722 
NOV'2 
THU RURAL NEW-YORKER 
a heaping tea-spoonful of Paris-green to a 
pailful of water sprayed on the plants. 
The leaves now began to show some in¬ 
jury from these applications. 
May 17. Fleas thicker than ever. Ap¬ 
plied Bordeaux Mixture on half the plot, 
and on the other aloes dissolved in hot 
water, four ounces to two gallons. The 
fleas seemed delighted with both. 
May 22. It was plainly seen that the R. 
N.-Y. No. 3 plants (second trench) were dy¬ 
ing. It was decided to dig them up and 
plant Minister instead. A few days after 
several rows were dusted with unleached 
wood ashes. The fleas the next day were 
not so numerous upon the dusted plants. 
They preferred the plants not dusted. Lat¬ 
er the plants of the entire plot were first 
sprayed with water (being dry) and then a 
mixture of the following was sifted upon 
them: Paris-green, two pounds extended 
with one barrel of plaster ; sifted unleached 
ashes; one-eighth pound of snuff, making 
in all a quarter of a barrel in the propor¬ 
tion of two-thirds ashes and one-third 
poisoned plaster. This was found to repel 
the fleas somewhat. 
June 16. Excessive rains up to this time. 
The vines have made a fine growth. 
July 23. Excessive rains up to this time. 
Soil saturated. Every variety is more or 
less injured by the Flea-beetle. 
July 30. Vines dying. 
THE KINDS PLANTED. 
Trench No. 1. R. N.-Y No. 2, 31 pieces. 
“ « 2. •• “ 8, 83 “ 
•• « 8. •* “ 4. 33 •' 
<1 <1 ^ tl <« «» t< ll 
«i i« 5 «« •* «< ii •« 
<1 M f* 44 *4 U <4 • 
“ “ 7.Brownell’s Winner, 33 “ 
“ ■* 8. Monroe County Prize. 83 “ 
“ “ 9 .from J.H. Wood burn, 
Sterling, Ill., 11 
“ No. 9.New Queen, 22 “ 
•* “ 10.Seedling of Rose from 
Thos. Lazell, 
Big Rapids, Mich., 22 “ 
Trench No. 10.Tonhosks from 
Theron E. Platt, 
Newtown, Conn. 11 “ 
Trench No 11 .Brownell’s Winner, 33 “ 
THE YIELD. 
No. 2 yielded 63 pounds or at the rate of 
454.66 bushels to the acre. They seemed to 
be about half grown. There were few rot¬ 
ten potatoes. 
Minister yielded 32 pounds or at the rate 
of 234.66 bushels to the acre. Many small 
many rotten. 
No. 4 (third row) yielded 53 pounds or at 
the rate of 388.66 bushels to the acre. Many 
rotten ; half grown. 
No. 4 (fourth row) yielded the same as 
the preceding—53 pounds. 
No. 4 (fifth row) yielded the same within 
a fraction. 
Brownell’s Winner (seventh row) 
yielded 38 pounds or at the rate of 278.66 
bushels per acre. Many rotten, all small. 
Monroe County Prize yielded 63 pounds 
or at the rate of 462 bushels to the acre. 
Many rotten. 
Woodburn Seedling yielded five pounds. 
There were 11 hills. This is at the rate of 
110 bushels per acre. 
New Queen, 22 pieces yielded 48 pounds 
or at the rate of 469.33 bushels to the acre. 
The tubers were small but there were a 
great number. 
Seedling Rose yielded 71 pounds or at 
the rate of 520.66 bushels to the acre. 
Brownell’s Winner (duplicate row) 
yielded 71 pounds or at the rate of 520.66 
bushels to the acre. This last row was 
planted with seed from Mr. Brownell while 
the other row was planted with seed raised 
here last year. 
THE ENTIRE YIELD 
was 549 pounds, without making any al¬ 
lowance for decayed tubers, which is at the 
rate of 367 bushels to the acre. Taking the 
whole lot, probably over one-fourth were 
rotten, while the sound potatoes were not 
over one-half the usual size. 
To what extent the premature death of 
the vines was due to fleas, to excessive rain 
or to fungoid causes, we are unable to form 
any opinion. 
HOW MUCH FERTILIZER MAY BE 
PROFITABLY USED FOR POTA¬ 
TOES ON AN IMPOVERISHED 
SOIL THAT NEEDS “COM¬ 
PLETE ” FERTILIZER ? 
The soil on which these experiments 
have been carried on for the past two years 
is so impoverished that the yield by the 
most careful trench culture without fer¬ 
tilizer is less than 150 bushels of potatoes to 
the acre, while paying crops of corn or veg¬ 
etables of any kind are out of the question, 
fertilizer (Mapes’s potato) has been used 
from 440 to 2,200 pounds to the acre for two 
seasons on this particular plot and for four 
seasons on two other fields and the results 
have been essentially the same, whether the 
weather has been wet or dry. The variety 
was the Rural Blush. The season the wet¬ 
test ever known. 
COMPLETE RESULTS OF THE PAST SEASON’S 
TRIAL. 
First Scries 
bushels per acre. 
Plot 1. Natural soil 161.33 
“ 2. 440 pounds fertilizer 190.66 
“ 3. 880 “ “ 212.66 
“ 4. 1320 “ “ ' 278.66 
“ 5. 1760 “ “ 330. 
“ 6. 2200 “ “ 308. 
Second Scries 
Plot 7. Natural soil 154. 
“ 8. 440 pounds fertilizer 187. 
“ 9. 880 “ “ 216.33 
“ 10. 1320 “ “ 245.66 
“ 11. 1760 “ “ 297. * 
“ 12. 2200 “ “ 330.. 
Third Scries 
Plot 13. Natural soil 117.33 
“ 14. 440 pounds fertilizer 128.33 
“ 15. 880 “ “ 198. 
“ 16. 1320 “ “ 282.33 
“ 17. 1760 “ “ 300. 
“ 18. 2200 “ “ 344.66 
Fourth Series 
Plot 19. Natural soil ‘ 146.66 
“ 20. 440 pounds fertilizer 165. 
“ 21. 880 “ “ 238.33 
“ 22.1320 “ “ 304.&3 
“ 23. 1760 “ “ 249.33 
“ 24. 2200 “ “ 363. 
AVERAGES. 
Natural soil . 144 
440 pounds fertilizer . 168 
880 “ “ . 216 
1,320 “ “ 278 
1,760 “ .294 
2,200 “ ' “ 330 
Rot prevailed more than ever before. The 
rotten potatoes were not estimated. The 
vines were injured by the Flea-beetle and 
died nearly one month earlier than usual. 
The tubers seemed to be about three-quar¬ 
ters of the normal size. 
It seems to the R. N.-Y. that farmers cul¬ 
tivating impoverished land should learn a 
valuable lesson from these experiments 
which have been conducted long enough to 
prove that there is a reasonable chance of 
raising profitable ci’ops of potatoes by the 
liberal use of high-grade fertilizers. The 
guaranteed analysis of the fertilizer used is 
as follows: 
Ammonia. 4)4 to 5 per cent. 
Phosphoric acid... .8 to 10 “ “ 
Potash.6 to 8 “ “ 
UNDER AND OVER EXPERIMENTS 
CONDUCTED FOR THE THIRD 
YEAR. 
Results show thus far that in a wet 
season the fertilizer should be strewn over 
the seed ; in a dry season under. 
The trenches were dug the same depth, 
viz. six inches. In the “fertilizer under ” 
trials the fertilizer was strewn in the 
bottom of the trenches and the seed-pieces 
(Blush) placed on or in contact with the 
fertilizer. In the “fertilizer over ” trials 
the pieces were placed in the bottom of the 
trenches and the trenches filled to within 
one inch. The fertilizer (the same as that 
used in the experiments recorded above) 
was then strewn on this soil in the trenches 
at the rate of 1,320 pounds to the acre, and 
the remaining inch of the trench filled in 
and the soil leveled. Fractions are omitted 
in the result. 
Plot 1 
. .Fertilizer 
render 
BUSHELS PER ACRE, 
293 
“ 2 
(( 
over 
293 
“ 3 
tl 
under 
205 
“ 4 
li 
over 
293 
“ 5 
U 
under 
213 
“ 6 
it 
over 
275 
“ 7 
tl 
under 
176 
“ 8 
(( 
over 
176 
“ 9 
it 
under 
279 
“ 10 
it 
over 
260 
“ 11 
u 
under 
242 
“ 12 
it 
over 
308 
UNDER. 
AVERAGE. 
.235 bushels per acre 
OVER. .. 
.268 
It It It 
We shall next 
present 
the results of 
having planted potatoes all the way from 
two to 10 inches in depth. This experiment 
has been carried on for three seasons. 
FIRST REPORTS OF POTATOES 
TRIED THE PAST SEASON. 
Sixty-four different kinds of potatoes 
have been raised here, in very small quanti¬ 
ties (as usual), during the past season. The 
R. N.-Y. trench system, so often explained, 
was the method employed. The Mapes po¬ 
tato fertilizer is the only “complete” fer¬ 
tilizer that has been used on this plot during 
the 12 years that these trials have been car¬ 
ried on. A less quantity was used than in 
preceding years—viz., 1,000 pounds to the 
acre. The soil, it was thought, was rich 
enough. As high as 2,000 pounds to the 
acre have been used on this plot, while 
lime, kainit, bone, ashes, hen manure and 
horse manure have been freely added as it 
was deemed advisable so to do. A better 
preparation of the soil was never made. 
The early season was precisely as one who 
was striving for a premium crop might de¬ 
sire. They were planted April 9. It should 
be repeated that the vines of all the kinds 
planted died prematurely—whether from 
the injury they sustained from the Flea- 
beetle or from “blight,” or from the unpre¬ 
cedentedly wet season, is not known to the 
writer. 
Mrs. Foraker. This variety was re¬ 
ceived from M. Crawford, Cuyahoga Falls, 
Ohio. The seed potatoes were in a perfect 
state of preservation. The yield was at the 
rate of 393.25 bushels to the acre. The 
yield of large and small potatoes was as 
eight of the former to 20 of the latter. 
Skin, white; shape elliptical, flattened. 
The eyes were few and those neither deep 
nor prominent. It is a beautiful potato. 
The illustration shows the average, charac¬ 
teristic size and shape. 
Gov. Foraker, from Mr. Crawford. 
The yield was at the rate of 393.25 bushels 
to the acre. But two pieces were planted 
yielding 3%" pounds. Nearly white skin, 
long, cylindrical, slightly flattened. Eyes 
few but rather more prominent than those 
of the other. There were seven large and 
11 small. A shapely, promising potato. 
Badger State from J. C. Vaughan, 
Chicago, Ill. The yield was at the rate of 
408.33 bushels to the acre. Three pieces 
were planted yielding five pounds—13 fair 
size, 19 small. Nearly white skin; rather 
long, often cylindrical, often small at one 
end. Eyes medium. It is not.a shapely 
potato. 
Sunlit Star, from same. Three pieces. 
Yield seven pounds, or at the rate of 
564.66 bushels per acre—22 fair size, 25 
small. Oblong-cylindrical, a little flattened 
sometimes. Eyes medium, not deep. None 
large. Purplish-buff color. 
Wide Awake from Iowa Seed Co., 809 
Walnut Street, Des Moines. Three pieces. 
Yield 584.83 bushels to the acre or Iff 
pounds for the three hills—24 fair size, 50 
small. Long; cylindrical, nearly white. 
Few eyes, no rot. 
Early Thoroughbred from T. C. 
Davenport, 124 Dock Street, Philadelphia. 
Four pieces yielded nine pounds or at the 
rate of 544.50 bushels to the acre—26 large, 
36 small, six rotten not estimated. This 
would have been a heavy yield in a favor¬ 
able season. Pink-buff color; shape var¬ 
iable. Eyes rather prominent. 
Beauty of Hebron from P. E. Island 
sent by T. C. Davenport. Three hills yield¬ 
ed 11 )4 pounds, or at the rate of 927.66 
bushels to the acre—31 large, 20 small. 
Rather longer than B. of H. as previously 
grown. 
Beauty of Beauties frorfi A. Rose, Penn 
Yan, N. Y. Tried for the third year; five 
pieces. Yield 7% pounds or at the rate of 
350.90 bushels to the acre. They seemed to 
be about half grown. Shape oblong-flatten- 
ed, often wedge-shape, some roundish like 
the Peachblow. Buff skin russeted. Eyes 
medium—20 large, 15 small. 
This is the potato which this man adver¬ 
tised as the same as the R. N.-Y. No. 2. 
There is little doubt that the sale of a large 
quantity was secured in this way. He con¬ 
tradicted his own statement not until the 
season was so far advanced that the bulk of 
sales had been made. The R. N.-Y. No. 2. 
is so distinct in vine and tuber that it need 
never be mistaken for any other variety. 
A YIELD OF 700 OUNCES ! 
The Rural No. 2 Potato received weighed 
one ounce. I sprouted it and got seven 
sprouts and lost one of them by rotting. I 
planted the six out in the garden about the 
middle of May. About the middle of June 
I made 30 cuttings from the tops of the 
vines and rooted them and put them out 
about July 10, in the garden beside the first 
ones. I dug them on the 29th of last mouth, 
and from the six original hills I got 19 
pounds ; from the 30 hills of cuttings I got 
24% pounds, making a total weight of 43% 
pounds from the one ounce of seed. One of 
the tubers weighed 18 ounces, one 17 ounces 
and two weighed 16 ounces each, and as one 
can judge from the photograph the average 
was very large. Among the product of the 
cuttings there were no small potatoes; they 
ran from one to three large ones to a hill. 
I send a photograph of the entire crop 
that a better judgment may be formed of 
the average size of the tubers. I think from 
the reports the R. N.-Y. is publishing that 
the potato will be largely planted next 
spring. Potatoes are over an average crop 
here and I have not heard of any rot in the 
county. They are selling at 25 cents per 
bushel. N. B. D. 
Marshall, Ill. 
[R. N.-Y. Accompanying this report is a 
statement from the editor of the county 
paper who, in company with other reliable 
witnesses, saw the potatoes dug. The edit¬ 
or concludes his remarks as follows: 
“ This may sound like a fish story, but, 
nevertheless, it is true in every particular. 
If there were not witnesses to bear us out 
in it we would not publish it.” 
An excellent engraving of a photograph 
of the yield from this little potato is shown 
at Figure 266. 
I cut my Rural No. 2 Potato, which was 
very small, into six pieces, planted them in 
six hills three feet apart without any fer¬ 
tilizers or extra cultivation. I raised 40 
merchantable, fine-shaped tubers free from 
scab weighing 16 pounds, the largest being 
24 ounces. Eight of the largest averaged 
16 ounces each. Of other varieties planted 
the Empire State was the best. From 
a barrel planted the largest did not 
exc eed 16 ounces. The Pearl of Savoy 
did fairly well. Early Tliorburns were 
almost a failure, being small and scab¬ 
by. I experimented with sulphur for the 
scab but found no benefit. From reading 
the R. N.-Y. last winter, I was induced to 
try some Japanese Buckwheat. I find that 
it is the best kind for this climate. Com¬ 
mon or old varieties do not fill well and 
generally blight, as we have very little 
cloudy weather during the buckwheat sea¬ 
son. I cut my first crop of clover the first 
of June to avoid the midge, but it failed to 
seed. C. W. M. 
St. Charles, Minn. 
