The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-08-01
AN INTERESTING POTATO CONTEST.
Potatoes Grown by the Trench System OF
Civilization.

The editor of The Rural New Yorker
last winter made the statement that II ne
could not raise at the rate OF over .OC
bushels of potatoes to the acre on gwen
plot in his experiment grounds by what Is
known as the Rural trench system OF cul-
tivation, let the season be favorable or
unfavorable, he would forfeit $50, II any
ono would pay she same amount In case
of his success--he money III either event
to be donated to some charitable purpose
| The challenge was accepted by Mr. VII
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; DE-
Peter Collier, director Of the New York
| experimental station, Geneva, \. T.;
Thomas s. Burr, Plainfeld, n. j.; Peter
T. Quinn, Newark, n. j.; j. q. Webb,
River Edge, n. j., and L. G.. Benedict,
AGRICULTURAL editor of The New YORK
World
The contest potatoes were planted April
| 20, aud cultivated according to the trench
system. approved by Mr.. Carman, and for
several years practiced with unvarying
and satisfactory results. The crop was
upon Sept. % by the judges appointed, IN
! .
Guiding Peter Henderson, the well known
New York scotsman; C. V. Mapes, Of the
Mapes Formula and Peruvian Guano COM
pany; W. II. Rowker of the Bowker Fer
tilizer company; DR.. z. NJ. Hexamer, edi-
tor of The American Agriculturist; J.
C. Haviland, representing The Farm Jour
nal, end E. Williams, the veteran horti-
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.
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 1000 pounds Cat that
rate) per acre. The rows or trenches, as
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 Oh additional
amount of the fertilizer to make it equal
to 1,76O pounds to the acre, when the
| trenches were u4leU 10 ZIG SuTlaco Will
the earth taken out.
One of these trenches was planted with
potato known as the Rural New Yorker
No 2, two with Rural New Yorker No. 3
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-
lions Of New Jersey and elsewhere, at
tackled the foliage Of No. 8, occupying
wo-fifths Of the plot, and destroyed 1t be-
fore the earliest potatoes began to mature.
Variety No. a, also two-ffths of the plot,
was attacked in similar manner later on
and the foliage mostly killed some three
or foul weeks previous to the maturity of
the tubers. The plants of Rural New
Yorker No. 2were less injured than either
of the other varieties and the foliage was
alive in the early part Of September
1 The production Of the three varieties
numbered as R. N. Y. Nos. 2, 3 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 6SS and COS bushels to the
acre. The tnbers were large and well
shaped and were generally Of merchant
able size. The two trenches of No.
(the ones most injured) followed with g
e comparatively small yield, at the rate Of
:, 296 and 253 bushels to the acre. The
r mammoth yield, which brought joy te
Mr. Carman, although he was disappoint
ed on the entire plot, was made by No. 2
| which weighed out at the rate of ! OFT
), bushels to the acre. The tubers were
| large, quite uniform in size and perfect IL
condition. One Of the noticeable thing:
}. about this lumber was the unusual alb
j sencc of sma. or understandable Sizes
e The committee made certificate for til,
;, whole plot at the rate of 5S3 bushels tt
the acre. This total, while falling below
: the yield specified in the challenge, is il
J., point of fact O notable one in view of tn,
:, attack of the unforeseen and unconquer
>. able enemy which destroyed the No
. plants before the tubers were quarter
c grown, considerably injured the No.
! plants and those of No 2 somewhat
Mr.. Carman favors the trench cultur,
= because it supplies Il mellow and con
genial medium for the growth Of thu
II roots, which may extend where they viii
h without obstruction, and because mois
ture is preserved by the increased porosity
. Again, the tubers are less crowded ant
It more shapely than when planted the Oh
It way, and in the level system the rain /
not shed off from the hills, but goes dow
where 1t will do the most good.