414 



BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



sulphate of potash and magnesia (equal to from twenty-six 

 to twenty-seven pounds of phosphoric acid, four to four and 

 one-half pounds of nitrogen, fifteen to sixteen pounds of 

 potassium oxide, and five to six pounds of magnesium oxide) . 



The fertilizers were applied broadcast and harrowed under 

 before planting. The potatoes were planted in rows, three 

 feet apart and fourteen inches distant in the drills, during 

 the first week in May, 1884. The crop was kept clean from 

 weeds by a timely use of a cultivator. 



As a mere incidental feature of the experiment, one-half 

 of each plat was planted with medium-sized whole j^otatoes, 

 the other one with half potatoes. 



The vines produced by whole potatoes showed a more 

 vigorous growth, during the main part of the season, than 

 those by part of a potato. The entire field looked promis- 

 ing until towards the middle of August, when the appear- 

 ance of the blight prematurely terminated the life of the 

 stems and leaves. 



The crop was harvested on the 9th and 10th of September, 

 with the following results : — 



Plat II. 



Whole Potato, 

 One-half a Potato, 



Not Fertilized. 



Large. 



830 



850 



Small. 

 280 



250 



Total. 

 1,110 



1,100 



Plat III. 



