THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 333 



stalks growing in a hill was less dependent on the number of eyes 

 than on the size of the seed piece, whether cut or entire. In general, 

 as the number of eyes per piece increased each eye became less pro- 

 lific in sending up stalks, so that there was less crowding of stalks 

 where large seed pieces with many eyes were used than would be 

 expected from the large number of eyes planted. After numerous ex- 

 periments touching on almost every aspect of this subject the inves- 

 tigator advised that tubers be cut so as to make each piece of a con- 

 stant size or weight, whatever the number of eyes that might fall to 

 its share. 



Cuttings per Hill. A custom not uncommon among those who 

 plant small cuttings is to drop two pieces in each hill. They usually 

 get a larger yield by so doing than by planting single pieces, the in- 

 crease generally, though not always, being sufficient to pay for the 

 excess of seed. This does not prove the practice profitable, for bet- 

 ter results may be secured by planting a single piece weighing as 

 much as the combined weight of the two pieces which would have 

 been dropped in one hill. Thus the labor of cutting is considerably 

 reduced and, what is more important, larger pieces improve the 

 chances of getting a good stand in an unfavorable season, because 

 they have less exposed surface than two small pieces of equivalent 

 weight, hence are less liable to dry out excessively when drought fol- 

 lows planting. They are also better able to resist rotting if wet 

 weather prevails. 



Stalks per Hill. The most common objection urged against 

 planting large seed pieces is, next to the expense, the danger of hav- 

 ing the hills so crowded with stalks, and consequently with tubers, 

 that a large proportion of the potatoes never develop to marketable 

 size. This objection is probably valid for entire tubers, and also for 

 halves planted very close in the row. The evidence available does 

 not permit us to conclude that in the case of quarters used as seed 

 there results any injurious crowding, and it may be questioned 

 whether halves give rise to this trouble when planted under favorable 

 conditions and at considerable distance apart. The number of stalks 

 that can be advantageously grown in each hill varies greatly with 

 variety, season, soil, and distance apart. 



Distance Between Plants. In deciding on the proper distance 

 at which to plant potatoes it is necessary to take into consideration 

 the size of the seed piece that is to be employed. In general, small 

 seed pieces should be planted close and the distance allotted to each 

 hill should be greater as the weight of the piece is increased. Close 

 planting for small cuttings is best attained, not by narrowing the 

 row to less than about 2% or 3 feet (for if the distance is much less 

 horse cultivation becomes difficult) , but by planting the seed pieces 

 close together in the row. To frame a general rule giving best dis- 

 tances for seed pieces of different sizes is plainly impossible, for the 

 distance at which the largest yields is obtained depends also on the 

 variety, the season, the soil, and the fertilizers. However, the results 

 of some of the investigations covering this matter afford liolp in de- 

 ciding on the proper distance under varying conditions. It has been 



