1888.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 145 



It was fertilized broadcast, at the rate of 600 pounds of 

 ground rendered bones and 290 pounds of potash magnesia 

 sulphate. 



The field was subdivided into five plats of equal size, 

 eight}^ feet long and fifty feet wide, and the potatoes subse- 

 quently planted in rows, three feet three inches apart, with 

 hills three feet from each other in the rows. Three feet of 

 space was left between the plats unoccupied. The scabby 

 seed potatoes selected for the trial were, as far as practicable, 

 of a uniformly medium size. Each lot was immersed in the 

 particular solution prepared for the diflereut plats ; after 

 being kept there for twenty-four hours they were removed 

 and directly planted. 



Plat 1 was planted with healthy and smooth potatoes , with- 

 out any previous treatment. This course was adopted to 

 learn whether soil, fertilizer, or atmospheric agencies of the 

 season would favor the appearance of the scab in the crop. 



Plat 2. The scabby seed potatoes were allowed to remain 

 for twenty-four hours in a saturated solution of muriate of 

 potash before being planted. 



Plat 3. A strong solution of hypochlorite of lime 

 (bleaching lime) was applied in a similar way, for the prep- 

 aration of the scabby seed, as in the case of Plat 2. 



Plat 4. A saturated solution of carbolic acid in water, 

 served, in this instance, for the treatment of the scabby 

 potatoes. 



The potatoes were planted in all plats on the same day. 

 May 7. The vines did not appear evenly, at first; they 

 were, however, equally vigorous upon all plats at the close 

 of June. 



The tops on all plats were pretty generally dried up 

 Aug. 18. The potatoes were harvested on the entire field 

 Aug. 30. The yield on all the plats was fair, and the 

 quality of the potatoes, almost without exception, excel- 

 lent ; this seemed to be more striking in regard to those on 

 Plats 2, 3 and 4, which had been, in the beginning of the 

 season, somewhat behind in growth. Here and there could 

 be seen a potato with a small mark of scab ; a large propor- 

 tion were perfectly smooth and without any sign of it. 



The results were recorded as those of a first experiment. 



