Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-11-20
Experiments ,cith Potatoes.

The following facts have been aseer-
tanned by experiments in various places !;
/. When the seed is cut the moisture
escapes rapidly, and if planted late, on
dry soil. with but little or no rain, it is
liable to dry up, and some of it will fail
to grow, from which the fact is deduced
that cut seed should be planted early.
2. The difference in yield OF large seed
over that of medium size, or small, Is
hardly perceptible, except in a dry season
soon after planting, in which case the
shoots from large tubers are better sus-
tanned than those from smaller seed, In
consequence Ofthe greater degree of moist
ure in the tubers. A farmer who had
made numerous experiments with pota-
toes says; in one experiment l tried ~
alternate rows the planting OF yuber,
which were not more in diameter than
mans finger, in one row, and those double
the size Of hens egg IN the next. and So
on over a considerable area. They came
up at the same time, aud the appearance
OF the rows was similar through the sea-
son. When the potatoes were dug, the
contents Of each row were placed IN heaps
al the end and examined. No perceptio,v
difference was observed in the size Of the
potatoes but when they were measured Dc
was found that the large potatoes yie.do-
IL per cent the mOst-doub,less owing 60
a stronger growth Of the shoots OF tn.
outset
8. That when small seed Is planto
containing more eyes to the hill than arg
er seed, the small potatoes vii! produc
the largest crop but this fact apple
only in cases where large seed with very
few eyes is planted, less than Is the usua
number 10 allow 10 hill.
f. That large potatoes, cut in two piece.
lengthwise. will produce more potatoes IN
hill, if planted few inches apart than
if planted whole.
5. That potatoes should he planted
from FIVE TO SIX inches deep, and that
from 10 to 10 per cent more Of produc,
can be obtained by planting at that depth,
than at two or three inches deep.
g. That hiliug Is not benefit to the
crop, beyond the covering Of the weeds
around the hills The writer above quoted
says: a number Of experiments have
been carried out for determining the COM
paratiYe advantages Of killing up the
earth about the plants, which Is nearly
the universal practieel, and cultiyatius
with fat surface. The latter has inyu-
riably given the largest crops. The per-
centage Of loss varies with the depth o.
the soil and the abruptncSs Of the killing.
When done thoroughly, the loss Is about
sixteen TO eighteen per cent; when II,
killing Is moderate, it is cOrreSpondingy
less. The average from common practice.
is from twelve TO fifteen per cent, AMI
millions Of bushels are annually lost In
this way throughout the country" rec
ommend slightly billing, merely 10 destroy
the weeds where a eultivatOr or horse hoe
cannot reach them; but il Is evident 10
al experienced farmers that billing Of yo-
tatoes six OF eight inche~ must -ud p, de-
crease the crop in a dry season. If for ro
other reason. My orders % hired mn,
has always been; hill lightly, jus, enour
10 cover weeds.
:. Tha; change Of seed often iucrea so-
the crops that potatoes in som. places
seem to run out, and new seed 'rom -a-
other section Of the country is advisable.
| annex a reported case The 1rcSeu
year quantity Of seed Of the Late Rs,
was brought from sixty miles west, sc
planted side by side with seed which Vs.
had raised from its first introdu ton
While rows rom the old seed gave each
ten bushels from the row, the seed brOuch,
from distance yielded over thirteen bush
els from each row in both instances. with
much uniformity in the several rows.