56 [ ASSEMBLY 
to report failure and success : failure in securing the data anticipated 
and a success in discovering unexpectedly an important factor which 
seems to enter into the growing of the potato under diverse circum- 
stances of soil, climate and culture. In giving our results to the publie, 
we adopt two systems: the one the reporting of the experiments de- 
signed, and the yield ; the other, the lessons derived from our studies 
into the conditions which affect the plant and its yield. Iwill be 
perceived that our experiments proper were a failure, as neither was a 
satisfactory crop harvested in any case, nor are we able to explain fully 
the contradictions which are involved in our figures. The lessons we 
think we have derived through our study into the plant and its con- 
ditions under growth seem on the other hand pregnant with conse- 
quences, and need scarcely await the result of another year’s verifica- 
tion to be given out as a discovery for guidance in practical farming. 
The field selected for our potato crop in the early spring seemed 
adapted to our purpose, The lay of the land was favorable. In the 
wet and soggy condition of the whole farm, we recognized no especial 
indication of this field being either better or worse than any other that 
we might select. It was therefore ploughed and harrowed in the in- 
tervals between the rains, and as the condition of thesoil would admit. 
A line drawn east and west divided the field into two portions ; the 
south portion receiving a fair dressing of barn-yard manure. As the 
land was worked it became evident that the northern portion was 
somewhat less clayey than the southern portion, and was slightly pref- 
erable for use. As the season advanced this difference in physical 
constitution became more marked. On Aprill8th, we commenced our 
planting in rows one hundred feet long four feet apart, using five 
varieties of potatoes, one hundred hills in a row, each hill receiving 
two seed. In designating the seed used, single eyes mean eyes chipped 
from the tuber by using the point of a knife and cutting a cone about 
one-quarter to one-half an inch deep, and the base containing the eye, 
about half an inch more or less in diameter. Ordinary cuts designate 
the potato cut lengthwise into halves, or into quarters according to the 
size of the tuber used. . 
A great loss of plant occurred in the case of the small eyes used as 
seed, and a quite wide discrepancy in time of vegetation occurred in all 
the rows. ‘he figures of the crop are given below, the vegetation line 
meaning the number of plants counted at the various dates ; the yield 
recorded as nothing when not of sufficient value to be even classed as 
unmerchantable. “ 
Single eyes, cut close ; level culture; three inches deep ; unmanured; 
100 hills; planted April 18. 
Row 5. Row 7. Row 9. 
Row 1. Row 38. Snow- Bur- Beauty of © 
Early Ohio. Early Rose flake. bank’s. Hebron. 
Vegetated May 22, 0 0 0 0 3 hills. 
Vegetated May 24, 0 0 . 0 0 11 hills. 
Vegetated May 26, 0 0 0 0 19 hills. 
Vegetated May 29, ae Sale 5hills. 0 40 hills. 
Vegetated May 31, 2 hills. 7 hills. 34 hills. 383 hills. 72 hills. 
Vegetated June 5, 11 hills. 34 hills. 75 hills. 64 hills. 88 hills. 
Bloom recorded, None. None. None. None. None. 
Yield merch. tubers, . 0 1 1-4 lbs. 0 lb. 5 lbs. 5 1-2 lbs, 
Yield unmerch. tubers, 1-2 Ib. 2 1-2 lbs. 4 lbs. 4 lbs. 14 8-4 lbs. 
