1888.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 141 



4. Experiments with Potatoes. 

 (Var. : Beauty of Hebron.) 



[Field D.] 



A. — Experiments with High-grade German Potash Salts 

 and Ground Bones, as Fertilizers. 



The experiments were originally instituted (1884) for the 

 purpose of studying the effects of muriate of potash and 

 sulphate of potash on the yield of potatoes, as far as quantity 

 and quality are concerned. 



Three plats, each one-fifth of an acre in size, were chosen 

 for the experiment. The land had been for several years in 

 grass, and contained quite a number of old apple-trees. The 

 majority of the latter were removed, and the turf thoroughly 

 broken up before manuring. 



Plat 1 (west end) received 120 pounds of ground ren- 

 dered bones, and 30 pounds of muriate of potash (equal 

 to from 26 to 27 pounds of phosphoric acid, 4 to 41 pounds 

 of nitrogen, and 15 to 16 pounds of potassium oxide). 



Plat 2 received no manure. 



Plats (east end) received 120 pounds of ground rendered 

 , bones, and 58 pounds of double sulphate of potash and 

 magnesia (equal to from 26 to 27 pounds of phosphoric 

 acid, 4 to 4^ pounds of nitrogen, 15 to 16 pounds of potas- 

 sium oxide, and 5 to 6 pounds of magnesium oxide). 



The fertilizers were applied broadcast, and harrowed under 

 before planting. The potatoes were planted in rows three 

 feet apart, and fourteen inches distant in the rows, during 

 the first week in May, 1884. The crop was kept clean from 

 weeds by a timely use of the cultivator. 



As an additional feature of the experiment, one-half of 

 €ach plant was planted with medium-sized whole potatoes, 

 the other with half potatoes obtained from similar sized 

 tubers. 



The crop obtained from Plats 2 and 3 were seriously dis- 

 figured by scab, while that from Plat 1 had suftered less. 



1885. — The arrangement of the field, the mode of ma- 

 nuring, and the variety of potatoes raised, were the same as 



