1196 



EARLE V. HARDENBURG 



interest to note that more than half of the 211 growers listed here applied 

 their fertilizer by the broadcasting method. 



The study of the methods of applying fertilizer, as treated in this paper, 

 does not allow any definite conclusions to be drawn. The question is 

 apparently one of local application, probably depending on such factors 

 as seasonal rainfall, amount of fertilizer used, and soil type, as previously 

 suggested. 



Use and influence of lime on potato land 



Lime has been given little prominence in use either as a plant food or 

 as a soil amendment for potatoes. This is due to the fact that, being an 

 alkaline agent, its use is conducive to the development of common scab 

 (Actinomyces chromogenus) on potato tubers whenever the causal organism 

 is present in the soil or introduced on the seed tubers. Therefore lime 

 is usually applied in the rotation as far removed from the potato crop as 

 is possible, while its major benefits to this crop, in the improvement of 

 soil texture and the growth of legumes, are as well accomplished. Wheeler 

 and Adams (1909) reported an increase in the proportion of tubers of mer- 

 chantable size from the use of lime. There seems to be little or no con- 

 clusive evidence available that lime has increased the yield of potatoes 

 except indirectly thru the benefits just mentioned. 



In spite of the fact that lime is advised for most potato farms outside 

 of the surveyed areas of Long Island and Monroe County, very few growers 

 reported its use in the rotation which they were using at the time when 

 the survey was made. A summary of the use of lime and its place in the 

 rotation followed in the surveyed regions is given in table 33: 



TABLE 33. USE OF LIME, AND ITS PLACE IN THE FOUR AREAS SURVEYED 



Very few growers apply lime regularly in their rotation. The commoner 

 practice is to use it only when necessity demands it as a means of producing 

 legumes. On Long Island, where potatoes are grown for so many suc- 

 cessive seasons on the same land, it is unsafe to use lime at all. The number 

 of years from the potato crop that lime is applied, indicated in table 33, 

 shows the consistent effort of the growers to apply it as far from potatoes 

 as is possible, in order to avoid scab. 



