244 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



experimental work with the crop at the Central Experimental Farm, and gives 

 general directions for its culture. 



The 12 most productive varieties grown at this farm for 5 years are as follows: Dr. 

 Maerker, Late Puritan, Burnaby Mammoth, Money Maker, Carman No. 1, Dreer 

 Standard, Sabean Elephant, Canadian Beauty, Rural Blush, I. X. L., Pearce, and 

 Clay Rose. The 6 most productive early varieties for 5 years were Irish Cobbler, 

 Early Elkinah, Vick Extra Early, Rochester Rose, and Rawdon Rose. 



Some of the earliest varieties are Early Snowball, Eureka Extra Early, Burpee 

 Extra Early, Rochester Rose, Bliss Triumph, and Early Ohio; and the 12 varieties 

 freest from blight are Dr. Maerker, Late Puritan, Burnaby Mammoth, Carman No. 1, 

 Dreer Standard, Sabean Elephant, Rural Blush, Clay Rose, Rose No. 9, Hoi born 

 Abundance, State of Maine, and Swiss Snowflake. From 1887 to 1905 about 844 

 varieties have been tested at the Central Experimental Farm. 



In a 3-year test of growing potatoes after clover an average increase of 37 bu. per 

 acre was obtained, as compared with growing potatoes without the use of clover. 

 For fertilizing the land for potatoes the author recommends the use of a moderate 

 quantity of barnyard manure applied on the clover in the fall, or of well rotted 

 manure used in the spring, or if commercial fertilizers are used, an application of 

 500 to 800 lbs. or more per acre in the proportion of 250 lbs. of nitrate of soda, 350 

 lbs. of superphosphate, and 200 lbs. of sulphate or muriate of potash. An increase 

 of 40 bu. per acre was obtained in a crop cultivated 6 times as compared with one 

 cultivated only 3 times. In a 3-year test spraying with Bordeaux mixture apparently 

 increased the yield 94 bu. The cost of growing an acre of potatoes yielding 300 bu. 

 is estimated at $52.14. 



Variety tests with potatoes in 1901-1904, G. Martinet (Ann. Agr. Suisse, 6 

 (1905), No. 5, pp. 179-198, figs. 2). — The yields and descriptions of a large number of 

 varieties of potatoes are given in tables. In 1902, 2 plants were selected for their 

 productiveness and the quality of their tubers, but one was superior in yield and 

 quality to the other. The seed of these 2 plants grown for comparison showed a dif- 

 ference in yield of 32.7 per cent in 1903 and of 41 per cent in 1904 in favor of the seed 

 from the best plant. 



Solanum commersoni and its variations at Verrieres, Labergerie (Ann. Sci. 

 Agron., 2 ser., 10 (1905), I, No. 1, pp. 57-139, figs. 12; abs. in Jour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., 

 8 (1904), Nos. 51, pp. 803-807, figs. 4; 52, pp. 831-834, figs. 2).— This is a report of work 

 with Solanum commersoni and includes notes on observations made in cultural tests 

 with this plant by other investigators. 



Experiments have been in progress since 1901, and the results have shown that the 

 characters of the primitive types are readily influenced by cultivation and selection. 

 In very fertile friable soil, varying with the time the plants had been established, the 

 yields ranged from 20,000 to 27,000 kg. per hectare and in sandy soils the yields, 

 owing largely to the dryness of the soil, ranged from only 4,500 to 16,000 kg. per hec- 

 tare. The plant grew well on dry soil, but produced very long stolons with the 

 tubers from 20 to 30 cm. beneath the surface. The resistance to disease was good 

 and the tubers showed perfect keeping qualities. Tubers grown in 1904 on fertile 

 soil contained 19.91 per cent of starch and 72.59 per cent of water, and those grown 

 on poor sandy soil 23.21 per cent of starch and 67.48 per cent of water. 



Descriptions are given of variations observed in 1904, comprising varieties with 

 yellow, white, and violet tubers. The violet variety appeared to be of value on fer- 

 tile and humid soils, absolutely disease-resistant, very productive, and of good quality. 

 A dozen plants this season produced tubers varying in color from almost white to a 

 deep red. Six of these plants produced these variations, together with the violet 

 tubers, on the same stolons. 



Correlative changes in rye breeding- on the basis of color in the grain, K. 

 von Rumker (Fiihling's Landw. Ztg., 54 (1905), No. 7, pp. 238-245).— Experiments 



