1896.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 25 



14.99 per cent. Muriate of potash potatoes, water, 79.86 

 per cent. ; starch, 13.68 per cent. 



In those seasons when the muriate potatoes have compared 

 most favorably with the sulphate potatoes, the crop has suf- 

 fered from leaf blight, and has not therefore ripened as well 

 as in other seasons. It is believed that the experiments 

 indicate that, under average conditions of soil, season and 

 ripening, the potatoes grown on the sulphate of potash will 

 contain less water and more starch than those grown on the 

 muriate. 



Examination of the above table shows also that the 

 potatoes grown under drill application of the fertilizers have 

 usually been superior in quality to those grown where the 

 fertilizers have been put on broadcast; containing less water 

 and more starch. The most marked exception is on muriate 

 of potash in 1892 ; but it appears not unlikely that there 

 was an error in the analysis, since the proportion of water 

 in the drill potatoes is nearly the same as in those grown 

 where the fertilizers were broadcast. It will be noticed that 

 elsewhere the variations in water and starch are about equal 

 in amount, bat in opposite directions. When there is more 

 water there is less starch, and vice versa. Leaving out the 

 muriate plats for 1892, the averages are : for drill applica- 

 tion of fertilizers, water, 78.2 per cent. ; starch, 14.9 per 

 cent. Broadcast application of fertilizers, water, 78.8 per 

 cent. ; starch, 14.4 per cent. 



It is undoubtedly the better ripened condition of the 

 tubers raised under drill application which accounts for 

 their superiority. 



Maine compared ivilh Home-grown Seed. 



In 1894 Houlton seed in quantity supposed to be sufficient 

 for the entire area under experiment was obtained. It 

 proved insufficient, and the last four rows in each of the four 

 plats were planted with seed grown upon the farm the pre- 

 vious year. These potatoes were raised from Houlton seed. 

 The season of 1894 was, therefore, the first removed from 

 the Maine stock. The results were decidedly in favor of the 

 Houlton seed. The plants started quicker and more vig- 



