iii iGRiciiLTiiML immm mm. 



BULLETIN No. 12. 



SECOND SERIES. 



POTATOES. 



A COMPAKISON OF THE TrENCH SySTESI WITH OhUINAKV CuLTURE. 



A few years ago considerable interest was aroused by tlie 

 accounts of wonderful yields of potatoes obtained by a method 

 of culture known as tlie Rural New Yorker trench system. The 

 system derives its name from the fact that it was first used at the 

 trial grounds of the Rural New Yorker and was advocated by the 

 editor of that paper, Mr. E. S. Carman. 



The system consists essentially in planting the tubers in trenches 

 five to seven inches deep and twelve to fifteen inches wide, the 

 bottoms of which are well pulverized ; covering to the depth of 

 about two inches ; then applying any desired amount of fertilizer 

 in the trench, after which the trenches are filled so that the surface 

 shall be level. 



Now it has been the practice of the writer for several years to 

 plant in furrows, applying fertilizer broadcast over the surface of 

 the ground ; for there is little doubt that the old custom of " hill* 

 ing" potatoes is worse than useless, — it is positiveh' injurious to 

 the crop on dry soil. It has seemed doubtful in view of the fact 

 that the roots of the potato extend in all directions, filling the 

 whole space between the rows, whether placing the fertilizer in a 

 trench only could be as rational or in practice as satisfactory as 

 the other method. 



In the paper referred to and also in a book recently published, * 

 the statement is made that " In every trial the laud laid out in 

 trenches, whether with or without fertilizer or manure, has largely 

 outyielded that planted according to the old method of hills or 

 furrows." 



In an issue of the Rural New Yorker of recent date is a detailed 



The New Potato Culture, p. 35. 



