210 
taining four fifths of a tuber, one containing three fifths, one two 
fifths, and one one fifth; all however containing the terminal end of 
the tuber uninjured. We then removed from each of these samples 
all of the eyes except the terminal cluster, by countersinking each 
eye with the point of a knife, taking care to cut below the cambium 
layer. 
We treated the second five tubers in exactly the same way, except 
that in every case we cut away the terminal end, and removed all of 
the eyes except the one nearest the stem. ‘The ten samples were 
then planted in the garden. 
On Sept. 9 the hills were dug, with the following result, in which 
the weights are given in ounces. 



Terminal eyes. Base eyes. 
No. Wt.of Whole Total. No.  Wt.of Whole Total 
merch. merch. number. wt. merch. merch. number. wt. 
Whole tubers 9 754 9 754 1] 75 138 794 
epee 8 534 16 634 8 60 13 68 
ERO 3) 49 12 044 8 584 13 674 
gi ee 6 Hd 10 64 5 474 8 54 
Z_-- #3 11 714 1} 714 3 343 3 B49 
Average 8.6 60.9 11.6 65.75 a 55.15 10, Oba 
From the yield of the terminal eyes, it would appear that the pro- 
portion of tuber planted had no relation to the amount of -yield, as 
the smallest section yielded decidedly more than the average. In 
the base eyes however, the relation appears more direct. 
It appears further, from the table giving the yields of the most 
productive and least productive hills, that the ratio of the yield to 
the weight of the tuber planted is largest in the smaller tubers. 
These results however have been obtained on fertile soil, and ina 
season of abundant and frequent rains. On poor soil, and in a sea~ 
son of drought, the case might be very different. 
Does Pinching the Terminal Shoots of Potato Tops Increase the 
Production of Tubers ? 
We know that pinching the terminal shoot of many plants in- 
creases the number and vigor of the axillary branches. In the po- 
tato plant the tubers are produced on axillary branches, which grow 
beneath the soil. It seems not improbable, therefore, that pinching 
the terminal shoots of the stalks, while in vigorous growth, may 
stimulate the growth of the underground branches, and thus increase 
the number or size of the tubers. 
In order to test this question, we planted eight short rows of 
Vick’s Early Gem potato in the garden May 2. ‘The tubers were 
cut to single eyes, and the conditions of planting and culture were 
the same as has been noted for the list of varieties. 
On June 22, we pinched off the terminal shoot of the alternate 
rows, beginning with the first. The flower buds were then just 
forming. The pinching of the same rows was repeated on July 16. 
At this time it was evident that the pinching had increased the num- 
ber of branches above ground. 
August 28, the rows were dug and the produce of each row weigh- 
ed, with the following result: 
ass aaa 

eciatmaee scum 
