AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 381 



Experiment in planting potatoes various depths. — Variety, Mercer; 



plaJited May 12, 1859 ; dug Sept. 7 ; vines dead since ike middle of 



August ; planted one moderate size potato to each hill, and manured 



alike in hills. 



lb. lb. lb. Average. 



Two hills, 2 in. deep — each hill weighed separately,. 2 | • - 1.375 

 Three hills, 3 in. deep — each hill weighed separately, Ig 1 1| 1.416 

 Two hills, 4 in. deep — each hill weighed separately, 1| 2 . . 1.875 

 Three hills 5 in. deep — each hill weighed separately, IJ 1 1 1.166 

 Four hills 6 in. deep — each hill weighed sep'y, lb2 1| 1^ 1| 1,625 

 Four hills 7 in. deep — each hill weighed sep'y, 1| 1| l^ 1 1.4375 



Three hills 8 in. deep — each hill weighed sep'y, Ij 1 | . . 1. 



Three hills 9 in. deep — each hill weighed sep'y, 1^ 1^ | 1.166 



Three hills 10 in. deep — each hill weighed sep'y . . . . IJ 1 \ 1.25 



Three hills 11 in. deep — each hill weighed sep'y .... 1 IJ I2 1.25 

 Three hills 12 in. deep — each hill weighed sep'y,. ... | | 1| 1-083 



Four hills, eye end cut, one piece, 5 inches deep, 5| lb 1.375 



Four hills, middle cut, one piece, 5 inches deep, 5 lb 1.25 



Four hills, stem cut, one piece, 5 inches deep, 4^ lb 1.062 



Two hills, one potatoe each, with plaster, 5 inches deep, 3| lb. . . . 1.875 

 Two hills, one potato, plaster and ashes, 3:^ inches deep, 3| lb. . . 1.625 

 Two hills, one potato, ashes, 5 inches deep, 3|^ lb 1.625 



It will be observed that the best results followed the 4-inch plantings ; 

 and next in order, 6-inch, 7-inch, 8 inch, and 2 inches ; while 5-iuch, which 

 is between these numbers, (and which I think is the right depth for our 

 soil,) produced less than any, until we reach the 8-inch plantings. The 

 results are not uniform ; for instance, one hill, 12 inches deep, produced 

 1| lb, which is larger than the average of any except the 4-inch planting ; 

 and so with other individual cases. The experiment is not conclusive, not 

 being made on a sufficiently large scale, though carefully made. The yield 

 was light in every case, but this was from other ijauses, and does not affect 

 the general result. In all experiments of this kind, the size and quality, 

 or condition of the seed, should be as near alike as possible. I deduce 

 from these experiments, and from observation, the following, as bearing on 

 this question. 



" First, time. — The depth of planting potatoes should be varied accord- 

 ing to the time of planting, and possibly acocording to the character of 

 soils. Early planting, except to protect from freezing, requires the least 

 depth. 



■' Second, variety. — Those that mature early, require the least depth. 

 The habits of varieties differ, and the treatment should vary accordingly. 



^^ Third, season. — Much depends upon the season, whether wet or dry, 

 or medium. This cannot be known beforehand, and hence a medium depth 

 should generally be selected. This, ^r early varieties planted early, and 

 which generally mature on Long Island soils before severely affected by 



