DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 



873 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



KIND OF SETS. 



In this experiment two types of potatoes were used, one having most of the eyes 

 at the seed end of the tuber, and the other with the eyes more evenly distributed. The 

 following table gives the average of the results obtained: — 



Potatoes. — Kind of Sets. 



Kind of Seta. 



Unmarketable 

 per acre. 



Total Yield 

 per acre. 



Whole, small potato 



Cut to one eye 



Cut to two eyes 



Cut to three eyes.. . 



Bush. Lb. 

 24 12 

 13 

 17 

 16 



12 

 36 

 30 



Bush. 

 315 

 275 

 286 

 324 



Lb 

 42 



30 



DISTANCES APART I\ PLANTING SETS. 



In this test both 30 and 36 inches between the rows were tested, also planting the 

 sets 12 and 14jnches apart in the row. The rows that were 36 inches apart, with the 

 sets 24 inches apart, gave the better crop. 



HILLING VERSUS LEVEL CULTIVATION. 



Hilling pntatoe.=! in .Tulv was foimd to inrrpnse the yield pRr a^re Hv 3.^ hii'shels, 

 fewer tubers were sunburned, and less damage was occasioned by the early September 

 frosts. 



STRAW MULCH. 



A straw mulch was placed between the rows of potatoes when the tops were 4 

 inches high. This plan eliminates the expense of cultivation. A loss of 47 bushels 

 per acre was realised by using the mulch. The crop was badly attacked by common 

 scab, which rendered the tubers useless for seed purposes. On the adjoining plot very 

 little scab was noticed. 



COST OF GROWING 1 ACRE PLOT OF POTATOES. 



A l-acre field was planted with potatoes, half with the Gold Coin, and half with 

 the Everett. The seed was planted on May 13, in rows 2J feet apart, the sets cut to 



3 eyes each were dropped 12 inches apart in the row. The field had been manured early 

 in the spring, aaid ploughed 8 inches deep. It was then packed and harrowed. A 

 plough was used to make and cover the drills. In harvesting, the rows were opened 

 up with one horse on the plough. 



The following table gives the total cost of producing the one acre of potatoes: — 



Rent of land (one year) $ 3 00 



Barnyard manure (12 tons) at $1 per ton (J exhausted in one year).. 4 00 



Ploughing in early spring (10 hours at 33 cents per hour) 3 30 



Packing (i hour at 33 cents per hour) 22 



Harrowing twice (1 hour at 33 cents) 33 



Making and covering drills (9 hours at 33 cents per hour) 2 97 



Seed (25 bushels at 50 cents per bushel) 12 50 



Cutting and planting sets (4 men, 9 hours at 19 cents per hour).. .. 6 84 



Harrowing and packing after planting (1 hour at 33 cents) 33 



Harrowing twice later (i hour at 33 cents per hour) 26 



Cultivating three times and hilling (9 hours at 26 cents per hour) .... 2 34 



Ploughing out (1 man and horse, 6 hours at 26 cents per hour).. .. 1 56 



Picking up (manual labour, 56 hours at 19 cents per hour) 10 64 



Storing (2 men and team, 5 l|f>urs at 53 cents per hour) 2 65 



Total cost $50 94 



Yield per acre Gold Coin, 227 bushels. 

 Everett. 197 bushels. 



16—59^ . Scott. 



