POTATO PLANTING.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 113, 1 August 1885, Page 7

POTATO PLANTING.

Among the multitude of the unsettled problems of agrieul'.uro, seemingly easy of solution vet over which the farmer is still perplexed by a uiuliipliu.y of views and reported experiences, says Prof, riauboru of the Missouri Atft iculttiral College' 4b the simple yetiinportuntquestion of seed potatoes.' Prof. Sanoorn has followed «. course of experiments in seeding potato fields for the past nine years, and has recorded results for seven of those years. The following table shows the average yield from the different methods of planting for seven years of the nine, and wnich agree well with the unrecorded yields of the other two years :—: —

Prof. Sanborn is undoubtedly correct! when he says that it is entirely safe to affirm that light seeding of potatoes, or the use of small potatoes for seed, will result unfortunately, in ordinary hands, on ordinary soil, and in ordinary fertility, especially if deeply planted. The reasons for these views rest mainly upon the facts that the tests show them good, and that the theoretically judgment approves them, The young plant receives no nourishment, except from the seed used, until the leaf appears above ground. At the usual depth of planting this period is so long that no inconsiderable support is derived from the seed before other sources supply the plant. The Professor is doubtless correct when he says that those who have found j small, or finely cut potatoes equal to larger seed, are usuallyjthose who have an extia rich soil, or who give it an extra rich dressing of manure and fine pulverisation, and who do not plant too } deeply.—New England Farmer."

Tho foregoing well deserves attentive consi leratiun, for the results of the experiments endorse the experiences of tho most successful potato growers for the past 50 years. That "like produces like" is an ostabhshcl axiom winch no "except ionod occurrence can invalidate. Theie has been heretofore but little disposition shown by farmers to try new verities of potatoes, and in the cultivation of now varieties of potatoos much has been effected in late years, of which they have but slight conception. We would therefore, strongly advise farmers to try, in a small way, experiments with different varieties of potatoes. The expense would be but trifling whilst the results of such experiments would be uuvaluable.

From seed of whole potatoes, large 221-1 bußhels From seed of whole potatoes, small 177-0 „ From seed of stem end of potato 148-0 „ iFrom seed of seed end of potato .. .. .. 1630 „ From one eye to hill. . . . 81-0 „ From two eyes to the hill . . 104*0 „ From three eyes to the hill . . 160-0 „ rAIiTJE *ER ACRE AT FIFT? CENTS PER BUSHEL. From large potatoes . « . . 8113 50 From Bmall potatoes . . . . 88 50 From stem end .. .» 74 00 From seed end . . . . 84 00 From one eye 40 50 From two eyes . . . . 52 00 From three eyes . . . . 80 00 a This trial for a period of six years.

PBODUOT PER AORB.