D/T7S70y OF HORTICULTURE 813 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Preparation of seed. — All seed used was previously treated in a solution of mer- 

 curic chloride, the solution being the strength of 1/1,000 (one part mercuric chlor- 

 ide in 1,000 parts of water.) As soon as the tubers were dry they were cut so that each 

 tuber made four sets. 



Planting. — The sets were planted in the drills 18 inches apart, and covered with 

 the Lister plough. The planting was done on May 25 and 2G. When the young plants 

 began to peep through the ground, the light adjustable lever harrow was run over the 

 field once to destroy the weeds and kvel down the land. This one horse cultivator was 

 passed through four times, and hoeing done twice. Considerable trouble was experi- 

 enced in controlling the Colorado potato beetles. However, they were finally brought 

 under control without having done very serious damage to the foliage. 



From the first to the last spray poisoned Bordeaux mixture was used, the usual 

 4-4-40 solution, with the addition of one pound of Paris green to every 40 gallons of 

 solution. 



The potatoes were dug between October 4 and 6. The total yield per acre of 

 salable tubei-s was 254-80 bushels and 14 bushels of small unsaleable potatoes. 



Both varieties did well considering that the land was in a very run down con- 

 dition, and only a moderate coat of manure applied. 



The following is the cost of growing the acre of potatoes and the net profit or 

 returns : — 



Rent of land at $3 per acre per year $ 3 00 



Cost of labour — 



(a) Two horses at 8 cents per hour per horse 11 68 



(h) For manual labour at 171 cents per hour 32 20 



Cost of manure at $1 per ton 10 00 



Cost of seed 16 41 



Cost of spraying materials 4 72 



Total cost $ 78 01 



Receipts. 

 Total value of saleable potatoes on acre at 60 cents per bushel.. ..$ 152 88 

 Value of unsaleable potatoes at 15 cents per bushel 217 



Total $ 155 05 



Statement of Profit and Loss. 



Total value of crop as above $155 05 



Total cost of production 78 01 



Total net profit , $ 77 04 



Net cost of producing one bushel of 60 pounds ..Cents. 29 



SEED PKODUCTION. 



So that the necessary interest in the production of home-grown garden seed might 

 be encouraged, an attempt was made to obtain some seed. Several blocks of tomatoes 

 were planted in the garden for the purpose of securing a quantity of good smooth 

 fruit from which to extract the seed. In October the fruit was harvested and seeds 

 rubbe.d out on wire screens, washed and dried. This seed was used later on in the 

 seed distribution work. Garden peas. Early Malcolm sweet corn and flower seeds of 

 diverse kinds were collected, and of the latter it is a pleasure to report that a very 

 high germination test was recorded. In fact all the seeds saved gave very high test, 

 and it is a matter of vital importance to the farmers to try this work the coming sea- 

 son or make preparations for a year in advance. 



Lennox VIM E. 



