A STUDY OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE YIELD OF POTATOES 1169 



and doubtless largely due to, an increase in the amount of seed and in 

 the value of manure and fertilizer used. Here also the land values tend 

 to decrease as the distance from the post office increases. 



In Franklin and Clinton Counties there is a tendency to spend more 

 for seed, fertilizer, and spraying, on the farms having the higher- valued 

 potato land (table 12). This expenditure is apparently justified on 

 land valued up to $75 an acre. Above that point, the average yield did 

 not increase even with increased expenditure. This may be taken as an 

 indication that such land was valued at more than its productive ability 

 would justify. These more valuable farms are situated near Peru, in 

 Clinton County, and are thus highly valued because of their location in 

 the apple section of northern New York rather than on the basis of their 

 adaptability to potato culture. 



SOIL 



It has not been possible to study the influence of soil on yield on Long 

 Island and in Franklin and Clinton Counties. Altho Clinton County 

 has been soil-surveyed, it is included in the tabulations with Franklin 

 County, and the records taken were insufficient to justify the making of 

 such a study on Clinton County alone. The Monroe County soils map, 

 published by the United States Bureau of Soils, has been used in correlat- 

 ing yield and other factors with the soils of that region. 



Professor E. 0. Fippin, formerly of the Department of Soil Technology 

 at Cornell University, accompanied by the writer, made a reconnaissance 

 soil survey of the surveyed area in Steuben County in the summer of 1916. 

 Professor Fippin's familiarity with soil mapping in New York enabled 

 him therefor to sketch the boundaries of the various soil types and series 

 on the topographic sheets previously used in locating the surveyed potato 

 fields. 



Nearly half of the crop in Steuben County is growri on the Lordstown 

 soil series at an average elevation of 1718.2 feet. As indicated in table 

 13, the highest average yield was obtained on this soil series in spite of the 

 fact that only an average amount of seed was used and somewhat less 

 than the average value of manure and fertilizer. In contrast to this, 

 the Volusia soil series, located on the hilltops at an average elevation of 

 1785.5 feet, yielded the lowest average yield of any series in spite of the 

 fact that about the average amount of seed was used and more than the 

 average value of manure and fertilizer. The principal difference between 

 these two soil series lies in the somewhat darker color and the better 

 ox'dized condition of the Lordstown series. It is true that the soils of 

 this region become lighter in texture and of higher gravel and stone content 

 as the valleys are approached. This condition is probably blamable, 

 at least in part, for the higher percentage of blight rot on the heavier soils 



