Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-02-27
Aaritmltnral department.
THE IRISH POTATO.

The question of "whole" or "cut" pota
toe sets has elected much discussion in the
agricultural journals of this country anc
Europe; and with the view of aiding oul
readers in arriving at correct conclusions
on this and other important points in potato
culture, we give the following summing up
from Prize Essay of Mr.. George May, OF
Benthall, England, who made careful expe,
triments on 129 trial plots.-EDs. So. Gull
TIvATOR.
l. Every increase in the size of the set,
from one ounce to eight ounces in weight,
produces an increase in the crop much great
er 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, amour
ted, 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 to light ounces,
averaged about five tons per acre, oil the
intermediate steps partaking proportionally
of the increase.
2. The advantage of large sets is more
marked in the late than in the early varie-
ties.
8. In the use of small sets, of one to
three ounces in weight, large balance
over and above the weight of the sets was
obtained by planting from six to nine inch
es 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, to more than twelve inches,
diminishes the crop, and the wider intervals
induce no increase in the weight of the pro-
duce of the individual sets.
S. 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, of limited 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 so close
as to be prejudicial to the crop. The ad-
vantage, therefore, of the large sets sremains
practically unimpaired.
6. Weight for weight, cut sets produce
as nearly as possible the same weight per
acre as the whole potatoes, but, for the rea-
sons given above, the weight of the sets
should not be reduced by subdivision.
7. Smaller sets give 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 foot,
the produce of each individual set is pro-
portionally diminished. Though this is not
necessarily accompanied by a diminution of
the weight of the crop, no increase in the
produce of each individual set is caused by
placing the set at intervals wider than a
foot.
9. 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 Fluke,
''Spencer's King of Flukes," and "The
Queen of Flukes," are much more prolific
than the ordinary variety.
AS to the manure best adapted to the po.
tato, it was found by DR.. Lang that all nj
trogenous dressing, tried in Devonshire,
were rather prejudicial 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
were carried on under the direction of Prof.
Voelcker, and on examining them thesfol'
lowing deductions have been made: #
1. The best crop was obtained by the use
of rotton barn yard manure.
2. Super-phosphates and crude potash,
salts-a purely mineral manuring-gave q
nearly equal increase. The mixture of su'
per- phosphates and crude potash-salts ap'
pear to be specially useful for root-crops
on light land.
3. Common salt enhances the efficiency
of the super-phosphates and potash-salts.
but when used alone it slightly diminishes
the crop.
4. 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 give an increase of nearly cwt. pei
acre, common salt produced cwt. and A
lbs. less than the unmanured plots on the
average.
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