IRISH POTATOES 251 



well states, the effects of good culture are very plain, for in spite of adverse 

 conditions the crop was an excellent one. The average yield of potatoes 

 per acre in the State of New York the same year was only from 50 to 65 

 bushels per acre, while the average on the Station grounds was over 300 

 bushels per acre, on soil not naturally more fertile than the average, and, 

 in fact, showing by analysis a lower fertility than the average. In a subse- 

 quent bulletin from the same Station it was found that six or seven cultiva- 

 tions gave the best results, and that success with the potato crop depends 

 largely on the preparation given the soil before the potatoes are planted. 

 Plowing should be deep, and at the time of planting the soil should be mellow 

 and loose, the crop planted early and deep and the cultivation frequent and 

 level. Harrowing before the potatoes came up gave marked results. 



The Khode Island Eperiment Station has done a great deal of work in 

 I lie investigation of the effects of lime on soils. In regard to the growing of 

 potatoes free from scab, the statement is made that on land in an acid con- 

 dition and containing no lime, the potatoes may be grown practically free 

 from scab, if only commercial fertilizers are used; that a gain in the crop 

 may be made from an application of lime on such soils, but the prevalence 

 of the scab is increased thereby. Wood ashes will also increase the amount 

 of scabby potatoes. An application of the chloride of lime entirely prevented 

 the scab, but injured the crop of potatoes. The sulphate of lime, commonly 

 known as land plaster, is the only form of lime that was found not to injure 

 the growth of the crop and at the same time did not favor the increase of the 

 scab. Barnyard manure, owing to its alkalinity or the production of car- 

 bonates from it, has probably in and of itself increased the scab. Upon an 

 acid soil, practical immunity from scab has been secured upon three successive 

 crops by the use of fertilizers such as the ordinary commercial fertilizers, 

 even when scabby tubers were used as seed and were not treated for the scab. 

 On such soils the potatoes can be profitably produced by the use of commer- 

 cial fertilizers. 



At the Ohio Station it is stated that superphosphate has increased the 

 potato crop to a profitable extent, the cost of a bushel increase being but five 

 to six cents. There was not found much difference in the efficiency of super- 

 phosphate from the dissolved rock and from bone black, but slag phosphate 

 gave lower results than the other forms. Wheat bran was a better fertilizer 

 than linseed meal. Nitrate of soda and muriate of potash, when used singly, 

 have not given much increase. Superphosphate, nitrate of soda and muriate 

 of potash in combination have given better results than either alone, and the 

 crop increase has been nearly in proportion to the quantity used up to 1,100 

 pounds per acre. 



