228 THE POTATO 



winter, planted on adjoining plats in the spring of 



1905, and given identical cultivation during the 

 summer. In 1906 the experiment was repeated 

 with seed grown in mulched and in cultivated 

 ground the year before. The same precautions 

 were observed as in the first test. Uniform seed 

 was used to start with in 1905. The seed saved 

 from the mulched and from the cultivated plats 

 was taken as it came, without selection, and was 

 kept over winter under the same conditions. 

 Both kinds of seed were cut in the same way, 

 planted in the same way, on adjoining plats, and 

 treated alike as regards tillage, spraying, etc. 

 Under these conditions any constant diflferences 

 in yield between the two plats must be ascribed 

 to the effect of the methods of culture employed 

 the previous season. The yields obtained from 

 the mulched and from the cultivated seed were as 

 follows: Cultivated seed, 384 pounds in 1905; 

 mulched seed, 563 pounds in 1905; cultivated seed, 

 123 pounds in 1906; mulched seed, 174 pounds in 

 1906. 



*'The use of seed that has been grown under a 

 mulch the preceding year increased the yield of 

 potatoes 47 per cent, in 1905 and 41 per cent, in 



1906. If further tests confirm the results re- 

 ported here it would seem that mulching might 

 be used for the production of high-grade seed 

 potatoes at home. Moreover, mulching usually 

 results in increased yields if properly handled. 

 Mulching potatoes on a large scale is, of course, 

 impracticable, but most farmers could easily 

 mulch enough of their potato field to produce the 

 seed that they would require the following year, 

 and in doing so they would not necessarily in- 

 crease the cost of production per bushel." 



