FACTORS AFFECTING RETURNS FROM POTATOES 



87 



Materials Used. 



The quantities of seed, fertilizer, and other materials used on each farm 

 are given in Table 8. The rate of seeding varied from 10 bushels to 20 bushels 

 per acre with 12 bushels representing the most common rate. Practically all 

 the seed was certified Maine or other northern-grown seed. Less No. 2 seed 

 was used than in the other two areas. More Cobblers were planted here than 

 in Granby. 



Fertilizer applications averaged more and less manure was used here than 

 in the western areas. There is less livestock to furnish the manure and more 

 demand for it from market gardeners. The most common fertilizer application 

 was about 2000 pounds per acre, although the range was from 800 to 2500 

 pounds. The 5-8-7 was used on all farms except 29, 37, and 41, which applied 

 a 5-8-10 mixture. Those farmers who used manure applied from 8 to 20 tons 

 per acre. 



Both dusts and wet sprays were used for covering the vines. The Bordeaux 

 was usually a commercial mixture, although some growers mixed their own. 

 One or two growers sprayed only with lead arsenate. Only 5 out of the 14 

 treated their seed with corrosive sublimate before planting. 



Table 8. — Materials Used per Acre of Potatoes, Concord Area, 1926. 



a Bust, not included in average. 



b Averages for acres on which applied. 



Labor and Materials Used in the Seekonk Area. 



The farms from which records were secured lie in the southwestern part of 

 Bristol County not far from Providence, Rhode Island. More Cobblers than 

 Green Mountains are grown here, although the Green Mountains yield more 

 per acre. The hours of man labor used per acre on these farms ranged 

 from 78 to 214 per acre, and averaged about the same as for the Chesterfield 

 farms. The soil is freer from stones than in Chesterfield but more hand labor 

 was used in planting, spraying, and harvesting, particularly on certain farms, 

 and this increased the average input of labor. Some of the principal opera- 

 tions are reviewed in the following discussion. 



