Report of 
Potato Investigations 
By CHARLES F. CLARK* 
Horticulturist 
INTRODUCTION 
The Colorado Potato Experiment Station, which is located at 
Greeley, Colorado, was established in 1915 for the purpose of con- 
ducting ‘‘experiments to improve the potato industry of Colorado, 
for investigating the nature and causes of the potato disease preva- 
lent in the state of Colorado and for finding remedial or preventive 
measures therefor, for studying cultural and crop rotation factors 
in their relation to potato' production, for introducing and develop- 
ing new and improved varieties of potatoes, and for conducting other 
studies for the benefit of the potato industry.”! 
The work of the station is conducted by the United States Depart- 
ment of Agriculture. Cooperating with the Federal. Government are 
Weld county, which, thru the County Commissioners, has furnished 
the land and laboratory building, and the state of Colorado, which 
has furnished funds, disbursed thru the State Agricultural College, 
for equipment. The general supervision of the station, together with 
the potato investigations, exclusive of those which relate to diseases, 
are under the direction of the office of Horticultural and Pomological 
Investigations. The pathological work is conducted by the office 
of Cotton, Truck and Forage Crop Disease Investigations. Insect 
investigations have recently been started by the Bureau of Ento- 
mology. 
SOIL, ROTATION AND GENERAL METHODS 
The type of soil on which the station farm is located is a rather 
heavy clay loam designated as the Fort Collins loam.t On the part of 
the farm which is devoted to the potato experiments a four-year 
rotation is maintained which consists of potatoes one year, grain 
one year and alfalfa two years. Lack of space does not permit a 
longer period in alfalfa which would be desirable. The alfalfa ground 
*Office of Horticultural and Pomological Investigations, Bureau Plant 
Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
fExtract from terms of lease, March 13, 1915. 
tField Operations of the Bureau of Soils, 1904. 
