I'lbruar}-, 1929] agricultural experiments 1988 7 



during the ]mst year shows similar yields and no injurious effect ironi the 

 concentrated brand. Plots were planted in duplicate, one with the ordinary 

 4-8-4 grade at the rate of 1,800 ]:)ounds per acre and the other with a 

 16-32-10 grade at the rate of 450 pounds per acre. Yields ran 29.") bushels 

 per acre for the former and 28-") for the latter. 



These fertilizer studies were mnd(> under the supervision of F. \\' . 

 Taylor. (Hatch Fund.) 



WHY AREN'T HOME GROWN POTATOES MORE POPULAR? 



An analysis of New Hampshire's home markets revealed that in 1921^ 

 more than 435,000 bushels of potatoes were shipped into the state. To 

 find whether New Hampshire wholesalers, retailers, restaurant and hotel 

 managers preferred out-of-state produced potatoes, E. H. Rinear ap- 

 proached the problem from the middleman's point of view. He found that 

 while the middlemen preferred the excellent cooking and eating qualities 

 of New Hampshire grown potatoes, three factors influenced the majority 

 to turn to out-of-state stock. 



The wholesalers and larger retailers are unable to buy locally many car- 

 lots of well graded potatoes that have been graded to size with a mechanical 

 grader. Well graded potatoes have proved in the past to be easier to resell 

 and do not require the extra expense of regrachng or consequent loss from 

 unsalable stock. 



The great majority of New Hampshire potato growers have preferred to 

 speculate with their crop by holding until a desirable price is reached and 

 then dumping their entire crop on the market almost overnight. Such a 

 system docs not provide a steady supply of potatoes of the same standard. 

 Many local tradesmen would, if the opportunity oflfered, be eager to estab- 

 lish a connection with a local producer for a continuous supply of uni- 

 formly graded potatoes. 



Occasional instances arose where growers insisted on selling and deliver- 

 ing potatoes to the consumer in small lots for the same price thev had 

 charged retailers. (Piirnell Fund.) 



POTATO PRODUCTION COSTS 



In continuing the study of potato production costs in New Hampshire, 

 M. F. Abell secured complete records from 176 farms that raised a total 

 of 297,711 bushels of potatoes on 1,161 acres. Production costs for each 

 acre in 1927 were higher than in 1926. due to increased costs of fertilizer, 

 seed and other materials. Howe\-er, in southern New Plampshire the sea- 

 son and yields were more favorable and final costs per bushel were lower 

 than in the previous year. 



The distribution of labor on growing and hauling potatoes toniarket was 

 analyzed for two years, 1926 and 1927. The larger yields of 1927 resulted 

 in a slightly larger labor cost consistently higher for each operation. In 

 1927,- 47.6 hours were spent on each acre for digging, 20.1 hours for haul- 

 ing to market. 14.5 hours for planting, 10.9 hours for cultivating. 5.5 hours 

 for fitting the soil, 5.4 hours for s]M-aying or dusting, 2.2 hours for manur- 

 ing. 6.0 hours for plowing, and 2.7 hours for miscellaneous operations. 



Since late blight was prevalent in unsprayed fields, an excellent oppor- 

 tunity was ofl^ered to compare the results of one year's effectiveness of 

 sprays and commercial dusts in controlling diseases and insects. The dif- 



