EXPERIMENT CONDUCTED BY D. D. MCARTHUR (Class of '94), 1892.

The object of this experiment was to ascertain which is the more profitable method of raising potatoes, by mulching or by cultivation. The soil was a light sandy loam, and was put in good condition preparatory to planting. The potatoes were quartered and were planted two pieces in a hill, at a depth of about four inches, the hills being thirty-three inches apart each way. Two varieties were used, the Early Ohio and the Rural New Yorker No. 2.

Plats A and B, each containing seven rows sixteen rods long, were planted with Rural New Yorker No. 2. Amount of seed used 160 lbs., or at the rate of 13 bushels per acre.

Plats C and D were planted with Early Ohio, each plat containing seven rows sixteen rods long. Amount of seed used was 116 lbs., or at the rate of 93 bushels per acre.

On June 10, plats B and C were covered with oat straw to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. This straw, however, was not free from grain, and oats came up thickly on 75 per cent of the plats. Unfortunately for the experiment, this did much to prevent the proper development of the vines, and this fact should be kept in mind while comparing the results given below.

To plowing, harrowing seed and planting, $12.00; to 2 men and team 18%
hours at 371⁄2c, mulching, $7.03; to 1 man 5% days at $1.25, digging, $6.87%
By 182 bu, marketable potatoes at 50c. per bu.
To balance

Cultivated:

To plowing, harrowing seed and planting, $12.00; to man and horse cultivating 11⁄2 days at $1.88, $2.82; to man and horse hilling 1⁄2 day, 94c.; to 1 man digging 3 3-10 days at $1.25, $4.13..

By 14814 bu. marketable potatoes at 50c. per bu..

To balance....

RURAL NEW YORKER NO. 2.

TABLE 12.-Table of profits.

Mulched:

To plowing, harrowing, seed and planting, $12.00; to 2 men and team 18% hours mulching at 372c, $7.03; to 1 man 8 days digging at $1.25 per day, $10.00.... By 215 bu. marketable at 50c.

To balance

Cultivated:

To plowing, harrowing, seed and planting, $12.00; to man and horse cultivating 11⁄2 days at $1.88, $2.82; to man and horse hilling 1⁄2 day at $1.88, 94c; to man digging 6.4 days at $1.25, $8.00.

By 223 bu, marketable at 50c.

To balance

During the summer of 1892 there was a large amount of rain; consequently, the cultivated plats did not suffer from drouth.

In a dry season it is very probable that the results would be changed quite materially in favor of mulching.

Mulching will probably never be practicable to a large extent, and when straw is scarce, not at all. The arguments in its favor are: 1st. In a dry season, the mulch, by retaining moisture would undoubtedly increase the yield of the crop; and 2d. By choking out the small weeds, and by keeping the ground moist, it does away with cultivation. Its objectionable features are: 1st. The increased amount of labor required to apply the mulch; and 2d. The increased amount of labor required to harvest the

crop.

Caution. Be sure that the straw has been thoroughly exposed to the weather, in order that all the grain or seeds that it contains may be sprouted before applying it to the land, or the foul matter will grow and ruin the crop.

COMPARISON OF VARIETIES.

BY O. S. GRONER '94.

The object of this experiment was to test the comparative yields and the per cent of marketable potatoes of forty-nine varieties, each variety was planted on June 1, 1892, in rows 33 inches apart each way, and from 4 to 5 inches deep. The soil was a light sand. Two pieces were put in each hill, each piece containing two eyes, making four eyes in a hill. The potatoes were planted in plats one rod square, each plat containing thirtysix hills. The following tables give the yield in pounds of each plat, the percent of marketable potatoes and the computed yield per acre. A graphical illustration of the comparative yield of the various varieties is also given, on a scale of 60 pounds to the inch.

In 1891, E. B. Hale (class of '93) conducted a similar experiment, testing 45 varieties, some of which were included in Mr. Groner's experiment the next season. The following table gives the result of his experiment. The graphical portion of the table is compiled on the same scale as that of the previous table, i. e., 60 pounds to the inch.