llfi HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



The variety of potatoes was Beauty of Hebron, and the 

 seed stock was purchased in northern Maine. It was pre- 

 pared for planting by treating with corrosive sublimate on 

 April 10, exposed in a light room in a single layer until 

 April 22, and then cut into pieces of two eyes each. The 

 pieces were planted 1 foot apart in rows o feet apart the 

 same day the tubers were cut. The crop w^as thoroughly 

 cared for tliroughout the season. It was sprayed with 

 Bowker's prepared insecticide and fungicide four times, June 

 19 and 28, and July 11 and 2(3. As in our other experi- 

 ments, the spraying proved thoroughly effective in destroy- 

 ing bugs, but not entirely so in preventing blight and rot. 

 The growth on both plots was vigorous, and from a very 

 early period there was a marked difference in the shade of 

 green on the two ; the vines on the sulfate of potash plot 

 were of a dark-green color, those on the muriate of potash 

 plot were of a light-yellowish — or pea-green color. This 

 difference persisted until the crops began to ripen. On 

 August 5 the tops were generally beginning to show signs 

 of ripeness. On the 12th, blight was general, though not 

 apparently severe. The tops were entirel}'^ dead on August 

 29, on which date the potatoes were dug. They were 

 divided into two grades as to size, the potatoes classed as 

 small including those estimated to be below 2 ounces in 

 Aveight. There was considerable rot, as a rule of the larger 

 tubers only. The total weight of the decayed potatoes on 

 the muriate of potash plot was 50 pounds, on the sulfate of 

 potash plot 314 pounds. In the estimate of total product 

 these tubers are included with the merchantable. The yields 

 were at the rates per acre shown in the table : — 



Muriate v. High-grade Sulfate of Potash. — Potatoes, Yield per 

 Acre [Bushels) . 



