584 



Peppers (pp. 16, 17). — Tabulated and descriptive notes on 12 varieties. 



Potatoes (pp. 17-29). — Tlie experiments here reported are a continua- 

 tion of those recorded in Bulletin Ko. 57 of the station (See Experi- 

 ment Station Kecord, Vol. II, p. 58). 



Test of varieties. — Tabulated data are given for 107 varieties, with 

 descriptive notes on 32 varieties grown in 1890, the other 75 having 

 been described in Bulletin No. 57 of the station. Among the most pro- 

 ductive early varieties in 1890 were Temple's No. 4, Early Ohio, New 

 Queen, Early Maine, Early Puritan, Putnam's Early, and Tirape's No. 6. 

 Of the varieties ripening about August 1 are Clark's No. 1, Burpee's 

 Extra Early, Dandy, Delaware, Hebron, Early Oxford, Faust's 1889, 

 Fort Collins No. 83, Gregory No. 2, Ideal, Lee's Favorite, New Queen, 

 Queen of the Valley, Thorburn, Gregory No. 1, Morning Star, June 

 Eating, and Putnam's New Rose. 



All but six of these varieties were grown last year, aud, as confirming the accuracy 

 of the test, it may be noted that every one of the above old sorts was in the selected 

 list of last year. * » * of the late sorts, White Elephant and Summit were most 

 productive, with Copper Mine, Browuell's Winner, Bannock, Empire State, aud Name- 

 less No. 2 not far behind. Red Star, Arizona, President Lincoln, and Dakota Red 

 were also productive. » * * The wild Mexican variety has been grown here for 

 a number of years and has greatly increased in size and yield. The eyes are rather 

 deep, and it is too coarse to bo a valuable variety. The Solarium jamesii has shown 

 itself much less susceptible to improvement, and we have been able to detect no in- 

 crease in the size, which is about three fourths of an inch in diameter. 



Change of seed ; seed ends for planting. — Experiments here reported 

 imply that a change of seed about every 3 years is desirable. The results 

 of experiments in 1889 and 1890, as summarized in this article, indicate 

 that the seed ends of potatoes are as good for seed as the middle portion, 

 ■weight for weight, and better than the stem ends. 



Quantity of seed. — To get light on the proper distances for i)lanting 

 potatoes in the row, single eyes, quarters, halves, and whole tubers 

 were planted at intervals of from 1 to 3 feet. The results, as tabulated, 

 led to the opinion that under the conditions obtaining in these experi- 

 ments — 



Single eyes and quarters of medium-sized potatoes may be placed in drills from a 

 foot to 15 inches apart ; when halves are used the distance maybe increased to 2 feet, 

 and when whole tubers of medium size are planted they may be placed at from 2^ to 

 3 feet, and thus admit of cultivation both ways. In each case these are intended as 

 maximum distances. This will require from 12 to 15 or perhaps 20 bushels of seed 

 potatoes per acre. With well-prepared and thoroughly drained soil and in favorable 

 seasons the smaller amount might be somewhat diminished with profit, but for the 

 average planter and in average seasons the largest would prove best in the long run. 



In 1889 two series of experiments were made regarding the amount 

 of seed to use and the method of cutting it. In 1890 these experi- 

 wents were repeated with three varieties of potatoes. The results are 

 reported in tables. In one experiment sixty-six potatoes of each variety 

 were so divided that halves, quarters, eighths, and single eyes from the 

 same potatoes were planted in each case, along with whole jjotatoes. 



