1\)TAT() I NVES'I'KiATIOXS 5 
' EXPERIMENTS 
Wliile the worlv of the station has been in progress for four 
seasons some of the experiments have not been conducted during the 
entire period, therefore it will be impossible in many cases to draw 
; definite conclusions, Avhich can be reached only after a long series of 
; investigations under a comparatively wide range of climatic condi- 
\ tions. It is believed, however, that the results obtained up to the 
present time Avill be of value in pointing out the nature and scope of 
; the Avork, the progress that has been made and tentative conclusions, 
, if any, Avhich may be drawn. 
VARIETY TESTS 
I The area unit adopted for these tests was a four-row plat 240 
feet long in 1915, 1916 and 1917, and 246 feet long in 1918. All tests 
Avere duplicated, the second series being planted as soon as the 
, planting of the first series was completed. In 1915 seed of most of 
the varieties was obtained from two sources and planted side by 
I side for comparison. In 1916 and subsequent years, purchased seed 
' was compared with that Avhich had been grown at the station one or 
more years. As this phase of the work increased from year to year 
it Avas necessary to gradually eliminate the varieties of least impor- 
, tance in the district because of lack of space. 
, The field weights Avere obtained as the crop Av^as hauled into the 
I storage cellar. After weighing, the potatoes Avere stored either in 
1 sacks or emptied in bins, the product of each plat being kept separate 
I except that lots from corresponding plats of the two series Avere 
! put together. During the winter they Avere graded by means of a 
I sorter of the shaker type having a screen with one and seven-eighths 
I inch meshes-, those going over the screen being designated as market- 
I able and those going thru as culls. The difference between the 
I field Aveights and cellar AA’-eights after sorting, including both market- 
i able and culls, constitutes the loss during storage. 
I In cases Avhere seed Avas saved for the next season’s planting it 
I Avas picked out at the time of sorting. The badly diseased hills, 
I hoAvever, especially those seriously effected by Rhizoctonia or 
I Fusarium, were dug by hand and discarded early in the fall before 
^ the vines Avere damaged by frost but after the tubers had nearly 
' completed their growth. The Aveights of these hills were recorded 
and added to the field Aveights obtained at the time the main crop 
Avas dug. Since these hills Avere discarded and not included in the 
I 
