595 



Potato experiments {\)\). 2!^.'5-25G). — These included experiments with 

 dilifient amounts aud kinds of seed, methods of planting, and fertil- 

 izers. 



(1) Whole tubers vs. cuttings for seed. — Whole and half tubers and 

 three, two, and one eye cnttin<,^s of the "White Star variety were planted 

 on one series of plats May 4, and on another series May IG to '20. The 

 results given in detail in tables show a steady decrease of yield from 

 the whole tubers to the oiie-eye cuttings. A summary of similar 

 experiments at other stations is qnotcd from Bulletin iSTo. 2 of the Mary- 

 land Station. 



(2) ISimilar weights of seed per row in hills and drills. — The same 

 weights of seed of difterent sizes, from whole tubers to one-eye cut- 

 tings, were sown in hills and in drills. The results, as tabulated, uni- 

 formly favored i)lanting in drills. 



(3) Equal ic eights of seed in the hill. — A small area was planted June 

 18 with whole and half tubers and three, two, and oneeye cuttings, 2 

 ounces of seed being used in each hill. The results, as tabulated, fav- 

 ored the half tubers. 



(4) Large vs. small tubers for seed., and the same icith the seed ends 

 removed. — The results of a small experiment, as tabulated, favored 

 the large tubers and the uncut seed. 



(.5) Selected tubers for seed. — One hundred tubers of equal weight, 

 best tubers from the best hills and the poorest hills, tubers of various 

 sizes from the general stock, and irregular tubers, were planted sepa- 

 rately. The report states that the experiment was unsuccessful, but 

 tabulated data are given as a matter of record. 



(0) lielative yields from eyes removed and not i'emoved from the seed 

 tuber. — ]Sotes and tabulated data are given for small experiments, in 

 which the following questions were considered: "Which eye of a 

 potato will vegetate tirst? Aud which, if any one, is most prolitic"? 

 Also, how does each individual eye, when removed by cutting to the 

 center, compare in vigor, as shown by early germination aud in prolifi- 

 cacy, with an eye correspondingly distant numerically from the stem, 

 but not removed from the tuber, all other eyes on the tuber being 

 destroyed !" 



(7) Seed planted on the surface or in the furroic, — The results of au 

 exi^eriment with ditlerent amounts of seed on 2 tenth-acre plats, as 

 tabulated, slightly favored planting in the furrow. 



(8) Experiments icith different hinds of fertilizers. — Dissolved bone- 

 black, sulphate of ammonia, chloride and sulphate of potash, and nitrate 

 of soda, in diti'erent combinations, were applied in 1889 on fifteen plats. 

 JNotes on the previous manuring of the plats are given, and the results 

 of the experiment are tabulated and discussed. Where no potash was 

 used the yield was materially decreased, and there was a relatively 

 small decrease where no nitrogen was used. The ai)plication of potash 

 had no effect in preventing the ravages of the potato rot. 



