FIELD CROPS. 1041 



most profitahlo results. Kacli irrigation delays maturity, and when nuicli over 

 L'O in. of water is used at Laramie peas do not fully mature These results were 

 obtained with a rainfall of 7.05 in. during the growing season. 



A net i)rofit of ,$50 per acre is possible by raising pea seed valued at 3 cts. per 

 pound, and a net profit of $25 to $30 by raising forage for sale at $10 per ton, 

 wIk'U the iiropcr (|uantitlos of water are applied in several light irrigations. 



Potato experiments, li. A. Emkrson {Xcbnisha Sta. But. 97, pp. ,i(i). — During 

 the past 2 years the station has carried on tests comparing various methods of 

 potato culture, different sizes of seed pieces and quantities of seed, different 

 kinds of seed, and distance experiments. 



Seed potatoes produced inuler a straw mulcli the preceding year yielded 47 

 per cent more in 1!)05 and 41 per cent more in ll»0(j than similar seed grown by 

 cultivation. Seed potatoes stored in an ordinary cellar, where they wilted and 

 sprouted badly before planting, gave poor results. The average yield from 

 sound seed was 5(5 per cent greater than from sprouted seed in 3 separate 

 tests. Of different combinations tried, the best results were obtained from 

 IS bu. of seed per acre cut in quarter tubers and the pieces planted 12 in. 

 apart. Nearly as good results wei'e obtained from 30 bu. per acre of seed 

 tubers cut in halves and planted 12 in. apart. 



An old alfalfa sod plowed up in the fall of I'JOo and replowed in the spring 

 seemed to have increased the yield of potatoes only 5 per cent. Planting the 

 seed pieces in furrows made with a lister after plowing increased the yield 28 

 per cent, as compared with dropping the seed pieces in every third furrow 

 as the i)lowing was done. Ridging up the ground over the rows of seed pieces 

 wheji planted, and harrowing the ridges down as the weeds began to grow, 

 increased the yield 53 per cent over leaving the ground level above the rows of 

 planted seed. 



Potatoes planted 4 in. deep gave better yields in 1905 than those planted 3 

 and 5 in. deep, but the tubers were about equal in quality. Planting the seed 

 1 and 2 in. deep decreased both yield and quality as compared with deeper 

 plantings. 



In 1005 7 cultivations gave 47 per cent greater yield than 5 cultivations, but 

 10 cultivations reduced the yield slightly below that from 7 cultivations. In 

 1006, from weedy lands, 3 harrow'ings followed by 4 cultivations produced a 

 yield 132 per cent greater than 2 harrowings and 2 cultivations. The same 

 year, on cleaner ground, 3 harrowings and 4 cultivations increased the yield 

 over 2 harrowings and 3 cultivations by 60 per cent, while with 4 harrowings 

 and cultivations the yield was slightly decreased. 



Seven years' experience indicates that mulching is a fairly satisfactory way 

 of growing potatoes on a small scale, although the method is practicable only 

 when the mulching material can be obtained very cheaply. Old hay or straw 

 should be sjiread about 4 in. deep just before the plants appear and after the 

 ground has been harrowed once or twice since planting. Rather large seed 

 pieces should be i)lanted 2 or 3 in. deep, and the hills should be placed 18 by 18 

 or 12 by 24 in. 



Potato investigations, E. I*. Sandsten and E. J. Delwiche (Wisconsin Sta. 

 Hpf. 11)06, pp. 221, 228). — These investigations were carried on at the substation 

 at Iron Rivc^r, on land which had been in potatoes for several years, with the 

 exception of A jicre which was in clover. The land was divided into 4 plats, 

 the first receiving 10 loads of well-decomposed barnyard manure per acre, and 

 the second a dressing of 200 lbs. of nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. of potash, and 

 300 lbs. of desiccated bone, applied July 2 and 19. The third plat received no 

 fertilizer, and on the fourth a heavy crop of green clover was turned under. 



2849— No. 11—07 m i 



