Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-15
HOW TO RAISE POTATOES
IN 1916 WITHOUT POTASH

Orono. Me-, Dec 14.-(SpeciaD-Ine
following was made public TO-DAY os
Charles D. Woods, director OF 'he
Maine Agricultural Experiment STATION
at the University of Maine:
Potatoes are the chief cash crop
grown in Maine. 1t is of first import
ance Cor the grower to have what facts
are available relative to the likehnooo
Of obtaining a crop of 1916 without the
application of potash. Foreseeing the
possibility that the fertilizers in 1916
would contain very little, if any, pot
ash. the Maine Agricultural expert
ment Station began in 1915 at Aroos-
took Farm a series Of experiments 10
determine the effect or dlHereht
amounts of potash. Four different mix
lures were used. In each case the fer-
tilizer contained 4 per cent or nitrogen
Is per cent Of ammonia), of which one
third was in the form Of nitrate of So
da. and S per cent Of available phos-
phoric acid. The potash varied as fol-
lows: on one plot there was none, on
anOlIST - pei SSIlt, oii lAOeiASA PNA
cent and on another S per cent The
plots were one-half acre each and they
were planted in duplicate. The land
had been in grass for two years, one
year in oats and the year before that
had been in potatoes. No fertilizer had
been used since the potato crop Of 1911.
In each case the fertilizer was applied
at the time of planting. at the rate OF
1900 pounds per acre. Other than the
amount of potash used all the plots
were treated exactly alike.
Throughout the growing season the
vines on both the no potash plots were
a distinctly brighter green and had
thrifller look than on the adjoining
plots. The difference was so marked
that it attracted much attention from
visitors at the farm. Although some
slight irregularities occurred in the
yield from the different plots, the aver
age figures show fairly consistent in
creases with the increase in potash.
The plots without potash yielded ITO
barrels or 502 bushels of merchantable
potatoes. The plots with and per
cent potash gave practically the same
Yields of lie barrels or 800 bushels per
acre. The per cent potash plots aver
aged TO yield 120 barrels or 33l bushels
per acre. This is an increase OF 10
barrels from the per cent plots over
the no potash plots. This amount is
undoubtedly large enough to be signif-
cant and to indicate that the potash
increases the yield of potatoes in
Aroostook County. On the other hand,
10 barrels 1902 bushels) per acre is a
good yield-considerably above the av-
erage and nearly double the average
in the county in 1915. So far as the re-
suits Of this one year are concerned.
they indicate that profitable yield of
potatoes can be obtained on .Aroostook
soils without the addition OF potash
for at least one year. In few farmers
trials made by the various fertilizer
companies. in which no exact records
were made. satisfactory results We're
obtained without the use Of potash by
all of the growers from whom the Sta
ton has heard. Quite a number of
varying amounts of nitrogen, phos-
phoric acid and without potash. The
consensus of opinion seems to be that
per cent ammonia and 10 per cent
phosphoric acid gave On the whole the
hest Yields. Based upon the reports of
these trials, a good many q, the ferti-
lizer companies are increasing the
amount Of phosphoric acid the present
year. Fertilizers that normally car
ried per cent Will in 1916 carry 10
per cent available phosphoric acid To
the writer this increase in phosphoric
acid does not seem to be necessary.
Outside of the special fertilizer ex-
perimental plots at Arostook Farm and
at Highmoor Farm the fertilizer to
be used in 1915 will carry per cent
ammonia with one-third of the nitro
gen in the form Of nitrate of soda), 5