Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-22

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ed. The lots were planted from
May 6, to June 8, and were dug at
three different periods, several CON-
petitors being in each case present
and taking part in the measuring of
the land, and weighing the crop.
BY mutual agreement the competi-
tors were required to act also as
judges, and, after inspecting the sew
eral yields, they unanimously dccid-
ed that the lS3-pound lot, though
not quite equal in quality to two or
three of the smaller lots, was, never
theless, on account of both quantity
and quality, entitled to the first place
on the list. The 1913 pounds, or l6
$500 bushels of potatoes, grown on
ten square rods by ten competitors,
was, therefore, awarded to A. w.
Cheever, who in response to the an
nouncement stated that although at
the earnest solicitation of his friend,
Mr.. Morse, the challenger, he. had
joined in the competition, and had
done his best to give some one
handsome yield Of potatoes, yet with
his well-known views concerning the
injurious tendency of all forms of
games OF chance in which one mans
luck is another mans loss, he could
accept only those grown upon his
own plot; and as parties had ex-
pressed desire to secure seed for
planting from these trial lots, he
would direct that they be sold at
auction, the proceeds to be placed in
the treasury of the club, TO be used
towards paying for lecture during
the coming winter. The other COM
petitors agreeing TO the same ar
rangement, the whole lot was sold,
netting to the club the sum of Sll.47,
thus closing q competitive trial in
which valuable experience had been
gained by all and without loss to any.
The following is the
STATEMENT OF A. w. CHEEYER:
The land on which / grew the trial
rod of potatoes has been under culti-
vation several years, producing chief
ly forage crops. Last year it pro-
duced a crop of rye fodder and a
crop of oat fodder, and these were
followed by crop of barley, each
crop being manured either with stable
manure or commercial fertilizers. The
soil is a heavy loan exposed to the
East, quite moist early in the season,
so that an early plowing caused it to
form somewhat into Jumps which
remained unpulverized during the
season. 1t was plowed but once this
year, light coat of stable manure
being turncd in about seven inches
deep. This was somewhat mixed
with the soil by deep cultivation after
plowing. The rows were marked ont
with q large cultivator tooth about
eighteen inches apart, run quite shall
low, so that the potato sets, when
planted, were scarcely below the
surface of the ground.
Before planting, about 500 pounds
of guano, and 400 pounds of sulphate
potash, per acre, were spread broad
cast over the burrows. The seed was
prepared by exposure several days to
strong light, to start the sprouts
into short, healthy growth. When
ready to plant, single eyes were cut
from the seed, selecting only those
which were we'll started and OF good,
strong appearance. Most of the eyes
were cut from the stem end or middle
of the potato, where considerable
potato could be taken out with each
eye. As they were cut, they were
laid in basket, with plaster busted
over them in sufficient quantity to
cover the cut surface, and to partially
protect the sprouts from bruising
while being handled. The pieces
were dropped singly, and about four
teen inches apart, the whole amount
of ground planted in this way being
from two TO three rods.
The sets were covered by hand not
over an inch deep. Just as the shoots
were breaking ground, the plot was
busted over with guano, at the rate
of 200 pounds per acre, and then
raked into the soil with . garden
rake, killing, at the same time, all the
small weeds which had started. As
the potatoes we're so near the surface,
and so thickly planted, it was found
impracticable TO hill them in the
ordinary way, so the ground was
mulched with chopped straw for a
protection, not only against weeds,
but to keep the new potatoes from
being sunburnt as they showed them
selves above the surface. The mulch
also, In q measure, secured a cool,
moist soil, during the hot, dry
weather of midsummer. The straw
was put on some three inches deem.