February, 1930] agricultural experiments 1929 



Figure 1. — Areas as small as 3.8 acres proved large enough to handle economically 



machinery for potato production. 



In 1926 few growers in the north used certified seed. In the south, due 

 to dry weather, the average increase was only ten bushels an acre, yet the 

 increase more than paid for the higher seed costs. In the following year 

 increases of 40 to 50 bushels were noted which much more than paid for 

 the use of the better seed. The amount of seed used varies from 12 to 22 

 bushels to the acre. An increase in the amount of seed is closely asso- 

 ciated with higher yields, yet, under present cultural practices, it seems 

 unwise to use more than 18 to 20 bushels an acre. 



The practice of splitting the fertilizer application, even when 2,500 

 pounds to the acre are used, did not prove profitable. 



Further details of the survey are given in Bulletin 239, ''Potato 

 Production Costs in New Hampshire." {Purnell Fund.) 



CONSUMER DEMAND FOR POTATOES • 



Interviews in 1,050 homes in Manchester, Concord, Franklin, Roches- 

 ter, Dover and Portsmouth, supervised by E. H. Rinear, indicate that the 

 majority of consumers are forced to buy smaller potatoes than they care to 

 use. The majority of housewives preferred potatoes not less than 2.11 

 inches in width, which is .11 inch larger than the requirement for U. S. 

 Fancy No. 1 grade and .36 inch larger than for U. S. No. 1 grade. 



A decided tendency was found for consumers to buy in small lots the 



