The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-11-10
AN INTERESTING POTATO CONTEST.
Potatoes Grown BY the Trench System u
Cultivation.

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Potatoes Grown BY the Trench system Il
Cultivation.
The editor Of The Rural New Yorker
last winter made the statement that II he
could not raise at the rate OF over 7OO
bushels OF potatoes to the acre on given
plot In his experiment grounds by what 10
known as the Rural trench system OF cul'
tivation, let the season be favorable or
unfavorable, he would forfeit $50, II any
one would pay the same amount IN case
OF his success-the money In either event
to be donated to some charitable purpose.
The challenge was accepted by Mr.. WI
mer Atkinson, the editor of The Farm
Journal 1t was agreed that the result
Of the contest should be determined by
the following judges: w. A. Stiles, edi-
tor Of Garden and Forest. New York; DR..
Peter Collier, director Of the New York
experimental station, Geneva, N Y;
Thomas S. Burr, Plainfeld, N. j.. Peter
I. Quinn, Newark. N. j.; J. G. Webb,
River Edge, N. j., and l.. c. Benedict,
agricultural editor Of The New York
World.
The contest potatoes were planted April
go, and cultivated according to the trench
system, approved by Mr.. Carman, and for
several years practiced with unvarying
and satisfactory results. The crop WAS
harvested, measured and duly decided
upon Sept. 20 by the judges appointed. in
the presence Of some thirty guests, In
Guiding Peter Henderson, the well known
New York scotsman; G. V. Mapes, Of the
Mapes Formula and Peruvian Guano com.
pany; w. H. Bowker, of the Bowker Fer
tilizer company; Dr. r. M. HeIamer, edi-
tor of The American Agriculturist; J.
c. Haviland, representing The Farm Jour
culturist, Of Montclair. N. J.
The contest plot contained FIVE rows.
each thirty three feet long, three inches
apart from center to center, on specially
prepared ground on which potatoes had
been grown for twelve successive years.
During this entire period 1t received not
over fifty tons of horse manure per acre.
The applications Of fertilizers each year
have been liberal, the average being prob
ably not less than 1900 pounds (at that
eate) per acre. The rows or trenches a.
these are called to distinguish them from
the ordinary paintings, were dug eight
inches deep and one foot wide. Mapes'
potato manure was mixed with the soil In
the bottom at the rate Of $50 pounds to
the acre. On this the seed, cut three
strong eyes to the piece, was planted In
hills one foot apart; then light covering
of soil ON the seed and an additional
amount Of the fertilizer to make It eqNal
to 1,760 pounds to the acre, when the
trenches were filed to the surface with
the earth taken out.
One Of these trenches was planted with
a potato known as the Rural New Yorker
No 9, two with Rural New Yorker No. 8
and two with Rural New Yorker No. 4.
Unfortunately for the contest. the flea
beetle which has done much damage to
the potato crop this season in certain por-
tions Of New Jersey and elsewhere, at
tackled the foliage Of No. 8, occupying
two fifths Of the plot, and destroyed 1t be-
fore the earliest potatoes began to mature.
Variety No. 4, also two-fifth Of the plot,
was attacked in similar manner later on
and the foliage mostly killed some three
or four weeks previous to the maturity Of
the tubers. The plants of Rural New
Yorker No. 2 we're less injured than either
of the other varieties and the foliage was
alive in the early part of September.
The production Of the three varieties
numbered as r. N. Y Nos. 2, 8 and 4,
grown in the five trenches and stated in
round numbers, was as follows: The two
trenches of No. yielded respectively at
the rate of 6S3 and sos bushels to the
acre. The tubers were large and well
shaped and were generally of merchant
able size. The two trenches of No. 3
(he ones most injuredD followed with
comparatively small yield, at the rate Of
29S and 253 bushels to the acre. The
mammoth yield, which brought Joy to
Mr.. Carman, although he was disappoint-
ed on the entire plot, was made by No. 2.
which weighed out at the rate of |, 076
bushels to the acre. The tubers were
large quite uniform in SIZE and perfect in
condition. One Of the noticeable things
about this lumber was the unusual alb
sence of sma or unmerchantable sizes.
The committee made a certificate for the
whole plot at the rate of 5S3 bushels to
the acre. This total while falling below
the yield specified in the challenge, is in
point of fact notable one in view of the
attack of the unforeseen and unconquer
able enemy which destroyed the No. 3
plants before the tubers were q quarter
grown, considerably injured the No 4
plants and those of No. 2 somewhat.
Mr.. CaYman favors the trench sultnre
because it supplies a mellow and con
genial medium for the growth of the
roots, which may extend where they will
without obstruction. and because mois
ture is preserved by the increased porosity.
Again the tubers are less crowded and
more shapely than when planted the old
way, and in the level system the rain h
not shed off from the hills, but goes down
where it will do the most good.
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