Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-02-26
THE POTATO.

Mr.. George May, Of Benthall, England, in
his prize essay on the potato gives the re-
suits of experiments on Il6 trial plots, which
may be summed up as follows:
!. Every increase in the size oil the set,
from one ounce to eight ounces in weight,
produces an increase in the crop much great
or than the additional weight Of the set
planted. The net profit, over and above the
extra weight Of sets in planting four ounces
sets in lieu Of one 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, averaged
about five tons per acre, all the intermedi-
steps partaking proportionately of the in
crease.
2. The advantage of large sets is more
marked in the late than in the early varie-
ties.
3. In the use Of small sets, of from one to
three ounces in weight, large balance over
and above the weight of the sets was obtain
ed by planting from six to nine inches apart
in the rows than at wider intervals.
4. Increasing the intervals at which the
sets are planted, even Of the largest SIZE in
the rows, no more han twelve inches, di.
mini.hes the crop, and the wider intervals
induce no increase in the weight Of tho pro-
duce Of the individual sets.
S. II may bs broadly stated that the
weight of the crops is proportionate to the
weight per acre of the sets. The fact is,
however, of limited application, as weight
of very small sets, equal to a weight Of
full>slzed potatoes, could not be got into the
ground, except by planting them SO close as
to be prejudclal to the crop, The advantage,
therefore, of large sets, remains practically
unimpaired.
6. Weight for weight, cut sets to produce
as nearly as possible the same weight per
acre as whole potatoes, but, for the reason
given above, the weight of the sets should
not be reduced by subdivision.
Z. Smaller sets give a larger produce in
proportion to their. weight than the larger
sets.
8. When the intervals between the sets
in rows are diminished to less than q foot
the produce of each individual set is propOr-
tionatey diminished. Though this is not
necessarily accompanied by diminution ol
the weight of the crop, no increase in the
produce Of each individual set is caused by
placing the set at Intervals wider than foot
9. With reference to the relative produce
Of different varieties late red sort takes
precedence throughout the experiments, and
of the several varieties Of Flukes, "Spencer's
King of Fukes," are much more prolific than
the ordinary variety.
As to the manure best adapted to the
potsto, it was found by DR.. Lang that all
nitrogenous dressings tried in Deyonshire
were rather prejudicial than otherwise, as
regards the potato disease, but the wood
ashes (Which abound in potash) and lime and
salt were beneficial.
Experiments with regard to manures were
carried on under the direction of Prof. Volk-
er, and on examining them the following de-
ductions have been made:
l. The best crop was obtained by the use
of rotten barn>yard manure.
2. Superphosphats and crude potash
saIts-a pure mineral manuring-gave q
nearly equal increase. The mixture Of su-
perphOsphate and crude potash salts appear
to be especially useful for root.crops on light
land.
g. Common salt enhances the efficiency OF
the superphosph ate, and potash salts, but
when used alone it slightly diminishes the
crop.
A. Potash-salts applied alone, though by
no means the most desirable manure for po-
tatoes, nevertheless had better effect than
common salt for while the crude potash
salts gave an increase of nearly 8 cwt. per
acre, common salt produced cwt and A
lbs. less than the unmanured plots on the
average.