Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-05-15
THE POTATO CROP.
Profitable Varieties - Second Crop Seed.
when Mulching Pays-FertiliEing.

Profitable Varieties - Second Crop Seed.
when Mulching Pays-FertiliEing.
A valuable digest made of bulletins re-
ported from SO stations where expert
ments with Irish potatoes have been
conducted, and published by Home and
Farm, affords much information of
general interest Wisconsin, Michigan,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and
Missouri stations, after testing varieties
for two to six years, find the most pro
life to be Alexander's Prolific, Beauty
of Hebron, Burbank, Charter Oak, Da-
kota Red, Pearl of Savoy and Rural
New Yorker No 2. Southern stations
find the Triumph sometimes called Red
Triumph and Tennessee Red Triumph)
most prolific and in every way best.
Home grown seed generally gave
slightly better results than seed from
abroad, and at southern stations the diff
ference in favor of home grown seed was
marked. Spring planting from fall crop
or second crop seed of the previous year
has everywhere given far better results
than spring seed of the previous year.
Three stations have experimental with
that these improve yield and quality.
Twenty stations have tested the merits
of one eye, two eye, quarter, half and
whole seed, with conflicting results. In
this matter it has been decided, how
ever, that the larger the seed pieces the
earlier the crop, and the richer the land
the less difference in yield between large
seed and small seed. On poor land the
large seed gives much the best results.
To plant large seed whole requires 30 to
40 bushels Of seed per acre, while for
single eye pieces three to four bushels
are sufficient. For very early crop, plant
large seed whole; otherwise quarters
seem most profitable. Ten stations have
tested the merits of seed ends, stem ends
and middle pieces, and the average re-
suits show no material difference. Early
varieties and early planting give best re-
suits.
Five stations have experimental as to
depth of planting, the best results in
most cases being from Il depth of two to
three inches. Eight stations have expert
mented on distance, drills generally Civ
ing better results than hills. A fair de-
duction favors rows 30 inches apart and
small seed pieces II inches, quarters is
inches, halves "a and whole seed 30
inches apart in the row. Alabama, Kan
sas and Utah stations favor level culture,
while the InGiana station favors ridging,
and Maryland, New York and Ohio find
no difference. The general tendency is
toward thorough preparation Of soil and
shallow, level culture.
In dry countries and dry seasons
mulching pas well; otherwise it is in
furious. In tickle climates mulch half
the crop. The best fertilizer depends on
the deficiency of the soil. Generally
commercial fertilizers are preferred to
barnyard manure for potatoes Rolling
seed in flour of sulphur or soaking an
hour in . gallons of water in which 2 p
ounces of corrosive sublimate has been
dissolved prevents scab. Sublimate cor
rodes metal and is a rank poison hence
mix in a barrel and be careful. Spray
the growing plants early and often with
bordeaux mixture containing paris
green, and neither bugs nor blight Will
trouble the crop.