626 



Summary of Agricultural Experiments, [nov., 



Planting Potatoes. Sprouting Seed Potatoes in Boxes ( Univ. of Leeds, 

 Agric. Dept., Bull. No. 63). — Past experiments (see Journal, February, 1905, 

 p. 673, April, 1905, p. 34, and March, 1906, p. 736) on the boxing of potatoes 

 have shown that where early planting of Second Early and Late varieties 

 was not possible, boxing would be followed by profitable results. The 

 system was further tested in 1906, and a table is given of the results. 



Planting Potatoes. Size and distance apart of "sets" (Univ. Coll. of 

 North Wales, Bangor, Agric. Dept., Bull. 4, 1907). — -This experiment was 

 intended to test the effect of planting (1) seed of different sizes and (2) cut 

 seed. The small seed and the cut seed required 1 ton to plant an acre, the 

 large seed required 2 tons. The results showed that the cut seed yielded 

 some half-ton more per acre than the small seed. Professor Winter observes 

 that many farmers are averse to planting cut potatoes, but " we have never 

 known the cutting, if properly performed, to interfere with the crop. It should 

 be done either on the same day the potatoes are to be planted or on the 

 previous day. Some like to dust the cut potatoes over with quicklime to 

 prevent the escape of juice. That, however, is not a matter of much import- 

 ance. Trouble is often caused by putting the cut sets in heaps, with the 

 result that they get heated, and many of them do not grow. When cut they 

 should be spread out in a thin layer on a floor." 



The large seed produced over a ton of marketable potatoes more than 

 either of the other plots.' As the seeding of this was at the rate of a ton per 

 acre more than that of the other plots, the increase from the use of large 

 seed was small. 



The effect of planting potatoes at different distances apart in the rows 

 was also tested. Up-to-Date potatoes were planted 12, 15, and 18 in. apart, 

 the rows being 26 in. in width. Where the sets were planted 15 in. apart, 

 the yield was about 15 cv/t. per acre more than where they were only 12 in. 

 apart, but there was a decrease of 2 tons with the wider interval. 



Irish Seed Potatoes {West of Scotland Agric. Coll., Bull. 43 y Univ. Coll 

 of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dept. of Agric, Rept. on Expts., i9o6y Univ. Coll. of 

 North Wales, Bangor, Bull. 5, 1906, Bull. 3, i9o7y Univ. Coll. Reading, 

 Agric. Dept., Bull. 2, 1907,- Univ. of Leeds, Agric. Dept., Bulls. 63 and 70; 

 Harper- Adams A^ric. Coll., Field Expts., 1907 y Beds. C.C., Agric, Educa- 

 tional Com., Rept. on Demonstration Plots, 1907. — By an arrangement with the 

 Irish Department, experiments were carried out at these centres and else- 

 where, to compare the value of Irish seed potatoes with English and Scotch 

 seed. Reports on these experiments are given in the above Bulletins, and 

 the complete results were summarized in the Journal of the Irish Depart- 

 ment of Agricidture for January, 1908. (See Journal of the Board of Agri- 

 culture, March, 1908, Vol. xiv, p. 731.) 



The average results show that with the variety British Queen, planted in 

 England, Irish seed has given a slightly higher yield than Scottish seed ; in 

 the Welsh tests, however, the Scottish seed shows a slight advantage. W.th 

 the variety Up-to-Date the reverse is the case, the Scottish seed giving 

 slightly higher yields in England, whereas the Irish seed has produced 

 heavier crops in Wales. With the exception of the comparison of Irish and 

 Scottish Up-to-Date seed grown in Wales, the average yield from Scottish 

 and Irish seed did not vary by more than 5 cwt. per acre. This is considered 

 to confirm the opinion held by the Department and many growers to the 

 effect that Irish seed, if not superior, is at least equal to Scottish seed for 



