Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-03-20
The Potato.


prize essay on the potato gives the result.
OF experiment in l29 trial plots, which NAV
be summed up As 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
sc, planted The net profit. over and
above th- extra weight of sets, in planting
-four ounce sets. amounted. on the whole
series of experiments. to between three and
four tons per acre and the further profit
on the increase of the size OF the set from
four ounces TO eight ounces. av~rsgc about
FIVE tons per acre, all the intermediate steps
rsr,sking proportionstsf of the increase.
2 The advantage OF large sets is more
marked IN the late than 10 the carly va
rie,ies.
s. In the use o. small sets. OF from one
10 three ounces in weight, 4 large balance
over ard above the weight OF The sets VIZ.
obtained by planting from six to nine niche.
apAr, in the ows than a, -ider intervals.
1 Increasing the intervals At which the
sets are planted. even OF the largest size.
in tire rows. "a morc than twelve inches.
diminishes the crop. and the wider intervals
induce increase in the weight OF the
produce OF individual sets
1t may he broadly stated that the
weight OF the crop Is proportion to the
weight per acre Of ,b. sets. aud that small
set. will produce the same crop ~ an equal
weigh, per scr' OF the large sets i
fact is. however. nj limited application. 4,
weigh, OF very small sets rqua TO a weight
Of iuIl siz d potatoes. could not be got into
the ground. excerpt By planting them 50
cl"'c as 20 DC PrJadic'al TO the crop.
The advantage, therefore. Of large set. re-
mains practically unimnairrd
Weight TOR weight. cut set. produce
nearly a. possible the same weight per acre
A. whole potatoes. but. for the reasons
given above, the weigh, oil the sets should
no, bc rr'luc-d b, subdivision.
Smaller sets give q larger produce in
proportion to their weight than The larger
sets
: When the intervals between the sets
IN rows are dImini,hvd TO less than a foot.
the produc" OF each individual set proper
uona'ely diminished Though thi, /. no,
neccssarii' accompanied by diuiinu;ion Of
the weight of the crop. no increase in the
produce OF each individual set is caused br
placing the sets at Interval, W der than =
foot.
9 With reference TO the relative produce
81 different varieties 4 la;e re-! sort take.
prrce'lrn''r throughout the experiment. and
of the several varieties OF Fiukc. .Spcn-
Gers King OF Fluke.." j. much more prolific
than any other variety.
As to tho manure best adapted TO the
potato. It was found bv NJ Lang. that all
nitro, eEous. tried IN Drvonshiru were
rather Prrjudicial than otherwise. A. regard.
the potato disease bat that the wood A.hr,
(~h'rh sboond ia po,ash) and lime and salt
were b,n-hcial
Experiments with regard to manure were
carried on under the direction, OF Prof
Eoelrler and on examining them the FOL-
losing PRODUCTIONS have been made:
! The best crop vas obtained 10y be use
o. rotten harnyard manure.
2 Super phosphate and crude potash
salts-a purely mineral manuring-g.vr a
nearly equal increase The mixture Of
'uPerPhosPhate anil CT u,le potash salts ap-
pear to be specially useful for root crop.
on light land
3 Common salt enhances the efficiency
o'the suPerphosphAie md pc 'ssb salts. bot
when used alone II slightly dinlin she. the
crop
Potash salts applied alone. though BY
no means The most desirable manure Tor
potatoes. nevertheless bad q better effect
than common salt. Tor ~bIc the crude pot
s'h salts gave an increase Of nearly ewt
per acre. common salt produced : cat. and
- III. les, than The unmanurcd plot, on lie
average