244 



4) Seed potatoes obtained early in the year and sprouted 

 before being planted give a larger yield than those obtained late 

 and planted direct (i. e. unsprouted) from bags. It is important to 

 keep the first formed sprouts, as they are the strongest, and appear 

 above ground in the shortest possible time, thus allowing a longer 

 season of growth. 



5) The increased yield from seed bought early in the year will 

 repay the extra labour incurred by its early arrival upon the farm 

 and will at the' same time allow of a substantial profit, as, on the 

 average, the crop is increased by more than two tons of large 

 tubers per acre by the use of sprouted seed. 



R. P. WRIGHT. Effects of planting sprouted tubers on the 

 yield of the potato crop. -- (West of Scot. Agr. Col. Ann. 

 Rpt., 9, 1909, pp. 101-114). E. S. -R., March 1910. Washington. 



. 

 The object of this experiment was to determine the effect upon 



yield of sprouting potato tubers before planting. The increase 

 varied with the varieties tested, the later varieties showing a de- 

 cided increase. 



W. BRUCE. Experiments with potatoes, 1906-1908. (#. and 



East of Scotl. Col Agr. Bui., 17, 24). E. S. R. Washington, 

 Aug. 1909. 



Among the best varieties of potatoes grown were Midlothian 

 Early, Sharpe Express Conquest, Cottar, Dalmeny Acme, Factor, 

 Dalhousie, What's Wanted, and Langworthy. The two varieties 

 last mentioned ranked highest in quality but did not come up to 

 the others in yield. Sets obtained by cutting tubers of market size 

 produced as heavy crops as whole tubers of small size, and furn- 

 ished a larger proportion of marketable potatoes. Planting 12 in. 

 apart in the row*gave better results than planting at wider distances. 



Lime nitrogen proved an efficient nitrogenous fertilizer for the 

 crop. The use of i cwt. |of sulphate of ammonia, 4 cwt. of su- 

 perphosphate, and i cwt. of potash per acre is recommended, either 

 used alone or with a heavy dressing of farm-yard manure. 



The use of 5 cwt. of ground lime per acre in connection with 

 a complete fertiliser was not profitable, and the corresponding use 

 of i cwt. of carbonate of magnesia has so far not given results 

 that would warrant its general use. 



