Summary 



Massachusetts growers now supply one-tentli i)f the estimated annual con- 

 sumption of potatoes in the state. 



Variations in the size of the Massachusetts potato crop have almost no in- 

 fluence on the price of Massachusetts potatoes. 



Some farmers are meeting outside competition and securing profitable re- 

 turns; others have not yet adopted improved practices or have not found it 

 profitable to do so. 



Data, from 54 Massachusetts farms, for potatoes in 1926 show variations 

 in man labor cost ranging from 54 to 21() hours per acre. 



Rates of seeding varied from 9 to 20 bushels per acre, and of manure from 

 none to 30 tons per acre. Yields ranged from 70 to 388 bushels per acre. 



The use of special potato machinery reduced the average amount of man 

 labor in planting from 17.9 hours to 7.5 hours per acre; and in harvesting 

 from 66.3 to 42.6 hours. 



In addition to differences in rates of seeding, fertilizing, and spraying, var- 

 iations in soils and previous cropping and varietal differences are important 

 factors affecting yields on Massachusetts farms. 



