10 
EXPERIMENTS WITH POTATOES. 
with the minimum of small ones. It is a well established 
fact that small cut seed has a lessened vitality, a factor not 
always recognized in considering conditions of growth and 
the probabilities of success. The large tubers that result 
from this method of cutting are due to the presence of but 
one or two stems during the growing season, instead of a 
great manv, as in the case of the larger seed. 
The small cut seed is, however, not practicable any¬ 
where on a large scale, as usually the fertility and mechan¬ 
ical condition of the soil are not such as to assure the single 
eye the necessary conditions which result in a good stand. 
The small yield of two separate eyes was due to an 
accident in watering, and which resulted unfavorably for this 
method of cutting last year. 
Table No. 3—Average Yield of Three Seasons for Methods of 
Seeding. 
Whole 
Potato— 
Large. 
Whole 
Potato- 
Small. 
Seed 
End. 
Stem 
End. 
Two 
Separate 
Eyes. 
One 
Eye to 
Hill. 
Table potatoes. 
Small potatoes. 
Depth of planting... 
296 2-5 
115 
4 inches 
254 1-5 
121 
4 inches 
284.15 
60.30 
4 inches 
242 
48.24 
4 inches 
157.18 
24.12 
4 inches 
314.36 
36.20 
4 inches 
Total yield. 
411 2-5 
375 1-5 
344 3-15 
290 2-5 
181 1-2 
350 14-15 
POTATOES UNDER MULCH. 
The potato has been grown in this way for three seasons, 
with results as exhibited in table No. 4. 
Large and small whole potatoes show the highest average 
yield for three seasons, as in table No. 3, and the single eye 
next. The latter we have always cut from the largest 
potatoes, so as to assure a sufficiently vigorous growth that 
would break through the mulch, the latter always exercising 
a retarding influence on the growth of the top until the tuber 
is well above ground. 
Mulch culture is only practicable on a small scale and in 
localities, soils and seasons unfavorable to the proper develop¬ 
ment of this plant under ordinary culture. 
The best mulch is composed of either partially decayed 
materials or of clean oat straw. 
