Arizona weekly enterprise., 1889-01-12

eeveral years practiced with unvaryIng and satisfactory results. The crop was harvested. measured and duly decided upon Sept. 28 by the judges appointed, in the presence of some thirty guests, in cluding Peter Henderson, the well known New York scotsman; c. V. Mapes, of the Mapes Formula and Peruvian Guano com pany; w. Il. Bowker, of the Bowker Fer tilizer company; Dr. F. NJ Hexamer, edi- tor of The American Agriculturist; J. C. Haviland, representing The Farm Jour- nal, and 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 During this entire period it 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 tat 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 SS0 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 equal to 1,760 pounds to the acre, when the trenches were filled to the surface with 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. 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 DOT tions of New Jersey and elsewhere at tackled the foliage of No. 3, occupying two-tifths of the plot, and destroyed it be fore the earliest potatoes began to mature. Variety No. 4, also wo-fifths of the plot, was attacked In a 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 were 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, and i, l grown in the five trenches and stated in round numbers, was as follows: The two | trenches of No. 1 yielded respectively at l the IaCc or OoO ana OUO DuSnelS to the acre. The tubers were large and well shaped and were generally of merchant able size. The two trenches of No. 8 (the ones most injured) followed with a comparatively small yield, at the rate of 29S and 253 bushels to the acre. The mammoth yield, which brought joy to MT. Carman, although he was disappoint- ed on the entire plot, was made by No 9, which weighed out at the rate of ,C76 bushels to the acre. The tubers were large, quite uniform in size and perfect i'll condition Che of the noticeable things about this number was the unusual ab sence of sma. or unmerchantable sizes.
 The committee made certificate for the whole plot at the rate of 563 bushels to the acre. This total, while falling below the yield specified in the challenge, is in point of fact 6 notable one in view of the attack of the unforeseen and unconquer- able enemy which destroyed the No. plants before the tubers were a quarter grown, considerably injured the No 1 plants and those of No. somewhat
 Mir. Carman favors the trench culture 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 shepely than when planted the ole way, and in the level system the rain is not shed off from the hills, but goes dowr where it will do the most good.