8G8 Hxpenments in the Planting of Potatoes. 
again were in excess of those planted on May 31, and one (White 
Elephant) less. Of the 12 varieties planted on May 31 and June 14, 
the whole 12 planted on the earlier date yielded more than those 
planted later, and the whole of the 10 varieties planted respectively 
on June 14 and June 28 yielded more on the first than on the 
second planting. So, in comparing these fifty instances of an earlier 
with the next succeeding planting, we find that no less than 48 
yielded heavier crops, one an equally heavy crop, and only one a 
less crop — the weight including both seed and ware.^ 
That the date of the last planting, June 28, was backward 
enough was proved by the very poor result obtained, the average 
weight for the whole lot being very little over 26 cwt. per acre, or 
not twice the weight of the seed originally planted. In some cases, 
notably those of The Bruce, Magnum Bonum, and Imperator, they 
never grew with sufficient vigour to prevent their ripening before 
those planted a fortnight earlier. We find that the average weight 
per acre of those planted on March 31 was about 19 cwt. in excess 
of those planted a month later, 46^ cwt. above those planted on 
May 31, 69^ cwt. more than those planted on June 14, and no 
less than 105 cwt. in excess of those planted last of all. Putting 
their average value, one season with another, at the somewhat low 
figure of 50s. per ton, the first planted exceeded in value the second 
by 21. 7s. 6d., the third by 51. 16s. Bd., and the fourth by 13^ 2s. 6rf. 
per acre. 
It is often more or less impracticable to commence planting 
largely before the latter end of March, but these results point 
emphatically to the necessity of getting the potatoes (particularly the 
earlier varieties) in by the end of April, for though the falling-off of 
19 cwt. per acre is considerable, yet up to that time there is still a 
prospect of tolerably good yields ; but the further fall to 46^ cwt. 
of those planted on May 31 puts out of the question all idea of a 
profit from those planted so late in the season as the last week or 
two in May, the average of all varieties having fallen to about 
84 cwt. per acre, and the later varieties, under these circumstances, 
doing very much better than the others. But it was from the 
subsequent plantings that by far the greater proportionate drop 
took place, the yield of those planted on June 14 falling to 61 cwt. 
and, as before stated, to 26 cwt. from the last planting. 
The four first earlies planted on May 31 averaged ratl\er less 
than 67 cwt. per acre ; the four second earlies — excluding those 
light croppers the Village Blacksmith— averaged rather over 83 cwt. 
per acre ; and the five main croppers averaged slightly in excess of 
111 cwt. As there is no prospect of earlies, or even of second earlies, 
planted so late, maturing sufiiciently early to catcli any special 
price either when fully matured or when dug green, these results 
would show the necessity of planting a main-crop variety when it is 
imperative to plant at all so late in the season, as under hardly 
' " Ware " is the name used among growers, and in the London markets, 
to denole ^1! saleable tubers larger in size than seed potatoe?. — Ed. 
