356 



Potato Experiments in Cheshire. 



quantity and quantity saleable ; in the other three cut sets 

 gave the best results, although the difference was only 43 lbs. 

 per acre in one case, iii lbs. in the second, and 772 lbs. in 

 the third. There seems to be no great difference between 

 planting whole sets and cut sets, provided that the cut sets 

 are made thick and large ; that two eyes or buds are left in 

 the rose end of each set; and that the cut surface is dusted 

 over with slaked lime. When very large sets are purchased 

 it would, it appears, be more economical to cut the large 

 sets in most cases. The cut sets produced fewer chats than 

 whole sets, and larger saleable potatoes. In the case of 

 different sizes of seed the experiments went to show that it 

 is not profitable to plant small cut sets, as it was found that 

 whole sets which passed through a i J-inch riddle yielded 10 

 tons 13 cwt., whilst the same size sets cut in two only yielded 

 a little over 8 tons, and sets that would not pass through a 

 2 or 2j inch riddle produced a heavier crop than sets which 

 passed through a or 2 inch riddle. On this question of 

 the relative advantage of planting whole and cut sets, it may 

 be interesting to compare the results of experiments in this 

 direction in France, recorded in earlier numbers of this 

 Journal.* 



With regard to manures, a moderate dressing of farmyard 

 manure by itself was found to produce a good crop of potatoes : 

 but a judicious addition of artificial manures containing 

 nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, increased the yield, 

 and showed a considerable profit over the cost of the 

 artificial manures. The farmyard manure was valued at 6s. 

 per ton, the saleable potatoes at £^ per ton, and the small at 

 £ I per ton. The best results were obtained from 3 cwt. 

 of superphosphate, i cwt. sulphate of ammonia, and i cwt. 

 muriate of potash, along with 1 5 tons of farmyard manure. 

 Sulphate of ammonia seems to be the best form in which to 

 apply nitrogen to potatoes. The sulphate of ammonia plot pro- 

 duced I ton 5 J cwt. more than the nitrate of soda plot, or in 

 money value £2, los. 5d. more per acre. Muriate of potash 

 produced better results than either sulphate of potash or 



Vol. HI., June, 1896, p. 70; and Sept., 1896, p. 176. 



