52 



MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



afterwards called in question on the ground of too deep plantino", 

 though the criticism was without reason. 



During the past season the work was very carefully repeated on 

 a more extensive scale. The land selected for the purpose was a 

 strong clay loam, naturally moist, but thoroughly underdrained. 

 The land was divided into two plots of one-twentieth acre each. 



The variety used in this test vras Early Rose. On each plot sixty 

 pounds of a complete fertilizer were applied — broadcast for the 

 common system ; in the trench with the other. 



The two plots were plowed and harrowed alike. One was then 

 furrovred about four inches deep, and planted in the ordinary man- 

 ner, the fertilizer applied on the surface. 



On the other plot furrows eight inches deep were made. These 

 were ihen pulverized to a depth of fourteen inches. They were 

 then filled to six inches, after which the fertilizer was distributed 

 in the trenches and covered with two inches of soil. The tubers 

 were then planted in the same manner as on the other plot. The 

 two plots were treated alike during the remainder of the season. 



The results obtained from the two lots are shown in a table. 



Treatment. 



5 i 



''•5 

 z =5 



=s3 



X 





Eaklt Bose. 



3,e62 

 3,311 



■2.077 

 2 284 



599.T5 

 683.35 



1,585 

 1,027 



95.25 

 64 OO 









The total number of tubers was greater from the trenches, bat 

 the gain was wiiolly in those which were small and unmarketable. 

 The average size of individual tubers from the two plots was not 

 essentially different, but as seen in column four the number of 

 salable tubers was much larger from the furrows. — there being a 

 difference of 82.5 pounds on the plot. The tops remained green 

 several days longer on the plot which was farrowed than on the 

 other and this may in part account fo; the relatively large number 

 of salable tubers. 



The actual cost of labor in preparing and planting the two plots, 

 after plowing and harrowing, was, for the trench system sixty 



