Middletown transcript., 1868-04-25
9oritultnral department.
The Potato.

MIR. George Green, OF Bethnell, Eng
land, in his prize essay on the potato,
gives the results of experiments on 100
trial plots, which may be summed up s
follows;
/. Every increase in the size Of the set,
from one ounce to eight ounces in weight,
produces an increase in the crop much
greater than the additional weight of the
set planted. The net profit, over and
above the extra weight of sets in planting
four ounce sets in lieu of one ounce sets,
amounted, on the whole series of expert
ments, to between three and four tons per
acre, and the further profit, on the increase
of the size of the set from four to eight
ounces, average about five tons per acre,
all the intermediate steps partaking pro-
portionately of the increase. ~ szE
2. The advantage of large sets is more
marked in the late than in the earlier vari-
cites.
g. In the use Of small sets, of from one
to three oupces in weight, large belance
over and above the weight of the sets was
obtained by planting from six to nine in
ches apart in the rows than at wider inter-
walls.
d. Increasing the intervals at which the
sets are planted, even of the largest size,
in the rows, to more than twelve inches.
diminishes the crop, and the wider inter-
walls induce no increase in the weight of
the produce of the individual sets.
8. 1t may be broadly stated that the
weight of the crop is proportionate to the
weight per acre of the sets, and that small
sets will produce the same crop as an equal
weight per acre of large SETS. The fact is,
however, oflimited application, as weight
of very small sets, equal to weight of full-
sized potatoes, could not be got into the
ground, except by planting them 50 close
as to be prejudicial to the crop. The adj
vantages, therefore, of large sets remains
practically unimpaired. =
o. Weight for weight, cut sets pro-
duce as nearly as possible the same weight
per acre as whole potatoes but, for the
reasons given above, the weights of the sets
should not be reduced by subdivision. -
Z. Smaller sets give larger produce
in proportion to their size than the larger
sets.
3. When the intervals between the sets
in rows are diminished to less than foot,
the produce of each individual set is pro-
portionately diminished-though this is not
necessarily accompanied by diminution
of the weight of the crop. no increase in
the produce of each individual set is caus-
ed by placing the set at intervals of more
than a foot. '. 7ts
g. With reference to the relative pro-
duce of different varieties, late red sort
takes precedence throughout the expert
ments, and of the several varieties Of Finkes,
"Spencer's King of Finkes," and the
"Quecn of Finkes," are much more pro-
life than the ordinary variety. be- -..-
As to the manure best adapted to the
potato, it was found by DIR. Lang that all
nitrogenous dressing tried in Devonshire
were rather preiudicial than otherwise, as
regards the potato disease, but that wood
ashes, which abound in potash, and lime
and salt were beneficial.
Experiments with regard to manures we're
carried on under the directions of Profess
sor Volcker. and on examining them the
following deductions have been made:
1. The best crop was obtained by the
use of rotten barnyard manure
2 Superphosphate and crude potash
salts-a pure mineral manuring-gave
nearly equal increases The mixture of
superphosphates and crude potash salts
appear to be specially useful for root crops
on light land.
3. Common salt enhanches the efficiency
of the superphosphates and potash salt, but
when used alone it slightly diminishes the,
crop.
4. Potash salts applied alone, though
by no means the most desirable manure
for potatoes, nevertheless had a better eff
feet than common salt for while the crude
potash salts gave an increase of nearly 8
cwt. per acre, common salt produces Z
cwt. and A lbs. less than the manured
plots on the averags. t-Ea