FIELD EXPERIMEXTS I906-8. 9I 



the weeds. Check acres for comparison were planted in the 

 ordinary way, on either side of the piece planted by the modified 

 culture method. The first check acre and 56 rows of the modi- 

 fied ridge culture plot were planted May 24 to 26, but on account 

 of rain the remaining 34 rows and the other check acre were not 

 planted until June 2. The Robbins planter was used to plant the 

 field and for the modified ridge culture plot it was set to plant 

 as deeply as possible the seed being on the average 3 inches 

 below the surface of the ground after leveling the ridge ofif. As 

 soon as the planting was completed the smoothing harrow was 

 run crosswise to level off the ridges formed by the planter. A 

 few days later the weeder was likewise run over the piece to 

 destroy any weeds that were starting. On June 22 the rows first 

 planted were up and the cultivator was run between them, fol- 

 lowed by the weeder two days later. This method of culture 

 was continued each week until the plants were about 6 inches 

 high when the weeder was discontinued and the cultivator set 

 wide so as to run as near the plants as possible was run over 

 the piece twice a week. On July 7 the horse-hoe set wide so as 

 to throw up only a low wide ridge was run over the piece. 

 Work with the cultivator was continued and again on July 15 

 the horse-hoe was employed to disturb the earth around the 

 plants and conserve the moisture. At this time the tops were 

 getting large and cultivation was discontinued. July 20 the field 

 was visited and the potatoes found to be growing finely, very 

 free from weeds and apparently not suft'ering from the cjuite 

 severe drought we were having. Sufficient rain, however, fell 

 early in August to warrant a good crop with all kinds of culture. 

 About September 15 killing frosts stopped further growth and 

 digging was begun on the iSth. The yields were as follows: 



Merchantable Total 



Barrels. Barrels. 



High ridge check plot* t 14 118 



Modified ridge, 3 acres 328 341 



High ridge check plot 97-5 iOi-5 



Average for check plots 105.8 109.5 



Average modified culture plots 109-3 ii3-3 



* The plots were strictly comparable as to area but were a little less 

 than an acre each. 



