l8 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I905. 



Yields of potatoes grown on home mixed fertilizers compared 

 with a standard potato fertilizer. 



Home Mixed Fertilizer. 



Barrels of Potatoes. 



Large. Small. Total. 



Plot 1 109 15 124 



Plot 3 lOI 20 121 



Plot 5 112 18 130 



Average 107 18 125 



Watson's Improved Manure, 



Plot 2 118 15 133 



Plot 4 120 15 135 



Plot 6 122 17 139 



Average 120 16 136 



Mr. Blake grew 4 plots upon home mixed and 4 plots upon 

 Watson's Improved. The plots were 1-20 acre in area. On the 

 home mixed the fertilizer was used at the rate of 975 pounds per 

 acre and on the other plots Watson's Improved was used at the 

 rate of 1450 pounds per acre. The field was quite early planted, 

 and the potatoes were well along when frost came. It was 

 sprayed 5 times and was free from blight, and no rot. There 

 were practically no small potatoes. 



The yield from the home mixed plots were, per acre, as fol- 

 lows: 102, 107, 107, 109, average 106 barrels per acre. The 

 yield from the Watson's Improved plots were, per acre, as fol- 

 lows: 107, III, III, 113, average iio^ barrels per acre. 



Mr. Porter grew two acres on home mixed, using it at the rate 

 of 1300 pounds per acre in the midst of a field of 27 acres planted 

 with 1700 to 1800 pounds per acre of Watson's Improved. The 

 rows were 32 inches apart, and the plants 12 inches apart in the 

 row. The land was very uniform, was early planted, well culti- 

 vated and kept free from weeds. It was sprayed 6 times. There 

 was no blight and no rot at digging. There were practically no 

 small potatoes. The yield from the 27 acres was 3800 barrels 

 or at the rate of a little over 140 barrels per acre. Mr. Porter 

 did not measure the yield from the home mixed portions, but 

 states that "there was no perceptible difference in appearance or 

 yield." 



