60 



gradually increasing from the single eye up to the whole large potato ; 

 and when we came to dig and weigh the product we found an increase 

 in about tlie same ratio." 



3 and 5. Methods of planting.— Effects of fertilizers.— ^i&\&vl methods 

 of planting were tested on as many plats, each containing one hundred 

 hills. 



Flat 1. A C-inch furrow was two thirds filled with soil, the seed was then dropped 

 aud covered, and when the plants were well up the space between the rows was filled 

 with strawy manure to the depth of 2 inches. 



PJat 2. The furrow was half filled with fine ruanure, the seed was dropped on this 

 aud covered 2 inches. Level culture was given. 



Plat 3. The furrow was filled so that it was three inches deep. One bushel of un- 

 leached wood ashes was scattered in the bottoro, aud the seed was then dropped and 

 covered 2 inches. Level culture. 



Plat 4. The method used here may be called very properly the "Rural Trench 

 System," as it was first brought to the notice of the public by the Rural New Yorker. 

 A mixture of 5 pounds of dissolved bone (at the rate of 625 pounds per acre), 3 

 pounds of sulphate of potash (375 pounds per acre), and 2 pounds of sulphate of am- 

 monia (250 pounds per acre), was scattered in the bottom of the 6-inch trench. With 

 a spading fork it was thoroughly mixed with the soil to the depth of 8 iuches and 

 the width of 12 inches. The seed was then dropped and covered 2 inches. Level 

 culture. 



Plat 5. The only dift'ereuce between this plat and the last was that the fertilizer 

 was not applied until the seed had been planted and covered 1 inch. It was then 

 scattered on aud 1 inch of soil was placed npou it. Level culture. 



PlatG. Exactly like plat 5, except that the rows were hilled when half grown. 



Plat 7. The seed was dropped in the bottom of the 6-iuch trench. It was covered 

 with 1 inch of soil and the trench was filled with strawy manure. 



The results, which are stated in a table, may be summarized as fol- 

 lows: (1) When fertilizers were used, slightly better results were ob- 

 tained when they were applied over the seed ; (2) when fertilizers were 

 used, the best results were from level culture; (3) with wood ashes at 

 the rate of 125 bushels per acre, the yield was larger than with 1,250 

 pounds of fertilizers. (This is an important matter in Michigan, where, 

 in many localities, wood ashes can be had for the hauling). (4) The 

 results with stable manure were better than with either ashes or com- 

 mercial fertilizers. (5) The results with manure placed between the 

 rows as a mulch were better than when it was used either over or under 

 the seed. 



4. Depth of planting. — The soil and season have much to do with the 

 answer to the question, What is the best depth to plant! and no one 

 trial can give an answer that will be correct in all cases. 



With a compact soil aud a wet spring a shallow covering is generally 

 considered best, and our results this year seem to bear out this belief. 

 Duplicate rows were planted at depths of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 inches in the 

 following manner : For the one-inch covering the trenches were filled 

 with soil within 1 inch of the surface ; the seed was then dropped and 

 covered 1 inch. For the two-inch covering the trenches were filled 

 within 2 inches of Xhe surface, and so on for the other depths. 



