Report of Experiments with Potatoe's 
and Tobacco. 
BY JAMES CASSIDY, 
Professor of Botany and Horticulture. 
EXPERIMENTS WITH POTATOES. 
Experiments have been conducted at this station for 
the past four years with garden crops in general, and 
with the potato in particular. 
The scope of this work with the latter is indicated by 
the following synopsis of experiments : 
First—A comparative test of varieties. 
Second—Originating new varieties. 
Third—Methods of seed cutting. 
Fourth—Potatoes under mulch. 
Fifth—Potatoes without irrigation. 
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Sixth—Application of fertilizers. 
Seventh—Crosses. 
The time at which this bulletin is issued precludes 
the consideration of that important element in determin¬ 
ing the value of different varieties, i. e ., their cooking 
quality. A variety to rank high should stand well in this 
particular regard. Shape and color are to some extent 
important, but in a less degree than the quality men¬ 
tioned. 
The claim of best for each new kind is perhaps not alto¬ 
gether devoid of reason, because some varieties do better 
under certain conditions than others, and some kinds, too, 
seem to have their peculiarities so well fixed as not to be 
seriously affected by the most adverse conditions. There 
are probably some soils, too, in which particular varieties 
of the potato deteriorate, or, like some fruits, they are 
adapted only to the surroundings in which they origin¬ 
ated. This would seem to be the case with some old 
varieties, like the F’eshannock, which have lost their 
