Daily Republican., 1884-03-24
GRIC TU R AL.
GYPSUM ON POTATOES.

The result Of series of experiments
In the use of Gayuga plaster on pota
toes the past season has been uDex-
pectedly favorable, the more 10 az the
season was unusually wet throughout,
and possibly this abundant supply OF
moisture by acting ~ q solvent may
have added TO the favorable result
Four separate experiments were made,
by strewing the plaster along the fur
rows which were plowed for receiving
he seed potatoes before they were cover
ed. The amount WAS probably at the
rate of six or seven hundred pounds per
acre. This may have been needlessly
large, but in one case where thin
sprinkling was applied the increase was
much less.
The plaster was strewn by hand as
fast as the operator could walk, cover
ing q continuous strip about foot wide.
None was applied entirely broadcast.
The application was made to double
and triple rows extending across the
whole field alongside with other rows
which received no plaster, and giving
both an equal chance for variations of
soil. The plastered rows in no instance
yielded less than % percent. increase
over the others, and In the largest and
most carefully conducted experiment
tho increase was 80 per cent. The crop
in the latter instance was at the rate of
l75 bushels per acre, of which forty
four were to be credited to the plaster.
The seed potatoes were small and the
crop was late. The cost Of this fertili.
ger at the place where the experiments
were performed was three dollars u
ton, or one dollar an acre in the cases
mentioned, and the labor Of applying
would he less than another dollar. Two
dollars for forty.four bushels, worth
S22, would not be regarded a. a bad in
vestment, But it must be borne in
LII ind that this il the result OF a single
years experiment, which may not be
repeated again, and the report is given
merely TO induce other trials. On diff
ferent soils it may result in failure. In
this instance the experiment was made
on strong loan in limestone re-
gion, where super-phosphates have
never produced any sensible effect on
the potato crop, but where gypsum
has always increased the growth of
clover.
APPLE ORCHARDS.
A writer IN Gardening illustrated
gives an account of the management of
orchards in Devonshire, a locality more
favorablethan most others for the success
of the apple crop. Screens or
other protection are important to|
prevent the fruit from being torn
off by the gales, and dashed
to the ground long before it is ripe
enough to gather. A good deep soil,
with free, natural or artificial drainage,
is essential. A poor and wet soil causes
canker In artificial drainage the
bitches must be cnt deep.
Top-dressing heavily with manure is
regarded as the best remedy fOr stunted
growth and moss on the bark. Graz.
ing with sheep or pigs in addition to the
top-dressing il recommended, but cat
tie must be excluded. This English |
management, is very nearly the same
as that adopted by the best orcharlists
in this country This is nearly indenti- |
cal with the treatment of the most
profitable orchards in Western New
York, planted Oh a light, deep, rich
soil, lop-dressed in alternate years,
which has yielded in twelve years over
go, 900 above all expenses, on eleven
acres, and from 800 trees.