64 



SHELBURNE. 



SOIL TEST WITH FERTILIZERS FOR POTATOES, 



by G. F. Dole. 



Average of tlie nothing plots: large, 11.7 bushels; small, 11.9 bushels. 



The acre used in this experiment is the same that was employed in 

 similar experiments vs^ith corn in 1889 and 1890. In the first year 

 the nothing plots gave an average yield of 29.2 bushels of shelled 

 corn ; in 1890 an average of 20.7 bushels ; and this year the average 

 yield is only 26.6 bushels of potatoes, more than one-half of which 

 are below merchantable size. 



The variety of potatoes selected was the Early Rose. They were 

 planted May 14, two feet apart, in rows three and one-half feet apart, 

 and dug September 1st. The experimenter wishing to increase his 

 chance of a crop, and thinking it would not affect the results of the 

 experiment, applied a special potato fertilizer to the rows separating 

 plots. It is perhaps needless to say that he did this without consul- 

 tation wilh station authorities, but inasmuch as such fertilizer may 

 be supposed to have affected all plots equally if at all, it is thought 



