230 NATURE-SI UDY REVIEW feiS-Nov.. i9io 



question came up as to whether anything could be done to pre- 

 vent the germination of the scab spores. 



The use of formahn was suggested. Some of the tubers 

 were placed in a weak solution of formalin, one table spoonful 

 to a gallon of water. They were allowed to stand in this a few 

 hours, then were drained out and cut for planting. Three rows 

 were planted with the treated tubers, and three others with the 

 same variety untreated. When the crop was harvested we found 

 a number of scabby potatoes in the untreated rows while those 

 grown from the treated tubers were wholly free from scab. 



An experiment was undertaken to test different varieties, 

 first as to which seemed best adapted to our conditions of soil 

 and climate, and second, which showed superior cooking quali- 

 ties. Four varieties were chosen, one very early, two that ma- 

 tured about the middle of the summer, and one late variety. The 

 harvest showed that neither the very early, nor the late yielded as 

 well as the other two. The test of flavor and other cooking 

 qualities was made by the domestic science department. 



Another experiment was made to determine which would 

 produce the greater yield, — stem ends or bud ends. The plants 

 from the bud ends appeared above the ground almost a week 

 before the others. When the potatoes were dug, in spite of our 

 expectations, the stem ends produced the greater yield. The 

 class decided that the record should be kept, and the experiment 

 continued several years before a final decision should be made. 



The effect that cultivation may have upon the potato crop 

 was tested. Four rows were planted with the saitie kind of 

 potatoes. Two of the rows were given ordinary cultivation. The 

 other two were cultivated twice before the potatoes appeared 

 above the ground, and frequently enough afterward to keep a 

 good soil mulch constantly on the surface. There was a marked 

 difference in the appearance of the plants during the summer. 

 The cultivated rows remained green and vigorous almost two 

 weeks after the others had become yellow and had ceased to 

 work. The cultivated rows yielded not only more potatoes than 

 the other rows, but much larger ones. 



The question of other methods of propagating potatoes 

 than by tubers was discussed. Few of the pupils had ever seen 

 the potato fruit or ball. Some seeds were procured and one 

 student undertook the work of raising potato plants from these. 

 She planted the seeds in small shallow flats in the greenhouse. 



