268 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



white, sniootli, rogiilar, miifonii and of cxefllcnt (Hiality. 11 is a fjood yiilder and 

 wlicii tlio Carman cannfit l)c ohtaincd is a dt'siralilc varifty. 



Snnlifrlit Avas tlic loader anionji; the early varieties in produetivcness. It is a very 

 elear, wliite-skinned sort, witli a netted appearanee; sliai)e lon^r, oval, a little tlat- 

 tened. The eyes are stron<.'. narrow, lon<f and lipped, with very ])r<)ininent seed 

 sprouts, and are set in sli;;lit dc|)ri'ssions which make the tiihcr appear a little ro\i;ih. 

 The qnality is good and the Ihniness indicates that it would be a good keeper for an 

 early sort. 



Twentieth Century. — The vines resemble the Carmans in growlii, but the tubers are 

 long and tai)ering, usually bulged in the center; skin is cream white, covered with 

 thick, deep nettings; eyes are coarse, medium in number and evenly distiil)ut('d. The 

 liesh is very white, firm and dry. A good yielder and appears to be a long keeper. 



Washington was grown here last year, the seed having been received from the 

 Harris Seed Co. It is a strong growing variety, good yielder, and remains solid late in 

 the spring. 



White Rose, in growth and shape, strongly resembles the old Early Rose, but the 

 skin is clear white and has a netted appearance. The eyes are well scattered, of 

 medium depth, rather long, broad, and slightly curtained. The quality is good, but 

 they were a little light in yield. In a trial plot last year this was the earliest among 

 thirt}' varieties. 



Z-i and Z-2 are two seedlings received from Mr. ]\Iatt Crosby that are of some prom- 

 ise, but need to be grown another season to be thoroughly developed. The vines are 

 thrifty; tubers of desirable shape, white and smooth, one being a long variety, the 

 other round. 



SUMMARY. 



The average yield for 1900 Avas better than in 1897, but it fell a little below tliat 

 of 1898 and 1899. The soil was a little heavy, and during a part of the season the 

 excessive rains made it too wet for a healthy growth. 



Andes (11)8.45 bu. ) came to edible maturity July G. and is one of the best early 

 sorts. It is not a strictly white potato, but is an extra early sort of superior quality. 



Michigan (189.19 bu.) is the ideal Avhite early variety. These two varieties have 

 established their value by crops of several years. 



Sunlight takes the lead among the new sorts, giving a yield of 21G.7.5 bushels, 

 and became edible July 4. Tliey are of the Michigan type and certainly promise to 

 be of some value. 



Alexander (1.58.08 bu.) was next in yield and earliness, while Cole's Earlj' 

 (155.49 bu.) is another good sort. 



Among the second early sorts that showed much merit are Salzer's Earliest (18G.G 

 bu.). Northern Beauty (23.3.24 bu.) and Minneliaha (25G.5G bu.) ; the latter gave a 

 high yield, but the tubers averaged a little under size. Several of the other new 

 sorts 'are of some promise, but it takes more than one season to establish their 

 value. 



Of the late kinds there are no better varieties for the general crop than Carman 

 No. 1 or No. 3 and many of the new kinds of their type. Sir Walter Raleigh is a 

 leader of this class. 



Cannon Ball (287.G6 bu.) is a large, coarse, round, red potato, and for this type 

 of a potato is a good one. 



:\lillion Dollar ( 3O0.()2 bu.) was the leader in yield and has desirable characteristics. 



Kaiser Krone (228.07 Im.). Gem of Aroostook (204.33 bu.). and Pafs Choice 

 '288.06 bu.), are three varieties of much promise and can be safely recommended 

 as standard market sorts. 



FERTILIZER EXPERIMENT. 



In the spring of 1899 two acres of land, immediately north of the College, were 

 leased for fertilizer experiments with potatoes. It had been idle for soiue time. 



The soil is poor, being a light sand, containing but a small amount of vegetable 

 matter, and the fact of its being non-resident property partially explains the reason 

 for its being in such a depleted condition. It was covered with a quack grass sod 

 that required a sharp plow and heavy horses to properly turn tlie furrows. 



As soon as the ground was sutiiciently dry in the spring it Avas ploAA'ed about seven 

 inches deep and rolled Avith a heavy roller, then Avorked Avith spring-tooth and smooth- 

 ing harrows Aveekly until about the first of June, Avhen the potatoes AA'ere planted. 



While preparing the soil, the roots Avere so numerous that it Avas necessary to 



