952 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



age results for 2 seasons obtained with plats spaded at different depths 

 are given in the following table: 



Average yields of potatoes front plats spaded to different depths in 1896 and 1897. 



In the cultivation tests the soil of a number of plats was worked to 

 a depth of about 2 in. 10 times the first year and 8 times the second, 

 while au equal number of plats were cultivated 4 in. deep 11 times in 

 1 890 and 10 times in 1897. The average results show that less thorough 

 cultivation gave an excess of 4.75 bu. per acre in total yield and 0.08 

 bu. in large tubers over more thorough cultivation, while the latter 

 gave an excess of 2.1 bu. of small potatoes per acre as compared with 

 the former. 



In 1890 seed pieces uniform in size were planted 9, 12, and 10 in. apart 

 in drills 24 and 30 in. apart. After deducting the seed from the yield 

 of large tubers the plants grown 9 in. apart in the row yielded at the 

 rate of 192.99 bu. per acre of large tubers or 0.52 bu. more than the 12 

 in. planting and 19.50 bu. more than the 10 in. planting. 



In 1897 the results were the reverse of those obtained in 1890. The 

 yield of large tubers increased with the distance between plants in the 

 drill. The average yield of large tubers was 30.29 bu. per acre more 

 in drills 24 in. apart than in drills 30 in. apart. 



Further tests of seed potatoes grown one or more years in 

 Rhode Island from northern-grown seed tubers, C. O. Flagg and 

 J. A. Tillinghast (Rhode Island Sta. Bpt. 1897, pp. 374-380). — These 

 tests are in continuation of work formerly reported (E. S. R., 9, p. 943). 

 A description of the experiments is* given and the results for the entire 

 series are reported in tables. The author summarizes the results as 

 follows : _ 



"The average yields of 7 varieties of potatoes, liome-growu respectively 2, 3, and 

 4 years from seed tubers, produced in Aroostook County, Maine, show great 

 uniformity. The heaviest average total yield was in the second-year crop, while 

 the heaviest yield of large potatoes was in the fourth-year crop. 



"The average weight of the tubers produced was lowest in the case of the second- 

 year crop and highest in the fourth-year crop. The percentage of large tubers by 

 weight was greatest in the case of the fourth-year crop. 



"The variety producing the heaviest crop gave the greatest yield secured in the 

 test as the product of the fourth-year crop, viz, 245.87 bu. per acre; and the variety 

 which gave the lowest yield, 155.84 bu. per acre, produced the smallest yield of the 

 test as the product of the fourth-year crop. 



