The new potato culture as developed by the trench system

Front matter

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THE

As developed by the Trench System, by the judicious use of

Contents

PAGE

Chapte rI 13

The Origin of the Trench System of Raising Potatoes. The ' ' Potato Contest. " How it Came About The ' ' Contest " Plot. The Planting Begun and Finished. The Fertilizer Used. The Trenches. How far Apart. Hilling up Avoided. The Varieties Planted. Notes of Progress. A Perfect Stand. Incessant Rains. The First Intimation of Something Wrong. The Vines Die Prematurely. Applications of Various Insecticides. The Cucumber Flea-beetle Discovered to be the Cause. Not Confined to any Limited District. Previously Attributed to "Blight." Insecticides of no Effect to Kill the Insect — But they Hurt the Vines. Previous Treatment of the " Contest " Plot. The Result. The Plot Measured by the Committee. Yield of the Several Seedlings. No. 3 Failed. Otherwise the Yield would have Exceeded the Rate of 700 Bushels to the Acre. Report of the Judges.

Chapter II 20

Failures, but Instructive Failures, The Second "Contest" Plot. Modifications. Favorable Conditions in Every Way. Notes of Progress. Flea-beetles in Great Numbers. All Sorts of Insecticides Used Without Avail. Foliage Injured. The Kinds Planted. Premature Death of the Vines. The Yield. The Tubers not Half Grown, and a Large Proportion Decayed.

Chapter III 24

Another Failure on a Larger Scale, with its Teachings. Learn by Failures as well as by Successes. A Half-acre Trial on a Poor Soil. General Opinion that such Large Yields cannot be Produced'on Extended Areas. May we not Double our Crops without Doubling the Cost of Raising them ? The Enemies of Great Yields. Potatoes Checked in their Growth never Yield Maximum Crops. The Fitting of the Half Acre. Plowed in the Fall and Potash and Phosphoric Acid Applied. Why Nitrogen was not Applied in the Fall. The Trenches Depth to Plant. Covering. Conservation of Moisture. Hilling-up to be Avoided. Why. Shallow Cultivation. Spring Work. A

PAcfe

Late, Cold, Wet Spring. An Injudicious Decision. AdditJoSSSl P"ertilizers Applied. Frost-bitten Seed. One-eye Pieces Planteitl of Necessity. Number of Potatoes to the Barrel. The KsKMlte Planted. The Mulch. The Forms and Quantity of Nitrogea Applied. Partial Failure of the Seed. The Yield. The Cfl'm.

Chapter W .... jt

Mr. Terry's Views. Expectations not Realized. The Yield]!; from Small Plots Deceptive. Mr. Minch's Great Yields Queried, The Author's Yields due to other Causes than the Trenches. Mr. Teriry cannot see any Benefit from the Use of Fertilizers on hki Land. The Advantages of Level Cultivation Set Forth. Fewer Green Potatoes. Reply to Mr. Terry. Evident reasons wh}?- as Large Crops cannot be Raised on Acres as on Selected Plots. Just as much to be Learned from Trials on Small as on Considerable Areas. The Small Plot may tell us Just what the Acre Needs.- Why Farmers Prefer to "Hill-up." How Trenches Direct the Rainfall. Mr. Minch Explains. The Economy of Large Quantities of Manure.

Chapter V 39

Some Heavy Yields by the Trench Method. The "Women's National Potato Contest." Over i,ooo Entries. Prizes Awarded. The Yields of the Prize-takers. The Trench System takes the First Prize in a full Acre Contest, The Prize won was $i,ioo — the Yield was 738 Bushels.

Chapter VI . 42

Conservation of Moisture. Importance of Rainfall. Ineffectiveness of American Experiment Station Work. Sir J. B. Lawes, When and How first Induced to Write for the American Farm Press. Governmental Action Precipitated thereby in the matter of Establishing Experiment Stations. Fundamental Weakness of American Stations as at Present Conducted. Political Influences. ' 'Available " rather than ' ' Capable " men too often Chosen as Officers. Uncertain Tenure of Office. Conducting the same Experiments Year after Year Impracticable. Farmers are Solicited to Try the Effects of Mulching in a Small Way. Objections to the Trench Answered. Treading on the Seed Pieces Condemned. Roots do not Issue from the Seed. Seed Potatoes, unlike true Seed, need a Loose, Mellow Soil.

Chapter VII 47

Experiments with Different Fertilizers, First Season Single or Special Fertilizers. Fertilizers should not be Condemned because Fertilizer Constituents, used Separately, fail to Increase the Crop. How to Find Out what your Land Needs. The Elements Deficient in the Soil must be Supplied. Whert-in Fertilizers Differ from ?.lanure Tlv Neer's of this Particular

Co7iie7its, 9

PAGE

bo jJFlainly Shown. The Soil will Answer Questions it put in the Right Way. The Natural Soil Yields. The Specially Fertilized Soil Yields. The Complete Fertilized Soil Yields. Tables and Comparisons. Second Season's Trial on different Land with the same Fertilizers and Fertilizer Constituents. A Soil that will "Not Grow Beans " without Manure. A Hungry Soil. Tables. A Summary of Results. Third Season's Trial on a Change of Plots with Essentially the same Fertilizers and Fertilizer Constituents. To what Extent do Small or Thrifty Tops Correspond to the Crop of Potatoes ? Ratings Rarely Fail to Indicate. When they (the Ratings) do Fail. Well Balanced Fertilizers never give a Luxuriant Growth of Vines without a Corresponding Growth of Tubers. Better Land than that of Preceding Trials and more Variable Results. The Land still Replies : "Give Me All Kinds of Food." A Letter from Sir J . B. Lawes respecting the Effects of Different Fertilizers. Artificial Feitilizers Profitable, if Judiciously Applied, in Potato Culture. Nine crops of Potatoes in succession Grown at Rothamsted. The Kinds and Amounts Fed. The Results of Nitrate Nitrogen and Ammonia Nitrogen the Same. The Loss of Nitrogen and the Necessity of a Liberal Supply. The Results of Mineral Fertilizers alone only One-half those when Nitrogen is Added. The Quantity of Potash Required is very Large. The Color ot tne i^eaves and stems as Arfected by Nitrogen, by Minerals and by Both. Explanation. A Larger Crop of Potatoes Obtained with Minerals alone than with Nitrogen alone. Wheat an Exception. Why. Instructive Tables ; Study them. Thf^ Minerals may Remain for Future Crops — the Nitrogen is Lost. Results of Experiments made at Rothamsted on the Growth of Potatoes for Twelve Years in Succession on the Same Land, as set forth by Dr. Gilbert. Twelve Years of Potato Culture without any Manure or Fertilizer. The Yield as Great, under this Exhaustive Treatment, as the Average Yield of the United States. Nitrogenous Manures alone Barely iiicrease the Yield. The Slow Action of Farm-yard Manure. The Marked Effects of an Addition of Nitrogen to Farm-yard Manure. Disease does not Increase by Continued Growth from Season to Season. Specific Gravity of the Potato an Indication of Quality. Cook Potatoes with their Skins on.

Chapter Vill . = 69

The Effects of Differen: Quantities of "Complete" Fertilizers on Potatoes Fertiiizsrs against Manure. Telling Effects of Fertilizers on Potatoes. They Increase the Yield more than .., ...does Stable Manare, Trial upon One-tenth of an Acre that had not been .Iviauured in 15 Years. Sm:;other Potatoes from the Fertilizer. The Vital Question which each Farmer must Solve for Himself or be Left Behind in the Procession. The Yields from 22O; 440, 880, 1,320, 1,760, 2,200 pounds of Fertilizer to the Acre. Sulphate of Iron Harmful. Averages. A Difference of over 138 Bushels per Acra. In what Way is the Reader to turn the Results to His Own Advantage ?

lO

The New Potato Culture.

PAGE

Chapter IX 79

Shall the Fertilizer be placed Under or Over the Seed Pieces ? Its Importance Depends on the Method of Culture. Tables. Averages. The Second Year Results. General Summary. The Difference in Favor of the Fertilizer Oz'e?- 9.68 Bushels per Acre.

Chapter X - . » 83

Results of Planting Potatoes in Trenches of Different Depths. First Trial. Planted from Two to Ten Inches Deep. Second Trial. Third Trial. Summary of Averages.

Chapter XI 87

Nitrogen, especially Nitrate Nitrogen as in Nitrate of Soda. Its Effects when Applied Alone. May Farmers derive a Profit from its Use when Applied to Land Indiscriminately or as Farm Manure is Applied ? Joseph Harris's Views and the Author's Answer. Experiments. The Results, in a Partial Way, Justify Mr. Harris's Conclusions that the Average Potato Fertilizers of To-day are too Low in Nitrogen, in so far as this Particular Soil may be Taken as a Guide. See to it that the Land is well Supplied with Minerals, and then Add Increasing Doses of Nitrogen in an Experimental Way.

Chapter XII 100

Sundry Experiments. Potatoes Raised in Half Barrels. First, Pure Sand ; Second, Garden Soil ; Third, Three-quarters Garden Soil, One-quarter Cut Straw. Results. Experiment with Three Barrels. Barrels Half Filled, the Seed Potatoes Planted and Covered with a few Inches of Soil. As the Shoots Grow the Barrels are gradually Filled, Leaving the Seed Pieces 16 Inches Below the Surface. Where would the Tubers Form? The Root and Tuber-forming Growth. Blight. Results. Seed Potatoes Treated in Various Ways, and Fertilizers. Excessive Manuring, Effects of Salt. A New Way to Mulch Potatoes. "Valley Mulching." Pieces Placed on Top of the Soil and Covered with Mulch and Fertilized. Trenches Mulched, Fertilized and Not. Doubts Expressed as to Reported Yields. As High as "at the Rate" per Acre of over 1,800 Bushels, as Estimated from a few Hills. The easy Method of Computing Yields with Accuracy. The Best Distance Apart for ' ' Singleeye " Seed. Different Number of Eyes to a Piece, from Single to Four Eyes to a piece. Different Sized Pieces without Regard to Number of Eyes. Experiments to Determine how Much Flesh each Eye should Have. Seed-end against Stem-end. Shall the Distance Apart, of the Seed Pieces Planted, be Proportionate to the Size of the Seed ?

Contents j j

Chapter XIII 115

Size of Seed. Generalizations. Habit of the Variety to be Considered. Small Seed of some Kinds — Large of Others. No Positive Rule can be Given. Illustrations. The Loss from Missing Hills. Underground Development. Relations between Few Eyes and Long Joints ; Bushy and "Leggy " Vines. True Roots and Tuber-bearing Stems. Absurd Names. Seed and Stem Ends might more Properly be Called Tip and Butt, or Top and Bottom. Potato Growth. How Stems are Modified by Light and Air ; by Soil and Moisture. Limiting the Space for the Growth of Nodes and Tubers. Increase the Root System by Deeper Planting and a Mellow Soil. A Ten-story House may Occupy the same Ground Area as a One-story House. Again, as to ♦■he Size of Seed-pieces. Every Variety differs in Number and Potency of Eyes, and must be Cut and Planted Accordingly.

Chapter XIV 123

Analysis of the Tubers and Vines. The Effects of Special or Single Fertilizers, and in Various Combinations. The Effects of "Complete" Fertilizers. Stimulants. "Complete" Fertilizers not Necessarily Effective. A Familiar Talk with Farmers. Erroneous Conclusions as to Fertilizers. W^hy Farmers Condemn them. Food in the Soil, previously Inert, Rendered Available by Salt, Plaster, Lime, Etc. Forcing Land. Lashing it into Temporary Productiveness. "Complete" Fertilizers which Analyze the Same may Give very Different Results. Their Agricultural Value. Irrational Conclusions. How Money is Thrown Away. Farmers Conjured to use High-grade Fertilizers Adapted to the Needs of their Land. The Potato's Needs. The Difference. A Distinction without a Difference. Chemical Fertilizers arg simply Concentrated Manures.

Chapter XV 135

Seedling Potatoes. How to Gather the Seeds, Plant them and Treat the Seedlings. Every Gardener and Farmer should Raise his Own Varieties. How to Select. Should we save Seed Potatoes from the most Productive Hills ? Why the same Variety Varies. Millions of Dollars spent for New Varieties that might Just as Well have been Raised at Home. Seed Balls or Fruit. Salection of Seed. Glass Structures not Necessary. A Sunny Window will Do. How to Transplant. After care. Avoid any Poisonous Application. Mosquito Netting. How we should Select the Seedling Potatoes. Immature Seed will give a Degenerated Crop. Immature Cuttings will Produce Comparatively Feeble Plants. Bud Variation. Select Seedling Tubers of the Shape Desired. How Seedlings from the same Seed may Vary.

Page

Chapter XVI 14^

Care of Seed. Exposing Sound Seed to Light and Sun Before Planting. How to Detect "Blind" Eyes. Lime as a Preserver. Handling. Poisoning. Ho^v a Perfect Stm 1 may be Secured. The Views of Several Correspondents. Tne Importance of Shallow Cultivation and a Mellow Soil Emphasized. Paris . Green. Mix it with Plaster, not with Water. Why ! Absurdity of Picking off the Potato Beetles by Hand.

Chapter XVII 149

E.Kperiments During a Dry Season and in a Variable Soil. First Series. Comparison of Nitrate of Soda with Nitrate of Potash. Vine Growth. Second Series. Comparison of Stockbridge with Nitrate of Soda. Vine Growth. Third Series. Comparison of Sulphate of Potash with Bradley. Vine Growth. Fourth Series. Comparison of Fertilized Trenches with Unfertilized. Vine Growth Fifth Series. Effects of Snuff as a Fertilizer. The Effects of Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potash, Used Separately and in Various Combinations. Vine Growth. Averages of Yield of the Several Nitrate of Soda Trenches.

Chapter XVIII 178

Another Talk About the Use and Effects of Chemical Fertilizers. A Maximum Crop of Potatoes Means an Ample Supply of Potato Food. Diluted Bordeaux Gives Unmistakable Benefits.

Chapter XIX . . . . , 183

Miscellaneous. The Objections to Hilling-up. Mr. Hersey's Views as to Seed-end and Stem-end Seed : as to Shape, Answered. Brevities. Difficulty in Crossing Potato Flowers. Seed Sold by Sesdmen as "Hybrid" Seed, not Hybrid. Hvbrids Between the Alkekengi and Potato Sterile. Prof. Bailey's Experiments in Grafting the Potato on the Tomato, and vice versa. Ark Explanation of the Effects and Non-effects of Plasters. Questions and Answers. Killing th^ Tops Lessens the Yield. Keeping Potatoes. Largest Yielders. How Much Seed to the Acre ? Does it Pay to Buy Fertilizer Constituents and Mix them at Home ? Index.

CHAPTER I. Origin of the Trench Method

IN THE back part of our home grounds is a garden-plot of about an acre. When we built upon the property (two acres in all), nearly twenty years ago, it was designed that this garden-plot should be given to small fruits — grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, etc.— around the borders, while upon the central area it was proposed to raise potatoes and other vegetables for family use. This was somewhat before I had thought of "experiment grounds" or had associated myself with the farm paper with which I soon after became and have since been connected. The soil was a mellow loam that might well be defined as "just right" or, in more specific description, one that, while retentive of moisture, was yet well drained and neither too much inclined to an impervious clay nor, on the other hand, to a leachy sand. Of the fertility of this soil, nothing was known further than that it had been cropped for many years without manure — fertilizers were practically unknown.

Our first season's essay proved to be a decided failure, though, in so far as we knew, our instructions were well carried out by the gardener. The potato "seed" (Early Rose) was planted in hills two by three feet apart without manure. The plot was fairly well cultivated, and the plants hilled-up according to the then popular way of raising potatoes. It was our hope (a confident hope, too,) to beat our neigiibors, between whom, in the matter of all early vegetables, a friendly rivalry existed.

The tops grew vigorously enough, and anything like a failure of the tubers was not thought of. That this plot should have yielded not over seventy -five bushels to the acre is a fact that I have often pondered over, while anything like a satisfactory explanation has never

• (13)

occurred to me. Assuming, at any rate, that this land was not ovei'- well adapted to potatoes, their cultivation was not attempted for several seasons thereafter.

At length, having engaged in farm journalism, and desirous of testing the new varieties of potatoes then announced in unquahfied terms of praise in the seedsmen's catalogues of the day, I determined to ascertain what could be done in this uncongenial soil, and the " Trench System " was among the first of the experiments which were suggested.

From that time until now this plot has been given to raising, in small trial-lots ranging from three or four to a dozen "hills," all the new varieties of which " seed " has been procurable. Probably the average number of trials during all these years would not be found to be less than seventy five kinds for each season. The yields of these Httlg lots varied remarkably — all the way from 150 to over 1,800 bushels to the acre. All were treated essentially ahke, and reports were duly printed as to size, shape, color, yield and quality. The reports of the new kinds which gave a low yield were rarely made use of by the seedsmen, or others originating or introducing them, while the stupendous yields were given the most conspicuous publicity, greatly to my mortification in many cases. One of the most startling of these announcements declared that 1,3915^ bushels per acre of the Green Mountain potato, had been raised by me. The truth was, that there were but three pieces (hills) planted, which yielded 17^ lbs., or at the rate of 1,391.50 bushels to the acre ! So it transpired that the anomalous yields reported from season to season were doubted by many good people, and it was to prove what the trench method was really capable of doing that a "contest" was announced, the results and every step of which were to be open to public investigation.- Be it said here that I have never claimed that this method is preferable in all sorts of soils, for the excellent reason that I have not tried it in all sorts of soils. Reasoning from what is known of the potato during its period of growth, the trench system would not increase the yield in a sandy, leachy soil in which the level of the ground water is low, as nothing can be gained by rendering the soil less capable of securing the needed store of moisture through the osmotic action which the trench modification helps to assure in more retentive soils.

We have repeatedly, side by side, with and without fertilizer, tried this method and the usual wa}^ of raising potatoes, with the invariable

Origin of the Trench Method. 15

result that the trenches have given a decidedly larger yield. More than this, in our trials any decided increase of fertilizers, by the newmethod has given, as will be shown further on, a greater increase in yield than the same amount of fertilizer by the old way, which of itself is an important consideration. It shows that in the one case the plant is able to appropriate the food supplied to a better advantage than in the other.

Furthermore, as the results of liberal prizes offered in 1888 and again in 1889, it has been demonstrated that by far the heaviest yields on record have been produced by this method, which, in theory at any rate, seems to secure to the potato all that it needs in so far as it is in the power of man to do so.

HOW THE '' contest" CAME ABOUT.

During the winter of 1888 I made the statement in print that if I could not raise at the rate of over 700 bushels of potatoes to the acre on a given plot in my experiment grounds by what is known as the Rural Trench System of cultivation, let the season be favorable or unfavorable, I would forfeit ^50 if any one would pay the same amount in case of my success — the money in either event to be donated for some charitable purpose. The challenge was accepted by Mr. Wilmer Atkinson, the editor of the Farm fournal^ of Philadelphia, Pa.

THE ''contest" plot.

Owing to the lateness of the season, the "Contest" plot was not planted until April 20. The planting was begun at 7 a. m. At 8 a. m. a shower began which continued until the work was finished, causing the soil to become muddy on the surface. Previously (April 9th) the seed potatoes were spread out singly in a warm room. The eyes of the " seed end " soon pushed, forming short, warty shoots. The eyes of the other portions of the potatoes grew but slightly. The object in placing the seed potatoes in a warm, light room was to secure the most vigorous seed.

All potatoes, the eyes of which seemed dormant or feeble — "blind" as they are commonly called — were rejected. They were cut according to the number of strong eyes developed, the object being to have, at least, three to a piece. On April i8th, the trenches were dug with

1 6 The Ngu' Potato Odture.

a spade, about seven inches deep and a full foot in width. As we had not from experiments made determined whether it was better to strew the fertilizer laide?^ or vveriYve "seed,'' it was sown both under and over. Eight hundred and eight}- pounds were first evenly sown in the bottom of the trench, and incorporated with the soil by a Hexamer pronged hoe. On this, an inch or so of soil was raked, and the seed-pieces were placed exactly one foot apart, the trenches being three feet apart, measuring from the middle of each. These (the seed-pieces) were covered with another inch of soil, and powdered sulphur was scattered upon it at the rate of 400 pounds to the acre. Then an additional spread of the fertilizer (Mapes's Potato), at the rate of 880 pounds to the acre, was given, making in all 1,760 pounds to the acre. The trenches were then refilled wiJi the soil taken out, winch, being looser than the rest, left the soil of the trenches higher than that between them.

We have always been careful not to compact the trench soil any more than can be helped. The ridge left soon settles to the general level, and is so preserved during the season, as all hilling up is carefully avoided. The plot was planted to the following varieties — aU seedlings of my own:

No. 2 33 pieces — one trench.

No. 3 66 " — two trenches.

NOTES OF PROGRESS.

May 15th. — Up to this time the rain-fall had been all that was needed. No. 3 was the first to appear above ground ; No. 4 next, and No. 2 last. Frost occurred the 17th, and cold, constant rains followed up to May 30th. The soil was drenched. Lima beans and melon seeds rotted in the ground. There was a perfect stand of potatoes in the "contest '' plot. My note book of June ist says: "Sifted Paris green and plaster — one pound of the poison to 200 pounds of the plaster. Soil compacted from incessant rains ; frost this morning."

June 3d : "The plot cannot be cultivated /;<?/7<;vt';/ the plants because the tops meet and cover the soil.''

June .Sth : " No. 2 was the last to push its shoots above the soil, and

Origin of the Trench Method. 17

the plants were for some time smaller than those of the 3 and 4. At this time they have outgrown No. 3. All are growing thriftily."

THE FIRST INTIMATION OF SOMETHING WRONG.

June 17th : "The vines are now meeting, so that further cultivation between the trenches is impossible without injury to the vines. No. 3 vines are less thrifty than those of Nos. 2 or 4, and show signs of some weakness."

June 25th : "The No. 3 vines seem to be dying, from some cause which we cannot even guess at. One says ' it is a mole that has gone through the trenches ;' another says 'it is a scald, owing to the terrible heat which followed upon a long term of cold, wet weather !' Another says 'it is the sulphur. You have given them too much.' The stems are weakly, the leaves yellowish. Some of the stems are turning black, and withering within an inch of the soil."

June 3d ; "Gave another application of Paris-green and plaster."

After the above date all hope was lost of winning the contest. It was evident that No. 3 would be nearly a failure. The cause was discovered to be the

FLEA BEETLE,

known entomologically as Haltica cucuineris. The first suggestion came from our foreman, who said his own potato tops were dying, and that they were alive with fleas that were eating the leaves. "There are so many" said he, "that you can hear the noise they make when disturbed as I pass along the rows."

The writer had noticed while sifting plaster and Paris-green that these insects existed in unusual numbers, but it did not occur to him that they were the cause of the mischief. An examination of neighboring fields was made, and all were found to be injured more or less. Later, as the facts were published, accounts from many parts of the country were received showing that the pest was not confined to any limited section. Many who previously attributed the destruction of their potatoes to "blight" found that the flea beetle was really the culprit.

Soon after the No. 3 was hurt beyond recovery, the No. 4 was attacked, and finally the No. 2. We sprayed the vines with Buhach'

1 8 The Nezv Potato Culture.

water, hellebore, Gishurst compound and Paris-green, but without the slightest helpful effect.

PREVIOUS TREATMENT OF THE CONTEST PLOT.

Potatoes had been raised on the piece of ground of which the ' ' contest" plot was a part, for 12 consecutive years. It had never received much manure. The applications of fertilizers each year have averaged, no doubt, at the rate of 1,200 pounds to the acre, for the most part Mapes's Potato, with which, as with other brands, noted further on, I had been carrying on experiments of various kinds during the entire period, upon considerable areas as well as upon small plots.

Besides the potato fertilizer, the plot had received, at various times, small dressings of lime, wood ashes (leached and unleached), kainit and raw bone-flour.

THE RESULT.

Friday, the 28th of September, every member of the committee appointed to determine the yield was present, together with some 40 others from various parts of the country. Previous to digging the crop, the ground was carefully measured, to give accuracy to the computation.

The No. 4 yielded at the rate of 644 bushels per acre. The No. 2 yielded at the rate of 1,076 bushels to the acre. No. 3 was a comparative failure, owing to the vines having been destroyed by the flea beetle. The yield was only at the rate of 276 bushels to the acre. As this potato occupied two-fifths of the entire plot, the yield was thus reduced to below 700 bushels to the acre. It will appear to the reader and was evident to the judges and others who were present that, had the whole of the plot been planted with No. 2, the yield would largely have exceeded 700 bushels to the acre, and the contest would consequently have been decided in our favor.

REPORT OF THE JUDGES.

' ' We, the undersigned committee, having been appointed for the purpose of calculating the yield of potatoes grown upon the ' con-

Origin of the Trench Method. 19

test plot' at River Edge, Bergen county, N. J., do hereby certify that we saw the potatoes dug and measured the yield thereof. We found it to be at the rate of 583 bushels per acre."

r Peter Collier, j W. A. Stiles, Signed <j J. C. Haviland, I L. C. Benedict, L P. T. QUINN,

Committee.

Subscribed and sworn to this 28th of September, 1888, before me,

CHAPTER II. Failures, but Instructive Failures

AD THE " Contest plot" been inaugurated a year or so before it was, there could have been little fear of failure. It was not until ih.Q Jlrst contest season that either blight or the flea beetle injured the crop materially. These devastators were, before that time, practically unknown.

A renewed effort was made the next year to produce at the rate of over 700 bushels to the acre. The wager of ^200 was offered in our confidence that it could be done and, though the offer was widely published, there was not one to accept it, though, as in the first contest, the money was to have been given for some benevolent purpose.

THE SECOND CONTEST PLOT.

Trenches were dug April 6th, 10 inches deep and wide, 11 in number, each 33 feet long and three feet apart. Twenty-five pounds of the same potato fertilizer as previously used (i,ooopoundsto the acre)" were then sown broadcast, walking through the trenches — not i?i the trenches alone, but over the soil piled up between the trenches as well. The bottom of each trench was then loosened with a Hexamer pronged hoe. Five inches of soil were then raked back into the trenches and on this the seed-pieces (half of medium- sized potatoes with the seed-end cut off) were placed exactly one foot apart, making 33 in each trench, or 363 in the entire plot. Such large seed-pieces were never used before. The trenches were never before dug quite so deep and never before placed upon so great a depth of mellow soil. This work was done in a perfect manner, as the weather was fine and the soil in splendid condition to work. The trenches were filled, being careful to fill one at

Failures, b^it Jnstructive Failures.

a time and complete it so that the work could be done without walking on the completed trenches. Never was there a mellower seed-bed.

NOTES OF PROGRESS.

"May 7th. — To-day flea beetles were noticed in great numbers. Some of the plants were four inches high, others just breaking through. Sprayed all with tobacco soap dissolved in water, using two ounces to a pailful of water. Not effective.

" May 8th. — -Sprayed the plants with water in which tobacco-stems had been boiled ; also with whale-oil soap-water, one ounce to one gallon of water.

" May gth. — Used Thymo-cresol and Pans-green and water. Corn cobs were dipped into crude carbolic acid and one placed between every two plants. Not effective in the least.