The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-16
FARM, FIELD ANDGARDEN.
OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIENCES IN
EVERY CAY LIFE ON THE FARM.
Results az the Potato Contest Betveen
The Rural New Yorker and Tho Farm
Journal-The Value If the Trench sys-
tenn Il Cultivation Proven.

The Rural New Yorker and The Farm
Journal--The yalpe II the Trench sys-
TEN Il Cultivation Proven.
Early last spring the editor Of The
Rural New Yorker proposed 10 grow
potatoes at the rate Of over 100 bushels 10
the acre on certain plot Of land on which
potatoes had been grown for twelve con
secGiivc years, during which time SAID
plot had received about fifty tons Of horse
manure per acre. with liberal applications
each year Of commercial fertilizers. In
case Of success the editor Of The Farm
Journal agreed to give $50 10 some
charity. In case Of failure the editor OF
The Rural New Yorker agreed TO give the
same amount for the same purpose.
The system Of cultivation practiced was
what is known as the trench system. The
trenches were dug. ms soon as the soil
could be worked. about eight inches deep
and about one foot wide and three feet
apart, measuring from TIE middle of each.
The potatoes were planted April ~ The
seed potatoes on April were spread out
singiy in a warm room Strong warty
shoots pushed IN few DAYS for The
most part ut the seed end Tho eyes of
tie other portions pushed only slightly
The potatOes were cut ID size according
o. the number of Cve- the object being
90 have ar least three strong eye TO "a
piece. SO the rate =. $50 p0luds oi
Mares fertilizer was sown I'D the bottom
AZ the trenches. and was incorporated
With tine bottom soil Two inches Of soil
were then ra',cd upon the fertilizer and
the seed p.cces were then placed precisely
ouc foot apart The-e were covered
slightly with soil and ulphur 40 the rate
al 400 pounds t0 the acre anu Gn adds
t0ual dressing OF The same fertilizer ~
the ratc of ejpounds Peg aero lmaNng
ia all 1850 pounds were sown The
trenches were then filed level with the
adjacent soil The application Of sulphur
was made 10 rcpcl the wire worms which
iniesi this sod AID which are supposed 40
cause scab.
Tie potatoes planted were the L. y. I.
seedlings. Nos =. 3 and j. OF these No
3 was the first TO appear above ground
and 20 make, up 10 the middle al June
the tnriftiest growth. IL was then noticed
that the foliage began TO turn black and
the stems 20 turn yellow. The cause was
found to bc the cucumber tea beetle,
which had SO perforated the leaves as TO
cause them 10 wither and die The No. !
was attacked later. and the No ? still
later The injury by this flea beetle was
not confined 10 The Rural premises. but
many fields were more or less injured in
different parts Of New Jersey, New York
ana other states IL may be said that the
vines Of 30. were killed when the pota-
toes could scarcely have been onc-third
grown Those n tao No. !, except three
or four plants were killed when tho po-
tatCcs were half grown. OF the No >
bat two were killed, although all Suffered
more or less.
The 2sth Of September the potatoes on
Ito contest plot were dug. measured and
the yield decided upon by the following
Judges previously appointed. DR.. Peter
Collier. director u tie New York expert
meut station; L. { Benedict agricultural
editor Of The New York World. w. a.
Stiles. editor Of Garden and Forest. i >.
Burr Plainfold. = J. J.. /. Quinn. Now
ark. y. J..J G. Webb. River Edge, \. !
Rural no 4 Welded az the rate II 6i4
bushels per acre Tho No . yielded az
The astounding rate of 1916 bushels TO
the acre The 40 3 was compaQ'iyc
failure. owing % the vines having been
destroyed by the iha beetle Tho yiclt
was onlya at the rate of 2i0 bushcl1 % the
acre A. this potato occupied two-htths
Of the entire plot the yield was thus To-
duced 90 below eco bushels to the acre,
the yield sworn 20 by the judges for the
entire plot being g. the rate % joj bush
els TO the acre. Do Is quito fair To- assume.
50 sag the judges that had the lca
beetlenot destroyed the 80. o and greatly
injured tlc $50. : the yield would have
been over 600 bushels 10 tho acle.