590 



Reading-Course for Farmers. 



had started May first. They were then divided into four lots, one of 

 which was put into a dark cellar, fifty to sixty degrees in temperature; 

 another in a cold frame open above, bottom temperature eighty degrees; 

 another in a bam window, temperature near that out of doors; and the 

 last in a greenhouse, temperature seventy to ninety degrees. 



The following table shows the comparative yields and the increase 

 obtained by allowing the seeds to sprout slightly in the light. The 

 seed in each case was stored by the methods indicated, for thirty -six 

 days, May 2 to June 7. 



Seed stored 36 days (May 2 to June 7) in trays as below: 



Carman No. 3 



Sir Walter Raleigh 



Average of both 



Increase over seed stored in cellar . 



Per cent, gain over seed stored in 



cellar 



In dark 

 cellar 



5o°-6o° 

 Av. of 

 4 plats 



lbs. 



15-44 

 16.74 



16.09 



Cold frame 

 open above 

 bottom 80° 



lbs. 



26.50 

 17 .00 



21-75 

 5-66 



35-1 



Bam, near 



window, temp 



near out of 



doors 



lbs. 

 21.25 

 20.13 

 20 . 69 



4 . 60 



28.5 



Greenhouse 

 70°— go* 



lbs. 

 16.25 

 20. 25 

 18.25 



2.16 



13-4 



The sprouts of all of the tubers exposed to the light were strong, dark 

 green, but were only one-half to three-quarters of an inch long 

 On those from the cellar, the sprouts were three to four inches long, 

 white and brittle. 



The results of the above two experiments and the results which have 

 been obtained in numerous other experiments show that it is desirable 

 to expose the tubers for a short time in a light moderately warm place 

 before planting. If they are to be planted by machinery they should 

 be exposed to the light and warmth before planting only long enough to 

 allow the buds to begin to sprout. If the sprouts push out for any great 

 length they will be broken off and injured in the planting. Under 

 ordinary conditions, exposure in a light warm place for eight to fifteen 

 days is probably sufficiently long. 



