STATEMENTS ON POTATOES. 



BY JOHN C. DILLON. 



Committee on Crops, Gentlemen : — 



The half acre of potatoes which I offer for premium was planted 

 on a sandy loam in rather low condition, having yielded a poor crop 

 of rye in 1881, and with the help of commercial fertilizers a still 

 poorer crop of corn in 1882. It was ploughed early in April, seven 

 inches deep, and planted May 1st, twelve rows with St Patricks, and 

 twenty-six rows with Burbauks. In planting, I made with a two- 

 horse plow, furrows six inches deep and three feet apart, dropped 

 whole potatoes, planting size, eighteen inches apart, and covered 

 them by hand hoe with three inches of soil. In a few days, I spread 

 along the furrows two cords of well rotted manure — mainly corn 

 stalks, which, after being picked clean by the cows, had served as 

 bedding for the horses, and had afterwards been kept in a fermenting 

 condition through the winter by daily applications of '• slops " from 

 the house. This manure was thrown over early in April, and at the 

 time of planting the potatoes, was well rotted and fine. I then har- 

 rowed the piece thoroughly with a rotary harrow, cultivated twice 

 and hoed once. 



the twelve rows of St. Patricks yielded thirty-eight bushels market- 

 able potatoes, three bushels planting size (two to four oz.,) and 

 about five pecks of small. 



The twenty-six rows of Burbanks yielded seventy-nine bushels 

 marketable, six bushels planting, and two bushels small. 



In a number of experiments I have found the yield of these two 

 varieties to be about equal, and thej' are equally fair, handsome, and 



