14 
EXPERIMENTS WITH POTATOES. 
Some of the crosses for a time seemed to be success¬ 
ful, owing to the ovary attaining to quite half its full 
size before indications were observed that they were hol¬ 
low within. 
The tubers of Solatium Tuberosum var. boreale are 
quite large relatively to the other forms, oblong in shape, 
and of a dark brown color. We had only three plants 
of this type, and in consequence made no estimate of the 
yield. The tubers of S. Jamesii are next largest in size, 
and of the same color and shape as the last mentioned, 
while those of the form obtained of J. H. Gregory are 
small in size, roundish, color light, and extremely numer¬ 
ous, as will be seen by the yield. The usual care was 
exercised in effecting a cross, as both the cultivated 
varieties and the wild forms are capable of close fertili¬ 
zation before the corolla opens. In a few cultivated 
varieties the pistil is early protruded through the corolla, 
in some cases long before the latter has colored, hence 
early attention is indispensable, to ward off the presence 
of foreign pollen. The yield was as follows : 
Table No. (5—Yield of Wild Potatoes. 
Name. 
Number 
of Hills 
Planted. 
Yield 
in lbs. 
Estimated 
Yield per 
Aci’e— 
Bushels. 
Solanum Jamesii 
16 
4 
60 1-2 
“ Species. 
36 
24 
161 1-3 
RESULTS. 
1. That for late potatoes, the best time to plant is 
about the middle of May. 
2. That the best crops are raised on loose, moist 
side-hill lands, that need little or no irrigation. 
^ « 
3. That in regard to methods of cutting seed, our 
experience so far justifies the use of large seed pieces for 
field culture, and of small cut seed when tubers of ex¬ 
ceptional size are desired, where exceptional care can be 
given the crop, and when the soil is in the best condi¬ 
tion of tilth and fertility. 
