lo Xov., 1909.] Potato Experimental Fields, 1908-9. 



733 



The following were used in ,lx)th plots : — Bismarck and Carman No. i 

 for the earlv crop, and Clarke's Main Crop, and Up-to-date for the main 

 crop. Of the two early varieties, Bismarck gave slightly the heaviest yield 

 in the sprouted lot, but in the averages of the two plantings, Carman No. i 

 was slightly ahead. When quality is taken into account, the latter was 

 by far the most profitable potato for the early crop. Of the main crop, 

 Clarke's Main Crop proved the most productive in both sections, with 

 Up-to-date a good second. Black Prince, a purple skinned variety, was 

 included to test its suitability for early crop exjx)rt. 



2 and 3. — The results from sprouted seed were extraordinary. Although 

 such heavv yields from late planting may not alwavs be obtained, one 

 thing is certain, and that is, the chances will always be in favour of the 

 crop which runs r-n 

 to maturity without a 

 check. The potato is 

 a sun plant, requiring 

 heat and moisture ; the 

 tubers do not sprout 

 freely until the tem- 

 perature ranges over 

 50 degrees F. There 

 is also the danger of 

 frost with an earlv 

 planted crop, which is 

 fatal to all the finer 

 quality and early- 

 maturing varieties. 

 When a plant is cut 

 back by frost, it has to 

 make a new growth 

 which must start from 

 the nodes of the main 

 stem below the surface 

 of the ground, with 

 the result that five or 

 six weak stems are pr( 

 duced instead of one' 

 strong main stem. 



The soil temperature at 11 a.m. on the 3rd August, when the first 

 section was planted, was 48 degrees F. and the atmosphere 50 F., whilst 

 at 9.30 a.m. on the 9th September, after a heavv frost, the soil registered 

 52 degrees and the atmosphere 54 degrees. At 3 p.m. the soil was 56 and 

 the atmosphere 68 degrees. These temperatures were rising daily, with 

 the result that the plants came up quicklv. being over ground in ten to 

 twelve days. They grew vigorously from the start, escaping frost, while 

 the early section was cut back twice. 



The objection has been raised that the crop from sprouted seed will be 

 too late for early market, but it was found that the late planted section 

 could have been marketed in cases at the same time as the early ones. With 

 some of the varieties, the increased vield would have amounted to ;^30 

 per acre in favour of sprouted seed. Another objection is the cost of 

 trays and the extra time required in handling the seed when planting. If 



EFFECTS OF FROST ON POTATO PLANT. 

 X iiirtieates ori"-inal stem. 



