37G Field Experiments on Root-Crops. 
Experiments on Potatoes made at Blennerhasset Farm, Carlisle^ 
in 1869, hj 3fr. Cltarles Hunter. 
Half an acre was divided into 10 equal parts, of -rr-utli of an 
acre each, whicli, as regards manure, -were treated as follows : — 
I'lot. 
Kind of Manure used. 
Qn.iii ti ty 
per Plot. 
At tlie rute 
jier Acre. 
1 
lbs. 
cwts. ^ 
1 
.. 
/ 
221 
4 
and 
2 I 
2 
1 
and 
\ 
111 
2 
ton 
tons 
3 
1 
20 
■ 
lbs. 
cwta 
( 
22^ 
4 
' and 
( 
22J 
4 
5 
901 
4 
and 
6 1 
llj 
2 
and 
2 
7 
4 
22i 
4 
A 
and 
221 
4 
tons. 
tons. 
9 
1 
20 
10 
The year 1869 was not favourable for potatoes. The rainfall 
at Blennerhasset in the months of May, June, and July of that 
year, Avas only about two-thirds of .the average, and in August 
only one-half. 
The want of rain in these months greatly checked the growth 
of the potatoes ; and the heavy rainfall of September came too 
late to be of much benefit to the crop. Moreover, a sharp frost 
in the first week of September destroyed the potato tops, and 
checked the further growth. 
The potato sets — Regent's — weighed from 1 to 2 2 ounces,, 
averaging I'G ounce. They were planted on the oOth of ApriJ 
in 32 drills and 10 inches apart. 
The soil of the experimental field was a fair gravelly loam, 
getting somewhat stiffer towards the plots 8, 9, and 10. The field 
was in oats, out of ley, in 1868. It had lain in grass for about 
4 years, during which period it had been frequently irrigated. 
The potatoes were dug up on the 24th of October, and sorted 
