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EXPEEIMENl^ IN PLANTING POTATOES. [Dec. 1894. 



Of the different systems of planting tested, in the case of five 

 different varieties, (Richter's Imperator, Athens, Blue Giant, 

 Idaho, Gelbe Rose) in the experiments recorded above, the most 

 effective is undoubtedly that of planting entire tubers of 

 medium weight, that is to say, of about 3 4 ozs. for those 

 varieties which yield large crops. This is the method which 

 M. Giiard recommends should always be adopted, if possible, by 

 the cultivator, although almost equally satisfactory results may 

 be obtained by the next best method, which consists in planting 

 together two tubers of about half the medium weight, or 

 weighing about IJ oz. each. If, instead of two such tubers, 

 three very small ones are placed together, a smaller yield is 

 obtained. 



The planting of cut seed should, in M. Girard's opinion, be 

 regarded as a last resource, since it always results in a reduction 

 of the normal yield by 20 to 30 per cent. During dry years 

 especially, the results of cutting tubers may prove disastrous.. 

 In 1893 some of M. Girard's co-workers who adopted this 

 method lost the whole of their crop, and the following example 

 is given as a case in point. 



In 1893 M. Girard planted half an acre of Blue Giant potatoes 

 on the farm of Faisanderie, at Joinville-le-Pont. In the pre- 

 ceding year a well-known agriculturist had announced that 

 magnificent results could be obtained by planting cut tubers of 

 this variety. With the intention of showing the fallacy of this 

 announcement, M. Girard planted a strip 4^ yards wide and 63' 

 yards long, in the middle of the half- acre piece, with slices of 

 large tubers cut into four pieces in the approved manner. Of 

 798 plants set in this manner, only 38 grew, yielding a crop of 

 only 101*2 lbs., or 14*3 ewts. per acre, the yield of the rest of 

 the field, which had been planted with entire tubers of mediumk 

 size, being 10 '7 tons per acre. 



