

153 
From the table it appears that the individual rows 
showed considerable fluctuations in yield, but that when 
the yields of the various duplicate rows were added to- 
gether, the figures are clearly in favor of the whole tubers. 
The number of plants in the various rows, though not 
quite uniform, fluctuated so little that the yields, calculated 
to full stand, would not differ materially from those given 
in the table. 
Adding together the yields of the six rows of cuttings, 
and of those of the whole tubers, and calculating the yield 
per hundred piants, we have : 
Merchantable. Total. 
‘Yield per hundred plants—cuttings......... 64 lbs. 5 ozs. 78 lbs. 7 ozs. 
prgia “6 ‘* —whole tubers..... 69 lbs. 10 ozs. 91 lbs. 2 ozs. 
showing a very perceptible difference in favor of the whole 
tubers. 
IS ANY DEGREE OF DRYING OF THE CUTTINGS BEFORE PLANT- 
ING BENEFICIAL ? 
It has often been stated thatif potato cuttings are exposed 
to the air afew days before planting they will vegetate 
with more vigor than those planted as soon as cut. 
In order to test this question, a few White Star tubers 
were cut to single eyes on April 19, and spread on the floor 
of the office attached to the greenhouse. On April 30, a 
few more tubers of the same variety were cut to single eyes, 
and two short rows (52 eyes) of these, with the same num- 
ber of the dried cuttings were planted. At this time the 
dried cuttings had lost about 14 per cent. of their original 
weight by evaporation, or approximately one-fifth of the 
water that they contained when cut. 
No especial difference was noted in the time of vegeta- 
tion of the cuttings in the different rows, nor in the growth 
of the plants, with the exception that the tops from the 
dried cuttings died about five days later. 
The yields were as follows : 
Calculated to 100 plants. 
Merchantable. Total. Merchantable. Total 
Fresh Cuttings—52 plants yielded....18 lbs. 10 oz. 23lbs.7 oz. 35lbs.130z. 45 1bs. 1 oz 
Dried Cuttings—48 plants yielded....21 lbs. 834 0z. 25lbs. 1144 0z. 441bs.140z. 52 Ibs. 4 02 
The slightly smaller vegetation of the dried cuttings can- 
not strictly be ascribed to the drying, because in many 
rows planted in the vicinity the same day, with fresh cut- 
tings, the vegetation was no greater, and in some instances 
decidedly less than in this case. As the rows grew side by 
side, the differences in yield can hardly be ascribed to soil, 
and the only logical inference appears to be that under the 
conditions, the drying of the cuttings was favorable to 
yield. 
