown on following diagram, being 4 feet apart, 8 rods long and run- 

 ning north and south: 



Rows 2 and 3 were a practical failure, only 3 hills coming up in row 2, and 2 

 hills in row 3. The results from further experiments will determine whether 

 this failure was due to deep planting, or to the seed not being cut several days 

 before planting. They will also determine the exact increased yield, if any, of 

 fall planted potatoes when the same size seed pieces are used for spring planting. 

 In the present experiment, it is safe to assume that a portion of the increased 

 yield is due to the fact that pieces were used for seed of all varieties planted in 

 the spring, v/hile whole potatoes were used for fall planting. A glance at the 

 diagram will also show that an insufficient number of rows were planted in order 

 to determine the exact difference between level culture and hilling up. As already 

 stated, the experiment was more of a preliminary nature in order to determine 

 first whether fall planting is possible. Its further value strikingly proves, how- 

 ever, the importance of spraying against blight, especially during a season like 

 the past, when the disease was unusually virulent and persistent. Nine sprayings 

 for the fall planted and six for the spring planted were necessary in order to 

 keep the vines protected against blight. Careful observations were taken July 30 

 and August 18, as herewith shown, in order to note the progress of the disease 

 upon unsprayed vines, all of which had been given an equal number of sprayings 

 with arsenic, using water instead of Bordeaux mixture. 



