THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 79 



75 dollars ; third prize to J. L. Perkins, Little Sioux, Iowa, 



393 lbs., 50 dollars ; fourth prize to Thos. J. McLeod, Bla-k 

 Brook, N.T., 380 lbs., 25 dollars. 



For the largest quantity of Gomjyton's Surprise from 1 lb. of Seed. 

 — First prize to Abediiego Robinson, South Newmarket, N. H. 

 511 lbs., 100 dollars ; second prize to H. C. Pearson, Pitcairn, N. Y., 

 450 lbs., 75 dollars ; third prize to J. I. Salter, St. Cloud, Minn., 



394 lbs., 50 dollars ; fourth prize to Frank A, Smith, Stone Church, 

 Penn., 386 lbs., 25 dollars. 



In addition to the foregoing, eleven other growers of Compton's 

 Surprise are reported as having produced crops exceeding 300 lbs., 

 and nine growers of Extra Early Vermont are mentioned as bavin"' 

 produced crops exceeding 250 lbs. Mr. Salter, the winner of the 

 first prize offered for the Extra Early Vermont, considers Compton's 

 Surprise to be the most productive potato of the t^vo, and his 

 haviug obtained the largest crop of the Extra Early Vermont, is 

 accounted for by the fact that be obtained a larger number of eyes 

 of that variety from the 1 lb. of seed, and also that the crop was 

 not so much injured by the Colorada beetle, as, owing to its earli- 

 ness, it had completed its growth before the beetle attacked its 

 foliage, and therefore did not receive so much injury. Moreover, 

 the tops of Compton's Surprise were cut down by a frost on Sep- 

 tember 7, whilst the other variety had been out of harm's way since 

 the middle of the previous month. Compton's Surprise is reported 

 to be the most productive potato yet cultivated in America, and 

 yields of 12 lbs. to 20 lbs. to the hill are, according to the com- 

 mittee, reported by the hundred, and in one instance 28 1 lbs. were 

 dug from one hill; it is also said to be mealy, and of the finest 

 possible flavour. The Extra Early Vermont is said to produce 

 large handsome tubers, and one competitor states that he lifted as 

 many as one hundred tubers exceeding 1 lb. each, and Mr. Salter 

 reports that he raised one tuber weighing 3 lbs. 12 oz. It is also 

 represented to be earlier and more productive than the Early Rose, 

 and to be of the finest flavour. As an indication of the produc- 

 tiveness of these varieties, the committee state that : " Several 

 reports contain accurate statistics of the yield of different varie- 

 ties, the result of careful experiments. Taking the yield of Comp- 

 ton's Surprise as 100, the comparative yields average as follows : 

 Compton's Surprise, 100; Early Vermont, 78; Harrison, 75 ; Peer- 

 less, 72 : Late Rose, 70 ; Early Rose, 62 ; Campbell's Late Rose. 56 ; 

 King of the E irlies, 40 ; Early Groodrich, 35." 



The time of planting was, in nearly all cases, during the month 

 of May, In no case were larger sets than of one eye used, and in a 

 majority of instances these were again divided into smaller pieces, 

 so as to give from 50 to 100 sets from one pound of seed. Nearly 

 all the growers adopted the billing system, and in only two cases 

 were large crops obtained by level culture. There appeared to be no 

 difference in the yield between hills with whole eyes and sections of 

 eyes. The hills were invariably placed a considerable distance apart, 

 rarely less than three feet each way, and ofcener further. As a rule, 

 but one set was planted in a hill, and covered about four inches deep. 



March. 



