114 BOAKD OF AGEICULTURE. 



potato was cut in the centre, and each half reduced to two 

 eyes ; then two pieces were cut from the large potato, of 

 exactly the same weight of the pieces from the small potato, 

 and all but two eyes in each piece destroyed ; the pieces 

 from the large and small potatoes were planted in hills side 

 by side. The field view taken June 28 shows that the 

 seed from the small potatoes started first, A 2 ; and the sec- 

 ond view, when the plants were full-grown, shows a larger 

 srrowth. The next view shows the result. It will be seen 

 that A 2, from the small potato, has a large number of 

 quite small potatoes at the top of the view. These were a 

 late growth, and were on the stalks very near and some 

 about the surface of the ground ; but aside from these there 

 is a much larger number of good potatoes than in A 1, which 

 come from the seed of the large potatoes, there being only 

 four in A 1 large enough for eating, while in A 2 there arc 

 nine. A 1 produced 14 ounces of largo and 1 pound 6 

 ounces of small potatoes ; and A 2 produced 1 pound 2 

 ounces of large and 2 pounds 4 ounces of small potatoes. 

 The small quantity from these two hills was undoubtedly 

 owing to the small amount of seed used. 



The next experiment was made to show the advantage of 

 covering a cut potato with plaster. B 1 was covered with 

 plaster immediately after being cut, B 2 was left uncov- 

 ered, and both were planted in a few hours after being cut. 

 The view shows that the covered potato started first, and the 

 next shows that the uncovered potato did not make so strong 

 a firrowth as the covered. The result as shown in the next 

 view is not so much in favor of the covered seed. While 

 the total yield was larger, the weight of good eating potatoes 

 was less. This was, no doubt, owing to the hot, dry weather 

 which came just in time to check them when making the 

 most rapid growth ; while B 2, not being quite as early, was not 

 injured. B 1, the covered seed, produced 2 pounds 10 

 ounces of large and 2 pounds 12 ounces of small potatoes ; 

 total, 5| pounds. B 2, the uncovered seed, produced 2 

 pounds 14 ounces of large and 1 pound 14 ounces of small 

 potatoes ; total, 4| pounds. 



The next experiment was to test the difference between 

 light and heavy seeding, or single eyes and whole potatoes. 



