224 ANNUAL REPORT 



can be produced, where we can cultivate five acres as cheaply as 

 they can one among the hills of New England. This fall our starch 

 factories have been making a clear profit of about 10 cents a bushel 

 on every bushel they worked up, and that too on a basis of from 

 three cents to eight cents a pound for starch. I know a factory in 

 our place that invested six or seven thousand dollars, and had 

 made a clear profit of eight thousand dollars. I hope to see this 

 thing develop and increase to the profit of our farmers, because 

 there is another reason for growing them for this market. We can 

 select any portion of the finest tubers and send them to the eastern 

 markets, such as will command the highest price, but we can send 

 to the starch factory all the refuse, anything from the size of your 

 foot down to the size of a Russian apple, and it will bring a good 

 price because it is just as valuable for starch. 



DISCUSSION. 



A Member. How do you cut your seed ? 



Mr. Wilcox. My way is to usually cut seed to about two eyes. 

 I commence at the base of the seed. I have a peculiar way of my 

 own which 1 do not want to take time to illustrate now. I cut to 

 two eyes and when I plant I place each of those pieces, nearly as I 

 can average, a foot apart in the rows. 



(Mr. Wilcox demonstrated his method by cutting a potato.) 



Mr. Pearce. Which do you perfer for planting, potatoes of large 

 or of medium size? 



Mr. Wilcox. The larger the potatoes you use the more vigorous 

 stalk you are likely to get. If you cut large potatoes you are 

 more likely to get what you desire, one strong vigorous stalk in a 

 place. That is the only advantage, except that ia the large tubers 

 we have a more perfect development of the bud. The potato is 

 practically a bud anyway, not a seed. 



Mr. Folsom. How long do you recommend that the tubers be 

 cut up before planting? 



Mr. Wilcox. Last spring I tried some little experiments in that 

 direction, but I regret to say that I am unable to report here be- 

 cause I took no means to inform myself from my notes before 

 leaving home. I planted 15 or 20 bushels that were cut several 

 weeks before and were thoroughly calloused, but I am not prepar- 

 ed to say which would produce the best results. 



Mr. Barrett. Do you put the manure on the surface of the 

 ground ? 



Mr. Wilcox. Keep the manure as near the surface as you can 

 and cover it. I would spread it upon the surface and harrow it 

 all I could, and work it in fine. 



Mr. Barrett. How do you prevent potato scab? 



