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MACOUN ^>mmioH Mmrtieulimitt f^ C21 BXTLX-ETIN No. 40 APRIL, 1906 R«Tla«een under trial. The best methods of pre- paring the land for this crop, of planting and cultivating are fully explained: par- ticulars are also given as to the mo«t sucoesaful remediea which have been adoptetiito in on« of the most !niport«nt fomi prtMl.iPt* of Canada, Iht ImIImmIk of culture ciiiplnyeil in growing lhi» crop can be very much improved. Thli bulletin it pubiiihc'W of giving inforninlinti to ('Huudinn famiem, which should help thcui l» obtain much bett<>i' crop* than they h'-vc hitherto had. Th« recominendatioiii made are for the mo«t purl l.iwcd on the rv*\. m of experiment* con- ducted at the Central Ex|iiTinit>nt:il Farm liiiriiig tlio patt twenty-two yearn, although the re4ultt of the work of other fXixriuientert have not been overlooked, and have alio been ui;< quniititiea of potatoes are producen Yivn' Av ■flaCrop, BiwIipI*. 460,700,01)0 8&,661,000 401,73)1,000 I,aB3,037.0)lO lOO.R'ri.llOO 976,8)1)0,90 ■iUl.314,000 TtM figur« in ih« 6nt column ar* for IWM. Yth» avwaga ii taken Cnmi eight yrmn m \y, IBOO to 1907. Thit immenie production hu come about chiefly from the fact that ' potato hat been found to be one of the cheapest foods that can be obtairt-d. Its ul^rity has, moreover, been maintained by its palatability, for although 'closely related to some poisonous species, and under certain conditions more or ics« '-'lisi'nous itself, the potato when properly grown is one of the mo^t palatable articles : T diet. Being with- out any decided flavour, it is disliked by few, and '... this very >i-on it is a foo'i'»« bushel.. According to Zoe^L^ l^^Z'^t '"' *''? £•*' twenty-nine years. 118 Canada was only 123:)7 hnTwa ♦!: ' • ™"** y**'** P«' "«» *«>' the whde of Edwarf IsLd witri49.28 b±^^^ f'7J-? *^« highest yield being fZ^ than that of the United States which „o.^-^*' '? ^'""''' ^ "''"Werably better bushdi. per acre. TlTesS^ltiJd fTcatS^^^^^^^^^ T, ''"^ ««'' and the estimated yield for the United States for 1910 is S?'* K.tl , '""'"''' ^' '*"• of the best farmers in Canada have irrownTJ^i,^ * rlf ''V**'^'' **' »*"«• S»™ busheb per acre is not at aS unusual At tlr. , °^ ''"?*"'^* P"' "«"' "'^ 300 the higliest yield has been at th^rate of na t-.«h!r ^'P^"/"""*"' ^"™' Ottawa, by careful experiment that wtio^ «.„ i! ^,^''^' '*'""«• "»"* *' »"» I**" P'oven per acre, an actual and auth^ntioTxSn^nt^v" "u '*"' "?** ?' "'" ^'^^ '"'«1'«I« acre plot potatoes were grown at thTrate of 1 0^. K k"7" *•"* '""' " o«e-twentieth been other cases whore yields at thTrlJlnfV,;^ ''^'* P" '"''^- '^^^ have also obtained. While i„ field cuitur^ such hLh v ;r "' """* ^"''''''' "^^ »*"' •••'« »'^«"> thing to strive for and there irnodoubfthattt'"''' ""* ^- IT.''"*' *^^ *" «»'««■ doubled if the best n,etho.I™e o^oJ bt ^^^To^er' ' '"" ''"'"'' ""'''' "^ work^'r'Cn «f fhe^'ct'?™. It'-^^";"/.^^'""'^''''''^ ^*-' 0«— Wh« potato crop was nittrg^Tter^fd'^ZTm:^!^^ V'''' *'«',-'-'»"- oiZ been continued ever since in ««!«,♦„ «?»e^>«^e'>t9 were begun at that time and have the crops o7rtitrsTci*"'xtrw"Si^t:'"'t^'^ the Central Experimental Farm a la^e „umben^,lZ''"r *** '"""^ *"'^^'" «» ductiveness. quality, and freedom S Sm LZ ^' SJ^P""^"" "^ P'»- varieties tested, most of them havinVbLn Sn Jf %f'^' ^^^' ^^'^ ^««« «« number were offered for sale, l^w kS hale W T^ST""^' "•""« t*-* '«'««»' then and many of the old ones h.vl Sen dtrdSP K,ft H*^-''""l ''""" *" *™« "'»« rs::^^ trcC\tn'^J;i^tL^^^^^^^^ iirrfe wc J^ai^dfz r pis -tVt^'i: riz '-TSet -7^ ^f r -^"- ".:.^ntSoir;;-iv^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ sets at different distances aJarT t dant?nirTi7 °' I":;"'"? '""'= '" P'-^t'""* the differert dates. Experiments have bSn™»5 -.wT* •'^''*'''' '*"'* '" P'-nting at different localities. T^v" and hilfc^^^re hf 'f u^'' "^ ^'^ «""" ^«"«ty W Bpraying with different fu^jtid" ^^Un^Zt^tV''"'''''''^-. ^-'-"'-"ts in destruction of insects have likewse been r^n^i,- *'^ P'^^^"*'"" of blight and on. and some of the result^ of the!^ tt?* ""**"«;''• important experiments carried also been expcrimentrw S feSer^ Vhi X l"""-.'" f'' •'""^*'"- '^^ »»»- lines of work with potatoeThs^ l^^he ItriK V i*'"'*'^ T" "* *•"« ""»» "«»'"' free to farmers througho^ th^ c^ntnT^ TwT^°-k "!•"""'*'"• "' *'*•' •"«* ^"tie« DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OF THE POTATO only S.X are tnher-bearing. The cXated^p^utTa^rvroHS: r^t^, trt!^S CkUi. Peru and probtbly Mexico. It k belieTed dwC the potato m» iiUnduced i«l« Europe first from America by the Spaniards during the latter part of the 16th century, but in 1686, a few years later. Sir Walter Raleigh or some of his colonists brought it from America to Ireland. The tubers were planted on Sir Walter Raleigh'i estate at Youghal near Cork, and the cultivation of potatoes extended from this place among the poorer Irish classes and also in England. In 1663 the Royal Society of England endeavoured to encourage the growth of potatoes as a cheap food in case of famine, but at that time they were not highly regarded and the potato waa not recognized generally as an article of food for man until the middle of the 18th century or about 150 years ago, when a famine in Scotland in 1743 brought it into prominence as a cheap food and gave a great impetus to its culture. European countries had been just as slow to recognize the merits of the potato, for it was not until 1771, when a prize was offered in France for the discovery of a food that could take the place of wheat in the case of famine, that the potato came into prominence in that country. Parmentier, an apothecary, who brought forward the potato, was rewarded by the gift of 50 morgen of land from Louis XVI. During the 19th century the popularity of the potato increased rapidly in the United Kingdom and Europe, and with it the pro- duction grew in proportion. In America the settlers used the potato to some extent for food during the 17th century, and as its value became appreciated it waa grown in ever increasing quan- tities. IMPROVEMENT OF THE POTATO. The potato, like most other plants taken from a wild state, or where cultivation has been rude, improves with good culture. In its wild condition the potato does not grow nearly as large as when in cultivation, the tubers are borne nearer the surface of the soil and sometimes uppear on it. Those thus exposed turn green and are unfit for food. Where they grow deep enough in the soil to be at all edible, they are watery and insipid. The wild potato varies both in the colour of its blossoms and tubers, the latter ranging from red to white. The first good description of the potato under cultivation was made by de I'Ecluse, a noted French botanist, in 1601, who derscribed it under the name of Papai Peruanorum. In his description he wrote that one tuber yielded as many as 60 tubera of unequal size from one to two inches long, irregularly ovoid and reddish. The flower was more or less pink externally and reddish within. He sowed seeds, which produced a white-flowered variety. The potato has steadily improved in size and quality since the seventeenth century, and the potato of to-day is quite different from what it was at that time. This improvement has been brought about by origcinating new varieties from the best of the old ones and by better methods of culture. VARIETIES. The numlior of named varieties of potatoes is very large. A catalogue waa pub- lished in 1886 by Henry L. de Vilmorin, Paris, France, in which names of 840 varie- ties are given, and this list represents but a small proportion of the number which have been named since the potato waa first cultivated. The varieties of potatoes vary much in productiveness, season, quality, size, shape and colour, and even in resistance to disease, and this variability is taken advantage of where potatoes are grown for special purposes. A variety is considered fixed when it reniains fairly true to the original description of it. Varieties may be grouped here into a few wdl-defined shapes, such as roundish, oblong, and long, although these might be subdivided into many others if jwrfect accuracy in description of shape were desired. There are great differences in taste as regards the fiesh and quality of potatoes. The flesh of t)otatoca 11118 matter is discussed further under ' Change of Seed ' VarieUes of potatoes may be o.irinated in three different ways : BEEDUNO TARimXS. I„^L*!!f,*''* *^* proportion of varieties of potatoes have been grown from seed S S ™^n^t.^ •*'?*** •'^ **" fT^°'"« " '»»-»'«»• "k« tomato seS and Tota m« T ^ ^ ^ ^ '"'"«'' they may be pricked out and p^ted h: poto. When the season for outdoor planting arrives they are taken Ton, tt- iLV «^unm potatoes wiU be found in each hiU. ranging in size W a mS to a h^s egg^ach plant wJl produce a different variety of potato. In orderto start frTn! Lrf^i'""' ""'f '^ """""^ "'^ ^' P°***«« ''»»^"W be kept froJTeach pW and If there is only one tuber satisfactory in this respect it only should te retain^'' The nert season, potatoes are produced almost or quiteTs large as older variP^Jp!^; known. When the crop the second season is dug. the best potato or ™ta toS rhould be taken from tho most productive hill, and the rest discai^ed. and E sTould 1^ continued even to the third and fourth year until the type is fixS in 1888 thp^ iToO TS^v'irof'th*''' ''^"•r ^^^"--*»' Fa^. anS'lJotSrs'rdi'^^ isw ay 1893 only 24 of these vanetiss were considered worth keeping While twn of these were continued until 1902. they were finally discarded asT/ot Jug Uml to tho many other named varieties which were being tested. Thu. Zt of 083 ZZ ling8, not one was found equal to some already on the market Thi^ fa l.^rV^^ • •" "ate a go"~ f . ^J'^^^^^tJ^h draws of! seeds to be tl«, preternaturally early formation of ^^^VnU of ihl^lrsS^ieraffords for iU support that portion of the sap which m other plants "^S/nT/^at mv con- roots, but the following appearing the best it is unnecessary ^ woud«j j^ EHt£ts^£-rforirrh-h:'SSi^^^^^^^^^^ aXuii and rruM was then washed away.by a strong current of water from the hal of tS stems, so that the fibrous root, only of the plants entered the soil. The fibrous roote of t^9 Plant are perfectly distinct organs from the runners which give Se'ra d suSSu^iaUy conv^ nutriment to the tuberous roots; and as the nrnners a« whdly out oTL soil, the formation of tuberous roots is easily P«»'««»t«5' '"J whenever thU is done numerous blossoms will soon appear, and a-nost every blossom m! .fffL f™it and seeds' This experiment is recorded at some length here, as it is ;;:^onf;oLTits kinTSat iasconT under the writer's notice, and it may prove sug- (festive to potato breeders in America. CROSS-BRED VABIETIES. Alhough it is quite possible to artificially cross varieties of potatoes just as other Twr . JV«Jsed verv litUe of this work has been done, the principal reason '^ZtT.i i^llen^st; dZult to find and breeders have for the most p«t been co.,- w to rairse^linKS from seed gathered in the field. Special seed, said to have been oluinJCc^i-^iXi* ^^^^^ advertised, but it may be safely stated that in mos cases tWs seed was not produced by hand pollination. Cross P""'""*'""' "° f f *• raSpC in the field, which is brought about by the agency of wind and injects, and iX Slangs from seed produced in such a field, some characteristics of the var- ieties which were growing in the field will, no doubt, be apparent. VARIETIES ORIOINATED BV BUD VARIATION'. OK ' SPORTS.' It has been said that varieties of potatoes 'mix in the hill' This '^"onto^'l'^- ■ ,r« - Zonir'some people from the fact that occasionally a tuber will be Torc^d'hra Pir wh'ichlil^ in colour, or perhaps in other respite from all the w nf the D^tatoes in the hill. This sporting, though not common, is found among oUier sJLcierof Xu v^ich occasionally produce branches bearing variegated leaves or d St coLured flowers or fruit from the type. The potato tuber is a swo lien or uiuerciK, ^jjgj. gjjj^j -jjjjg so-called ■ :i -rnsursupis^ trL*lu-7 varieties crossing in the field thus causing diffeient ir^ tubers to form the same season in the same hill. This, however, at least from present knowledge, is not the case. VARIETIES CHANGED OR lUPBOVIW BY SELECTION. After a variety has been originated in any of the three ways already described and t S its general characteristics have been sufficiently fixed to intr^uce it. a variety- mav beTo chang^l by cnreful selection that it would not be recognized later on a compared with the original in field culture. This selection may be undertaken for which i. mo« re.ut.nt to d.«>««. ^^^ ^ ^^ the be.t pot.to from ^ most Pr ^^^^ disease; or t^\^*X ^lectio" or the best potato '»^jf ^^\„ i. planted the f"""^'')* "^.t dif!«^««- »«"" other .tMidpomt. T^ ?*» P"T j ^„ght for .ppe»r fi»«^:„ "'SV game T.riety, i. continued until the «^*"'J^'»*J^ i^U. from different h.U. <^J^ "f^^ results been found by ^-^^l^'^ZX^^^on i. compar.tively new, very .t«k«g and while the work of breeding oy have been obtained already. MOST PRODUCTOK VARIETIES. «• «, the year 1887, variety testing has been one ^ ^^t^vioS'""^'""^ ^."'"i L^!tL. at the Central Experimental Farm, a* P ^^^^^ ^^ ,^ .luct«d with P°*»^*''r;" tested since that time. Each y*" \™ ^ ^he yields are ""^ ^Srtlide und« -st^'^ «''«»™xr^"Sving'r^o;o"gt tesja variety •^^''iW «SrS^ wSen the crop is dug. K'^JJ^^^^f,!' shape and appearance. -SnT;^ .u«cien.y S^^^^^^^^^ ^ or of inferior quality, it » J'2*J„„„d „f the twelve v"'fr«v« aCaS highest in varieties, it tnay ^ T^^^^t yieUuig '»"«ty °* Ti «5 ™und8 a difference ol plots: 11 5 e t 1 •8 I I I H e5 nf9X -wpon ?|| I •8 w ■oaqma j{ i it> ''a I 1 I > > flu i I 1 M ^ : 5 » 3 I II • > > > I I I IjJ. *- « S t. eyes, much resembling Early Petoskey. Not a heavy yielder. Early Petoileey.-A very early, ndish, white poUto with medium to deep eyes. This and New Early Standf re much alike. Early Trumbull— Om of the earliest. An oblong, white potato with a medium eye. It has not proven very productive. Boi'ee.-Thi9 is a productive, extra early variety. It is pink and white in colour, oblong in shape, and has eyes of medium depth. Eureka Extra Early.-Thia variety is very similar to Snowball and apparently nearly as early. SnowboH.— This is a roundish, white potato with medium to deep eyes and of good quality. It is a very early variety, but is not a heavy croppsr. Rochester fio»e.— The Kocheater Rose is a pink potato of the Early Rose type, but is earlier and much more productive than that old favourite. It is one of the most productive early sorts. Bliis' Trxumph.-This variety and the Stray Beauty are very similar if not iden- tical. It is a very early kind, but a poor yielder, and the quality ot the young pota- toes is not as good as some others. Early Ohio.— The Early Ohio is an old favourite and well deserves the praise u- u •* k.o i^aA in the nast It is about as early as any, and the new potatoes are l£f tL'most't tL^Xkin]:. The Early Andes Early Six Weeks, Early Dawn. and Early Market, are all of this t>-pe. None of these has proven as productive as Rochester Rose. BLIOUT AND ROT RESISTANT VARIETIES. Thfl Late Blight and Rot which, some seasons, causes serious injury in certain narts of Canada and always lessens the crop more or less, is causing inquiry to be made among farmers as to the possibility of obtaining varieties which are resistant Tn U At tl^ Central Experimental Farm notes are taken each year on the time when tL tops of the different varieties die. In this way it has been possible to obtain fatrly Vccurate information as to their relative blight resistance. It ,s true that the v^nei of these varieties have been sprayed with Bordeaux mirture most of the years wh^i theL notes were taken, but the average resulte are confirmed m most cases by notes tak^ of the varieties when they had not been sprayed. So that it may be fairly Sted tl^t the varieties having the tops least injured are the most bl.ght-resisUnt „ far Ts foliage is concerned. The relaUve rotting in the cellar has not been 13 recorded, but the relative rotting in the field before digKiug haa been, and confirms the notes on the blighting of thn tops. Since 1905 those varieties which have proven productive and freest from blight when aprayed with Bordeaux mixture, have been grown by thenisclve* and h*ve not been sprayed with Bordeaux mixture. In all, fifty-three varieties have been grown in this way. A large proportion of these have been discontinued as they have not done well when unaprayed. In the following table are the names of twelve tested during the past three yenro, with yields. These are all medium Inte or Inte f<>rt« nn •3 ■jaquiajj 3 J. ii >> 11 •II s -< I a 9 "8 i^lg li f-iMM* Hon moDcrciWB URi.r tt There hu been a large n umber of early rarietiet of potatoea teated at the Central Experimental Farm diirinc the pant leventeen yean. At »oon u a variety hax been grown lone enough to judge of it* merit* it ia uiually diacarded if it ha* not proven productive. Even although a variety i* a fairly good yielder, if it doe* not average aa well a* another of the tame type or one very muoh like it, it i* u*ually diicontinued. An exception, however, it made in the eaae of early kind* which, although not a* pro ductive at others not to early, are tometime* retained on account of their extreme earlineaa, but among thexe extra early oiie«, aliio, the most productive variety of a cer- tain type ia uaually kept and the poor yielding ones discarded. If teed of theae extra early varietie* were obtained from ^ cooler part* of Canada or from the dittriot* luggetted under ' Change of Seed,' there it no doubt but ttiat a marked increaae in yield would be obierved. In the following table will be found a litt of the sis early varietie* which have yielded best on the average for the patt five year*. TABLE III. Six Most PRODtxTivE Eailt Varietifs or Potatoes — Avfjiaob 1906-1910. Name of Vuiety. Hhaiw. RochMtcr Roml 16 Kxtn Early Hero ' • R«eva«' Ron I 14 Irieh Gobbler. I It Viok'i Kxtm Ihriy. I 19 Crine'i laigfatniny 9 OUong to long. OUdo*.. Hoanauh Obkmit to long Colour. Depth of Eyee, Pink MedimD ShaUow Mtrdinm White ^^""P. "> nxlion- Pink and white Mrainm Good Oblonff iPink, red in «ye« BaA. tin. m M Ifil n v» n IM W ISO s in M VARIETIES AS ArTECTEU BT CRANOK OT SEKOw tip to the year 1906, the importance of the source of seed potatoes in Canada had not been strongly impressed upon the writer, although in the previous year, while on n visit to England, die importance of it was apparent. At the Experimental Farm . nt Ottawa, eome varieties had been grown year after year from the same stock, grown on very similar siindy loam soil each year. Each year, the best potatoes were selected for planting in the experimental plots and the results obtained seemed to justify the continuance of the home grown stork from year to year. Taking the results from four well-known varieties, for instance, the average yMda were the following for the first four and the last four years in the sixteen years, 1890-1005, during which there was no change of seed. Kuly Ron Sute o( Bfaine . Empira State. . Drlaware ISOUIWS. Buiheb per acre. 3S7 8S 301 396 1909-1905. Biuhela per acre. S17 961 SM Increaae. Biuiieb per acre. 36 87 66 If Thava wu thui no indication of deterioration in the variety after aistaan yaart without dumge of leed, but a fair inore«»e. do*, no doubt, to careful aelection and Kood cultivation each year. But in the year 1M6 thara waa a ludden chance. That > ••nr« waa one of the moat unf«viiiiriil)le •fntoii* for pittatoea that have aver been axperi- enred at the Central Experimental Farm. During the early part of aumnter there waa mifficient rain to keep the plant* froivinar nicely, but just after the ,Uat cultivation dry, hot weather set in and continued throughout the remainder of the growing leaion, with the raault that the i^ntt were itunted, the foliage dried up prematurely and there wai a poor crop of tuber*. Moreover, during the month of July there was a veritable plague of aphia which attacked the foliage and doubtleaa did their ihare in IcMening the crop. Tlie beat tubers were uaed for 4eed in 1907, but the beat were small and had been prematurely ripened in 1906. The early part of the summer of 1907 waa dry and the tubera did not form wdl. The crop waa again amall, although moat of the tubera which form^ becama of marketable iiie, and were clean and weU-formed. The best of theae wer used for seed in 1908, but, during that year, there was never enough moisture from the middle of June until the vines died, notwithstanding thorough cultivation. A severe attack of thrips also checked the growth of the vine^. Again the beat tubera were planted in 1909, and the seed used would have been con- sidered, by its appearanoe, to be first-daas, as it had been kept in a cool cellar and the tubera were firm and showed little sprouting when the potatoes were planted, yet tlie reaulta were very poor. A table of the yields of the four varietiee already referred to for the years 1906- 1909, ia interesting: 1906 WOT lOOA lUOO Averam 1!»0 t« Vvuraxx lUO-i-lUOO More the drouglit. Esrijr Ross. Ywkl per sera. Bash. IBO IS8 69 18 01 S17 Bute of iUiiia Yield per acre. Bush. US 174 •7 Kmpire State. Yifld peraors. Bush. US 117 117 es 110 Sbl 132 338 Delaware. Yield per acre. Bud). IM 111 IW 63 ISl 363 It will be seen from the above figures that there had been a marked falling off in the yield during the last four years, part of which, in the years 1907 and 1908, wos doubtless due to the weakened vitality of the seed, and part to the very unfavourable seasons. In 1909, with a more favourable season and good cultivation, the small yield is evidently owing largely to tubers low in vitality, although, in 1909, there waa con- siderable injury from disease which caused the rotting of the stem. Newer seed of other varietiea yielded, in these bad years, as high as at the rate of 224 bushels per acre in 1906, 499 bushels per acre in 1907, 325 bushels per acre in 1908, and 321 bushels per acre in 1909, showing that, notwithstanding unfavourable conditions, seed of strong vitality p good results. As the crop of ..oes had been so poor in 1006, and as the pro:ne caM the Ottar i aeed did a little better. Ip 'aiO, aeed from the ExperimcnUl Farm, Indian Heail. Haak., wm planted at Ottawa for eoropariion with potatoes grown at the Central Kxpcrimcntal Farm, witli Iho following refuh* : TABLE IV. liaun' •>' Vorirtjr. Kmpin SUte AthWKidnry DBbBcny B<«utjr • ■ Late Puritan Gold Coin !{••■«•■' Roi» Rocheatar RdM •• IriahCohblw • •• Mouejr Maker , CWmanNo.1 »• MorgitD 8MdliB« «» Indian Head 8««1 Yield im Acie. Bub. Lbik 448 408 402 974 S«8 833 SIO 48 U as as 18 ie M Ovtawa Seed Yirld per Acre. Biuh. LIm. Aveni*. «68 30 107 41 100 3D 110 118 136 m 70 •I 46 48 48 36 SO M 48 34 SS 34 as 13 Differ, r j» in fnM.ur Indian Hi ml 8ee of t!;c cliiff fertilizing constituents: — Nitrogen 10 lbs. per ton. Phosphoric acid 6 " Potash 9 " An application of tea tons per acre will, therefore, enrich the soil, appruxiniately by the following amounts : — Nitrogen 100 lbs. per acre. Phosphoric acid 50 " Potash 00 " ' The chemical investigatiun-i made in connection with these cxjicrinicnts have 8ho\Yn that a vigorous crop of clover will contain, at a moderate estimate, in its foliage and roots: — Nitrogen from 100 to 150 lbs. per acre. Phosphoric acid •• 30 " 45 " Potash " 85 " 115 " ' Eespecting nitrogen, it is evident that by the use of clover we can with a single crop furnish the soil with as large a quantity as would be supplied by a dressing of 10 tons of manure per acre. The greater part of the nitrogen is gathered by the clover from the air, a source not otherwise available, and is therefore a distinct addi- tion to the soil. Tho amoinits of phosphoric acid, potash, and lime in the clover have, it is true, been ob* ,ined from the soil, but have been largely drawn from ..epths be- yond the reach of the roots of ordinary crops. The decay of the clover, moreover, \ih' ites these important fertilizing elements in soluble and available forms, so that t' ;an be readily utilized by the crops which follow.' As stated in the preceiling e.\trnct, a large part of the nitrogen contained hi a crop of clover is taken from the air, hence it is probable that, when a crop of pota- toes is removed, little, if any, exhaustion takes place of the nitrogen which was in the soil before the clover was grown and ploughed under, and as the nitrogen from the decayed leaves and stems of the clover is in a very available condition, the potato plant is able to use much of it. It is very important to have the nitrogen in an avail- able condition for a crop with as short a growing season as the potato has in this country. From what has already been written, it will be readily seen that clover and barn- yard manure are two very important and cheap fertilizers for the potato. The former obtains nitrogen from the air and brings up phosphoric acid and potash fmm great depths of the soil to bo available for succeeding crops and in adding hu" .: to the soil by its decay it makes the soil hold moisture better and renders it looser. Barn- yard manure adds nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash to the soil and increases tlie supply of humus in it, making the soil more retentive of moisture ai.d looser. Commercial Feililizers.—Aa the results from the use of coniniprcial fertilizers vary in different places and in different soils where they are tried, tliov will be oil should he given extra tillage so as to thoroughly incorporate th- manure with it and keep the first few inchee of soil from drying out and pre- ng the satisfactory sproutu.g "i the putato sets Spring ploughing for t> ..^cato crop is usually best. Where rather stiff sml has to be used, fall ploughing may be preferable as the action of the frost upon it will help to loosen it. Good potato land should be ploughed in the spring, turning nnder the elover with it« top dressing of manure. The soil should be plougl^ed deep enough so that the clover will be well covered. Tn order to get the clover well under, a chain is CO fastened to the beam of the plci.gli and the whiffle-tree. as to hold the clover down 80 that it mav be covered more rapidly. An additional assistance m getting the clover covered is given by using a roller coulter or sted disc in front of the plough. I In. is usually about 14 inches in diameter and has a sharp edge wh'ch cuts the clover plant and prevents much clogging. The time of ploughing in the spring will depend comewhat on the method of planting. If a planter is used there is no necessity of opening furrows, and hence no trouble with clover which has been ploughed under, and the longer the clover is left growing in the spring the better the results are likelv to 1*6. If. hov^ever. furrows have to be openetl, a good i.,an is to turn under tl.e clover some days before planting time, then disc Imrrow a couple of times t^ Par • d ^ pcpare the land, and later when one is ready to plant, the sod should thoroughly Imrrowed with the smoothing harrow; l.y standing on the harrow or weighting it the upper few inches of soil will he thoroughly pulverized and loosened. It is very important to have the upper layers of soil in fine condition, as if the surface is rough the potato sets or young p'.anU aie likely to suffer in ^'^^y time. Different me hods of preparation will be necessary for different kinds of soil, but the nearer the la \ can mora begot into b thoroughly pulverized condition to a depth of about six indips or before planting time the better the crop will be. When a planter i» used, the vnl should be ploughed thoroughly, harrowed, and then rolled juat before planting. The advantages of the planter will be stated in the paragrai* on plimfing. When rotted barnyard manure is used on land without clover it lAould be applied in the spring and thoroughly mixed with the soil. If it is well rotted it may be har- rowed in. Neither rotted nor fresh manure ahould be put in the drill with tlte sets, as manure when it comes in contact with the tubers favours the development of scab. This was well proven in experiments at the Centnd Experimtntal Farm. TIME or PLANTING. The host time for planting potatoes will vary in the different parts of Canada, much dcrM>nfiing on the condition of the ground and spring frosts, but when th*"** have not to be ronsidered the earlier the potatoes are planted the larger the crnp is likely to be. The sets should not lie long in the ground before sprouting, as there is danger of their rotting, hence they shotdd not be planted when tluj soil is cold and wot. If they are planted too early also the young vines are liable to get nipped by spring frosts. As early potatoes usually command good prices it i:* often worth taking the risk of frost and planting early if the soil is in good condition. If the vines should be above ground and there is danger of frost tliey may be covered slightly with the soil by turning a shallow furrow over thorn. Potato growers have saved their vinos by doing this. The importance of fairly early planting is brought out in the following experiment conducted at the Central Experimental Farm. In this experi- ment there is a steady and very niarkod deoioase in the cro;; at each planting. Potatoes phnteil at different dniff- \u IS98 an oxporiment was begun in plant- ing potatoes at different dates, hcginniiijt when tlie niuin crop was put in and con- tinuing at intorvals of two wooks until .•* u-just t.Wi]. 1S98; July 23, 1899; .Tuly 21, 1900; July 11, 1901; July 24. 1902 and July 24, 1904. An early and a late variety were usoil oacli year, the variotics uiinjr Karly Norther and Irish Daisy, in 1898; Karly Norther and Rural Blush in 1S99; Karly Norther and Sir Walter Raleigh in 1900; Early St. George and Rural .Vo. 2 in 1901; Everett and Carman No. 1 in ini-.', and the same varieties in 1904. The test was not a fair one in 190-3. owing to an ex- treme drought, hence the results obtained that year are omitted. In 10O2 two plant- ings were made before the main crop was put in, tlie yields from the plantings made on ^lay 15 being the best of the series. The yield per acre from the first planting of an early variety on May 1 was 2<)8 bushels 24 ixiutids, and from the second planting on May 15, 294 bushels 48 pjunds [kt acre. The yield per acre from tho nuiin crop. May 29, was only 217 b shels is pounds, so that there was a dif- ference of 77 bushels per acre in favour of the early planting The results from this one j'ear's test indicate that the 'est time to plant iwtatoos is about the middle of May or as soon after tliat date as ijos-lUlo. The main purpose of this experiment was to find out how late potatoes could l)0 grown and satisfactory crops obtained, and this experiment proves that as far north as Ottawa a fairly good crop of marketable potntoes can be obtained by planting as late as July 10, when they might "ucceed an early croj>, such as garden jx-as. Datv n( rimitinf. Tutal I Avenmii I Avrrcirr AvinHP- YieM '^'"',''!/'"..'\"''^.'''.'^ '"■' ^"^ twrAsM III Marlirf jiif liii'iukrt' «We Potalorii, »hlf I'liUtrm, 18!W-10IM. { lf)W liKM. prr Aon, Kurlji Yarirlirt, l»t nlkiiiing: M»y 28, 181)8, Stay 28, 1«R), ijny 88, HMO, M»y 30, 1901, M«y »», 1002, .M»y 28, 1!KM 2n(l nUnting: June 10, 18U8, .Ftine 9, 1899, .lune 9, lOOO •Inoe 13, 1901, June 12, 1903, June It, 1901 3rl nUntins: June 24, 1808, June 88, 1899. June 23, liwo!! June 87, 1901, June 28, 1902, Jnne 25, 1901 Itli planting : July 9, 18B8, July 7, 1899, July 7, 1000, July' II, IflOf, Julv 10, 1902. July 9, 1904. ............ I "•' planting: July 23, 1808, .Tuly 21, 1899, .July 81, 1900, July 2», 1902, July 83, 1904 , i-.th Buiih. Llw. 389 332 236 110 'ith |>lantiiig : Aug. », 1898 " ' X<> rtli pliuiting : Aug. 23, 1898 .'.'.;" ' 24 LtUt Yiiriidct, rianted on the ume ilateu a« cirly varictips- Ist planting 2nd .• 3rd 4th 6th ,.;.;■ fill 7th 368 281 VM Wt 37 Bu«h. Lb«. I Bu»h. Lba. 837 28 51 31 34 209 43 68 ftl 25 187 A3 48 35» 9 69 40 40 &9 25 6 10 18 U itafncd. . . 30 319 49 21 31 227 61 ft3 40 43 160 4 3(1 3S 9 f>- W) 47 13 11 14 58 22 13 itdttHO. . . 1 1 KIND (IK SiKTS TO PLANT. The condition the potatoes' are in at iJantinR i* n very iinimrtant factor in obtain inff a maximuui crop. If possible, potatoes should be preventwl from gprout- nff, and in the chapter on storing the crop the best methods of keeping jvitatoes wili be discussed. When the set is planted in the ticld an.l begins to sprout, the yonnj? phint gets its food to begin with from the parent set. It also utilizes the moisture in the »A and in a dry time it is very important on this neeount alone to have sel well charged with moisture. When potatoes sprout in a warm, moist cellar, as they s < often do, the shoots take from the tubers both plant food and moisture. These shoots are broken oflF when handling the potatoes, and hence when the tubers are cut for planting they arc not in the best condition to produce a good crop of pota- toes. Careful experiment and ordinary observation prove that the second shoots which aiipenr are not so strong as the first. In order to bo certain that when the sets are eut the eyes wili start, a good practice is to spread the potatces out in the light a few • biys before euttiiiff tliem until the eyes start, when t'ley may l>e cut more intolligentlv. Kxp.-riments conducted by the Department of Agriculture for Ireland in 1904, with main crop or late potatoes, sprouted as described in this bulletin under ' Forcini; Potatoes for Early Market,' showcle, »* a rule, to plunt large whole potatoe*. The more sprouts tliero arc from a »ct tlip larger tlu- proportion of umali potntoes is likely to be, a» the plant foo potatoes from the crop produeeil by the large potatoes, the metlium sized from tho medium, and the small from the small. The average results for eight years were: large, whole potatoes, 100 bushels; medium sized, whole potatoes. 17.3 busiiels; small whole marketable potatoes, 110 bushels; and very small unmarketiible potatoes, 09 bushels. These are very convincing results as to the value of using goor acre more than when they were left implanted for four or five days. At the Central Kxperimental Farm, Ottawa, it w.is found that leaving the Bets uncovered in the drills for from one to two days lessened the yields very much. The set3 covered at once yielded at the rate of 308 bushels IS pounds per acre; left uncovered one day, 202 bushels 13 pounds; uncovered two days, LIS busliols 48 pounds. It will be seen that the crop was reduced almost onedialf by leaving the sets exposed in the field for two days, the variety being E:irlv Rose. The relative yields will depend much on the i-ondition of the weather. The first day the sets were exposed it was sunny and warm, the second was cloudy and cool. In tho same exiKrimcnts. pc.fa- ,l! It u toM which lud been out for one month and left in the root houM wwe compered with poUtoe. out and covered the ume day. Thoee whioh were out end oorered the eame day yielded 808 buihele 18 pounde per acre. thoM whioh h«l been cut one j.ot.th 165 busheli 4S poundt per aore. a difference of orer 148 buibeis 38 pound* per ^c»e. Thi« pxpenmcut was not continued at OtUwa. hence these are only the triu' > r* one year. It will be seen from the foregoinflr how important it ia to plant freen «eed. Un- fortunately, owing to the scarcity of labour, farmers often hare to cut their pot.toos when they can. If potatoes have to be cut several days before planting it is well to ^now the best way to keep them. It has been found that by cuting the poUtoes , Mwn as cut with land plaster or gypsum, sets will keep better and the yields be ii. creased. Even coating the sets with land plaster when freshly cut and planting im- mediately has, according to experiments conducted at Guelph, given an increase of 18-4 bushels per acre. The principal reason of this increase probably is that the coat- ing with land plaster prevents evaporation of moisture from the sot, thus permittiiiB the young p ant to draw more moistMre from it. There are several potato cutters m, the market, but while some of thes.. are better than others, the most satisfactory wuv u to cut by hand. ' Br.3T DEPTH TO PLANT. 1 I'Au iTi*'"* * J ""r *!;* ""'* economical depth to plant potatoes, as there is no doubt that different depths of planting will give different results, but there will not Ijo the same results on all soils. The yield, however, is not the only point to be taken into consideration, the question of labour being important also. While shallow plant- ing has given the best yield-, nt Ottawa in lo,.se, sandy loam soil, the mo.t economical depth IS from four to five inches for good loamy soils on account, of the harrowing riTlnJ!,"**^?^*"^ u'""; '"^^V^'l ''I''"*' """W <>'•? ""t "et. which were planted StSre'-of mofstte"" '^ ''""**' '"•"' '" ""^ "''^'^ '^ ''^- ""' *"- '" "'^^ -- An experiment has been conducted for seven years at the Central Experimental Farm in planting potatoes at different depths in rows 2i feet apart and 12 inches apart m the rows. The sets had at least three eyes each and were almost uniform in size, llie soil was sandy loam every year. Level cultivation was adopted and hence very ,:ttle soil was thrown on the potatoes after they were covered at planting time The ►ets were covered by the hoe. the work being very carefully done. Notes were' taken on the depths at which the tubers were formed in 1899, 1900 and 1901 and it was found that most of them were within 4 inche. of the surface of the soil even where the sets had ben planted six. seven and eight inches deep. Where the sets were plante.1 ess than four inches deep nearly all the tubers were found between that end the s^r- tace of the soil. This test was begun in 1898 and in the following table the averse results are given The average is for six years only, as in 1903 the severe drought spoiled the expenment that year. The yields in this table repre^nt, as a rule the average from the yields of two vanet.es. Each variety was planted in one row 33 fee! 1.1 length, the rows m the experiment being 30 inches apart. The soil was duir outTo the proper depth with a spade for greater accuracy. EXPERI MFXT IN- PLANTING POTATOES AT D.KFKRK.VT DEPTHS IN .SaNUV LoaM SoiT,. iJeiitli of PLiiitiner. Avernfre Yield per Acre, 6 yean. mull Biuh. 466 880 «« sas 887 377 307 384 Lb*. 3 57 19 59 20 r> 20 1 IT Tt will b« t««n from the table thkt tlw potatoM planted only one inch deep mt« by far the lar^ett average yield. In erery year of the ttx of whioh the arprajie i* giTen the potatoea planted one inoh deep gave the iiighett yielda. Thii it atwinntad for in •PTeral waya. The firat irioh or two of toil in spring ia decidrdly warmer than that below, hence the potatoes H|)rotite •J» 23 I'J AveniRO YinM |x>r Acrf, 7 yi'ttrc. AvRrsf^e Yield |ier Acre after Dedutting .Seed. Biwli. M». .110 8 331 10 328 M 301 r.i 248 48 It will be seen from the above table that after deducting the seed used, the net average yield is greatest from the seta planted 14 inches apart. It is, therefore, re«»^m- Hi mantled to plant mutt varietie* of poUtoM from \i to 14 inehr* apart in tha rows. 1 tw amount of »ttd u*cA in thi« ex|)f>rinipnt majr appear eiMMive u> many farmer* who cut to one and two eye*, but at the Central Experimental Farm it haa been found l<«t to uae aet* with a liberal amoiint of flaah. From our own experience and the < xperienoe of other*, the be«t diitanoe between tha rowa it 80 inche«, or junt rnouRh to permit of eaty pultiration, but if the ditUnoa were 86 inches fr««i four to Bre XiMshvU Im* ferd per acre would be used. Where poUtoea ara ridged it may be advia- ab'e to hare the rowa a little wid^r apurt. PLAMINO AND (.'OVBMXa. The be«t mcthiMl of briiiiring the land into Rood condition havinir been ditcuaaed. aNo tl.p time to plnnt, kind-t of mU to ««•. depth and dintuncc ajmrt to plant, it n;iiniii» iK-f.irr t iltinjr up the que«tion of cultivation to aay lomvthinK about the actual luiiiitiiiK itlf. A common method among farmer! ia to open tlic furrowa, drop seta ky hanil and close the furrowa wit!' an ordinary plough. This i« not tlie he»t wny. :: li :i ' Potato Pi. axtkr. A better plan is to open the furrows with the double mould board plough, making them deep enough, eo that whcu the potntoes are covered and the soil levelled the sets will be from four to five inches below the surface. The furrows may also be covered with tliis implement. When covered with either of these ploughs the soil should be levelled oftorwards with the smoothing harrow. Some good growers use an implement with two concave discs for opening and closing the furrows', as, where clover is ploughed under, it is sometimes dragged o\it when the furrows are made with the plough. The most satisfactory method of phuicing, however, for one with a ifairly large or large avca to cover, is with the potato planter, of which there are several good ones now on the market. Tiic planter in the ilhistration ia the Bobbins planter, made by tl.e Batenian Manufacturing Co., (Jrenlock, N.J., U.S. The potato planter makes the row, opens the furrows, plants or drops tlic sets, covers them and applies ooniniercial fertilizers at the same time if desired. To do a-i much by hand would require a span cf horses and a man to ojx'u the furrows with c. plough, three men or boys to plant, and one man to scatter the fertiliier; and a spun of horses and a man with a double mould board plough to cover the sets. There is a gieat advantage in using the planter, as there is no trouble with the clover, and in a dry time the results from planting with a planter are much better than by open- ing furrows and covering with the plough, as the set, when planting is done with the planter, is brought closer into convact with the soil and prevented from drying out, 111 1903, when there was a very severe drout-lit. the writer hciu-;l uf a case near Muut- ical where in n field of potatoes planted witli a planter there w!\s praetically a perfect Stand, while u tield of a neiglilmur ju»t over iIil' fcueo planted by hand and covered y with • plough wan praiiipdly a failurr. If th« pianter ia properly watrhed there will le lew if any nii*MM from lelii not beimr ilroppeJ. In a very dry time when there i» danvrr of the aeU drying up, it ia wiae to roll the land before the potatoes are np, louaening it again with the harrow ai aoon ai there ia rain. CULTIVATION. The iuccr#» of the potato crop dependi in a lorgc meature on the kind of cultiva- tion given. No matter how i.i.uh the '".i.d has beon manurol and how carefully Hmj •ptn have been planted, if the noil i« allowed f" be«'i)mo hard, tho weed* permitted to grow apace, and moiiture loit, which coi Id be »avitl. the crop will be very much te:liic«d. A few day* after thu lott have b«?n covered by tho pit • h and Ixjforo tiie planti have l>cen above ground, but not until the weeil »e«!d« have j, jrminatcd, the »oil tliould be harrowed with the tmoothing harrow to level it and to kill tho myriad* of weed* which u»ually germinate about that »ca»on of the year. If p<)»itible. the »oil thould be harrowed twice before the potatoes arc fur enough uft to be injured. If two harrowings are given there should be little trouble from weed* atterward*. and harrow- ing i» a much more economical way of getting rid of them than by hand hoeing. A* ». on B» the potatoes are far enough up ao that the row* can be readily .li*tingui*h?-d. the cultivator ihould be put in and the soil i;>o«pne.l between thp row* to a* great ii depth n^ iwwiblc the first time and a« near the *vi* ui it is safe to tiu with iit di»f url.iiiit them, »o as to loosen the soil for the ttihcr*. All future cultivutioivi should be quite ClLTlVAToR. thallow to prevent injury to the roots and tubers. Thf soil should l.c cultivated every week or ten days, depending on the weather, thi- object litiiii!: to keep the surface soil loose until the tops meet well l)etwcen the rows. If the soil becomes bake many and it will he found that the crop usually increasis in proi^rtion to the num- Icr of cultivations, A ver.v careful series of experiments to determine the value of cultivation was carried en by Prof. I, P. Roberts, late Director of the Oornell Exix-ri- mrnt Station. In one experiment the yield from six cultiv.ntions was 344-8 bushels, anrl from three cultivations HOrj ;3 bushels, or a difference of 41 -5 bushels. In another case the yield from a plot cultivated six times, was 310 •,'5 bushels, and from a plot cultivated three times, 260-6 bushels, or a difference of 40 9 LuslieU. Conservation of moisture i- very iraportiint in growing potatoes and thorough cultivation is one of the best ways to retain moisture. The potato vines would not ii''-* •ulltr from draimfcl. •« they oftm do f i Um mi«Mb of •umoMr, If tho aoil w#t» pt> Pjjrly prtparad to b(«iii with and w*U raltWatMl durint thi> Mrlr pirt of Hw mhiwb. Th« rinM muat bo kopt crowinc diriftily '-^ th«> Umt> thoy appMr abovo groand until autumn if a maximum crop it to h oUintnt. U fmvth It dwdiMl in tha nii^la of •urammr the prop tuim and f jbert wbra they ttart to iBcraaia in liaa what the raiai eome are rery lilieK «com<« mitthapen. Th« acoompanyint nit ntprtwnta a Planet Junior ciilti»a. • K food CHltirafor in very r«ntial in trowing potatoes* I KVKI. VEHNt N Rin«;K n r.TrRK. ho riilging of potatono i« an oM niptlnMl miH i* tlw |irHf iiMiially followed in Orett Britain and Europe at \m pnuoiu tiiiu- iiml aUo in Amoriia. alllioiiRh lerel ruUiirn hat Iwen frowiiiir in favour in Auirric-u during thi' luiM Hff.vn or twenty year*. Ridginir wan probably adopted in th« fir«t place for tlie main iMiriKw of afford- ing Ko.|d drainage a« in mott climatot it it important not to have the potato in toil wliuh It Tfry wf. Soil U alto warr.ipr when ridgw] and in oool or mor« it alw bett4.r in the loo*c ground which the moulding up of the »oil affords. Potat.Jo* are dug much cnnier in toil whiih It ridged than where leve\ culture i« adopted. Many farmcn owing to lark of help and tomptimet through lack of knowledge, give no further attention to their potato rrop aflor the boctlct are killed and when haying begins and as an end to the culture for thv season they ridge up ju^t before haying. There is no doubt tonic advantage in ridding i>vcr leaving the toil level when tuch conditlont prevail, nt the ridging will give tlie tubers loose soil to develop in while the toil would toon get hard if left flat and not cultivate«l. ' Ihore are dittricU in Canada where the climatic conditlont in summer are not very unlike tbote in Great Britjin. In tuch distrieU ridging will probably as a rule give better retulu than level culture. There are. however, larxo areas where droughtt are liable to occur and where conservation of moisture is a very important factor in obtaining a good crop. In such districte tlie beat results will probably, as a rule, be obtained if tliorough and deep working of the toil be given and by adopting level cul- ture. The reaton it easily apparent The evaporation ^f moisture is not aa groat from level soil at from toil in ridgtts. Few experiments sctm to have been tried fo,- . um- paring level with ridge culture, but in the drier parts level culture has, as a rule, given tlio better resulu. It should be clearly understood, however, that unless the soil i» well worked the better conditioiH of the soil for the development of tubers when it is ridjfoij will offset the adviintiige of retaining more moisture by level culture. An es- lieriment was conducted nt the Central Experimental farm for four years for the I.uri)ote of eompnring level with ridge culture in the soil at the Farm, which is almost iileal soil for potatoes, being a friable sandy loam which docs not drv out In 1900 1!M)1 and 1!)(»2 two varieties were used in this tost, the Everett nml Carman No 1 in I'.tOO. and Early Sunrise and Cnrninn No. 1 in 10()1 and 1902. In Vm Carman No 1. Bumaby Mammoth. Maulo's Thoroughbred. Ili'cves' Rose, Prolific Rose, and (^in- adian Beauty. The average yield per acre of all the varieties under test is given in the results for each year: LKVEL VS. RIDCiK ClI.TUn ^, SOIL MOISI r, I RiAnr.K, sandy i.oAXf. Metho. Mi 23 . 6S3 37 Bu>h. Lbs. 374 7 414 4 Bush. Lbs. i Bu.I.. JM. 4B7 .16 ! 410 2H 518 18 ! 3«3 48 Bush. LU. 448 S8 470 20 Av«r«fla jrfeU per acre in favaur of ritiging, 21 biulirU 4« pouiic* heavy yieUU hove been recorded by mulching. The condition of the soil h«i very much to do with iucceaa or failure. If potatoes are mulched early iii tlw aeawn the aoil may be kept too cold making the conditions bad for tl<» tuto grower to know how he con linstcn the development of the tuber*, as the sooner the potatoes an on the market in sood condition the more money ho will make out of them as a rule. The method uanally adopted by the best grr trnys with the »ocd end up. The boxes are then put in a bright, airy, cool place, wlure the tempera- ture it low enough to prevent sprouting. After a few days the potatoes will turn (rreen and tluj skin becomes niiieh t-iuKher than before the poUtoeo were exposed. Tho potatoes are now given a little moro heat, but still kept in a bright, airy place. From tl e aced end will now develop two .;f three strong sprouts and the object of exposing the potatoes at fir't to toughen the akin is now apparent, for mo-e usetl for extra early potatoes and the sets should be planted shallow so that they will get the advan- tage of the beat from the surface soil. Tlie potatoes are planted whole, as they do not 89 fot as readily as cut pieces, auil the sprouts also have more to draw on. The sprouts are, of course, left uppermost when the potato is planted. As most extra early varie- ties have small tops the sets may, as a rule, be planted a little closer than for the main crop. By planting the potatoes whole quite a large quantity of seed per acre is useJ, some growers using as much as 40 bushels, but this is much more than offset by tlic lurly and increase*! crop. The potatoes are planted just as soon as the soil is dry (iiuiigli to work, and there is lui (hinder of very severe frost, but as considerable rifl; l.ns to be taken from frost everything possible should be done to prevent the youiiK plants from being frozen. A very good plan, if there is dutiger of frost, is to plough a light furrow turning a little soil over the plants which, as a rule, will be sufficient to protect them. This may be removed afterwards with the harrow or in some otlier \"^ay. Moderate ridging is, as a rule, better than level cultivation in growing extra curly potatoes in Ontario and Quebec, as the soil is rendered warmer and the develoj!- ment of the tubers hastened. Rate of Development of Tubers, thawing importance of Jceepinp Potato Tups Green. — No more striking proof is afforded of the importance of keeping the potato tops green and the plants growing thriftily well into the month of September than the results obtained by Prof. L. K. Jones, of the Vermont Agricidturnl Experiment Station, by digging potatoes at different dates and estimating the yield per acre. This experiment is nn-orded in Bulletin No. 72 of the Vermont Station. It is a simple experiment and one which every farmer should try for himself. Following i,*) the table showing the results obtained : — YlKI.D OF TlBERS AT DIFFERENT DaTE.S— WlIITE StAB POTATOES PLANTED May 20. Dale of Digging. Total Yield per Acre. AugiiHt 2 . . . 12.... 22. . . . St'Dtoaiber 1. 12. 22. Bushels. £8 115 230 301 386 379 Yield of Marketable Size. ! Average Size of 'f ubere. Buahels. 30 -6 163 234 303 353 Ounces. 16 2 3 7 4 4 5 2 5-7 It will be seen that 119 bushels per acre of marketable potatoes developed during the month of September. Jii the province of Ontario many fields of potatoes are dry and brown by September, either through lack of cultivation or from disease. Not ouly is the yield of potatoes much increased by keeping the vines green well into Sep- ti'Hiher, but the quality of the potatoes is much improved also. When potatoes are l-.iiled early in the season, many of the tubers are immature. In a previous chapter v>c l;i)ve tried to show the impirtance of good cultivntioii in niaintaiuing a vigorous gio'.vth tl;ro«gh the cirly psirt of the season; in tlie i'ullowin^r rhai)!' r on Insects and Diseases it will be shown how the tops may be kept green thruufih the latter part of the season. SOME INSECTS AND FUNGOUS DISEASES. In sume parts of Cana'la injurious insects and fungous di>eases of the potato are practically unknown, but in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec both are very destiuctive. The leaves of ..^le potato vine must be kept intact and in a thrifty condi- tion if a maximum crop is to be obtainc.l, and both insects and diseases should and can be fought and conquered if the well-known and thoroughly tested preventativpg and icnieiiies are used. It is not necessary in a bulletin of this kind to mention all 1; ;L_. 11222- 1>. 32. 83 the injurious insects and fungous diseases to which the potato is subject, but the uiure important ones are herewith discunsed. (^mmunicationB in regard to insects affeot- iug the potato should be addressed to Dr. C. Oordon Hewitt, Dominion Entomolo- gist, and in regard to diseases to Mr. H. T. Gussow, Dominion Botanist, Tentral Kzperimental Farm, Ottawa, Ont. OOLOBADO Potato Beetle {Doryphora decemlineata, Say). — This is such a well- known insect that it need scarcely be described. It may be well, howe?er, to give its life history for the benefit of those who do not know it. The mature beetle bibemstes in winter and begins to fly early in the spring. As soon as the first leaves of the potato nppuar above ground, the beetles fly to them and soon lay their yellow eggs in clusters I u the under side of the leaves. In about a week the young beetles or larva appear i'.iid begin to devour the foliage with a rapidity which is only too well known. The last I rood of larvte, which disappear into the soil before severe frost, pupate there, remain- iiiir in the ground in the form of perfect insects until the following ^>ring. Firtu- iiately there are good remedies for this insect in Paris green, arsenate of lead, and other insecticides. The importance of preserving the foliage as nearly intact as pos- sible has already been impressed on our readers. It is well known that the loss in a crop whei« the vinea have been allowed to be devoured by potato beetle* is enormous, sometimes the crop being scarcely worth digging. The longer the spraying is delaj d, the greater loss there will be. If cheap help can be obtained it will be advisable to spray the vinea when they are quite small, or pick off the old beetles before tfiey have deposited their eggs, but if help is scarce it may not be possible to do this, and the temptation to leave the old ' buga ' alone is great, as they do little injury to the foliage. Unfortunately on perhaps the majority of farms, notitiing is done to destroy the potato beetles until the foliage ia noticed partly eaten. This is too late. By the time the poison takes effect the vines are badly injured and the future crop much lessened. Potato growers should not wait imtil the vines are injured, but should bo u.n the look out for the young ' bugs,' and as soon as they appear an application of some good insecticide should be made. As the eggs are not all laid at the same time the larvsB do not hatch all at the same time, and it is usually necessary to spray sev- eral times before they are all killed. As it ia important to kiU the beetles as soon as possible an insecticide which will act O'-' *•";' is desirable and also one that will adhere to the foliage. Paris green and ar* lead are two of the best poisons to use. Parie green should be applied in the n of 8 ounces or more Paris green to 40 gallons of water with about 4 ounces ^o to neutralize the effect of free arsenic on the foliage. Four ounces of Paris green to 40 gallona of water will kill the insects, but does not act as quickly as eight ounces. If applied dry. a good proportion is 1 lb. Paris green to 50 lbs. Vaked lime, land plaster or any perfectly dry powder. The dry mixture should be ai -lied when the vines are wet, so that it will adhere better. There are strong advocates for both the wet and the dry mixtures. Wet mixtures may be put on at any time when the weather i» fine, but, if the best results are *o be obtained, dry mixtures should be applied only when the dew is on the foliage. If the dry mixture is put on when the foliage is moist it will adhere better than the wet mixture and will also be more evenly distributed. Arsenate of lead used in the proportion of two to three pounds to forty gallons of water c 38 better to the foliage than Paris green and is a good poison to use. It doee not appear to kill quite so rapidly as Paris green and a mixture is suggested of 8 ounces Paris green and IJ pounds of arsenate of lead to 40 gallons of water. Bug Death dry and ^so in the proportion of 1 lb. to 2 gallons of water, has been found a good insecticide, but is more expensive than Paris green. The Oucuubxr Flea-beetle {Bpitrix cucumerii, Harr.). — This little insect frequently does much harm to the potato <:rop, and beini? s i s nail, is often not seen, but the result of its depredations will be found in the many small holes which may be imtieprl in the leaves and in the lessening of the crop on this account. 11222— « In his report for 1001. Dr. James Fi^ < Ser, Entomoloprt and Botanist of th« Dominion Experimental Farmf.. writes tbt t llowin« regarding this mseet :— •Thia minute beetle, which does not ex^l one-twentieth of an inch in length, is black, covered with short fuscous hairs, and is much more frequently compl,sined oi as a potato peat than as an enemy to any other crop. It is sometimes, in the hot dry summers, one cf the worst enemies of the poUto. eating many small hole, through the leaves and reducing them so much that they are unable to perform their functions. ReporU of injury have been eceived from Vancouver Island and several places in Ontario. The best remedv foi this insect appears to be spraving the vines with Bor- deaux mixture and Paris green. This treatment hss given far better results ^an spraying with Paris green alone. Tlie practice toe, of spruying potatoes with Bor- deaux mixture is an excellent one, being an "tfective prevcntire of the Early Blight, as well as the much more destructive Potat-^ Rot or Late Blight. It is found that the rart; of the leaves which are injured by the Flea Beetle make suitable lod^ng places and points for germination of the spores of the Early, and pos- sibly the Late Blight We believe, as recommended in the above quotation, that keeping vines covered with Bordeaux mixture and Paris green is the best preventive in this case. The Eablt Blight or Leaf Spot Disease (AiUmaria Solani (E. 4 M.) Jones & Grant. This disease was known until recent years by the name oiMaeroiponum Solani, K. Si M., but through the investigations of Prof. L. R. Jones, Botanist, of tho Vermont Experiment Station, the name has been changed to AUemarta SoUmt. ihe Karlv Blight is not neariy as destructive as the Late Blight, and does notcause the rotting of the potatoes. It is most destructive in dry seasons or m neglected helids where the plante are not making thrifty growth, developing much more '»P'<»'y <>« foliage which is not vigorous than on that which is healthy. Fields of potatoes which appear to have ripened prematurely or very eariy are frequently brought into thii condifon by the Early Blight. It usually begins to appear early in July and is some- times taken for tlie Late Blight. This disease appears in spot*, having concentric rings irregularly ove'- the leaf, quite in contrast with the Late Blight which is usua y observed first in large patches on the leaf. The spots of the Early Blight gradually enlarge and unite when several spots will form quite a large area. Wl.en these spots extend to the margin of the leaf it causes the edge to curl up, giving it somewhat the same appea'«"ce as Tip Bum or Scald, and finally the whole leaf may wither or dry up followed K he death of the potato plant While this disease is called the Early Blight, it ocniTs late in tho season as well as early and may be found in an activG condition during the month of September. This disease spreads by means of spores, which alight on the leaves, germinate and penetrate the epidermis and breathing pores. The disease then permeates the tissues qf the plant and new spores are again borne in a short time. The disea;* is carried over winter in the dead potato stalks. Prevention and Remedy.— The treatment of this disease ia preventive rather than remedial. The vines should be kept covered with Bordeaux mixture from tlie middle r.f July until the end of the season. It is a good plan to bum the stems after digging. L\TE Blioht or Rot (Phylophthora infeslans. D. By.).— Although much of the premature killing of potato vines is due to the Eariy Blight. wl-:.n is frequently mis- taken for the Late Blight, the latter is by far the more sericus disease, as t spread, with much greater rapidity and in addition to the killing of the tops cause, the rot- ting of the tubers. The life history of this disease was described in 1846, and litUo more is now known regarding it than at that time. , - , , • ..v j The disease passes the w;nt«r in the tubers and is taken to the fiHd m them and is plante 1 with the seta. When the vines begin to grow it starts to develop alao and grow, up through the tissues of the potato stems. During the eariy part of July or early m 88 August it produces on the under iide« of the Vsives myriu<]« of tiny spore* which in the man have a froat-like appearance. These ipores make tlie 'rust' stage which ii cmuiieA by the leaf tisauea drying up where the spores have been feeding on them, leaving dark brown spot*. It is at thia stiage that the future infeoUoa takes place, as the spores being carried rapidly by the wind alight on the foliage, germinate, develop and in a very short time destroy the leaves. The disease spread* with such rapidity that in a few days the tops in the whole field are destroyed. Infection of tlie tuber* is supposed to take place in two ways. In the first place by the disease spreading through the plant and by means of the underground stems reaching the tubers ; and secondly by the spores being washed below the surface of the ground and reaching the tubers, infecting them, and if the conditions are favourable for the development of the disease.causing them to rot. This latter means of infection seems to be conclusively proven by some experiments carried on in Denmark by J. L. Jensen, Director of the fiureau Cere* in Copenhageu. The results of his experiment* were published in 1882 in a little bcok called ' How to Over- come the Potato Disease by a Simple and Easily Performed Method of Cultivation.' As this book was published before Bordeaux mixture was discovered as a preventive of blight, it i* very interesting and suggestive. The following quotation from this book gives in a few word* the results of eight experiments which were conducted by ridging up the potatoes and comparing those thus treated with those grown under flat cultivation. The ridges were made high and sharp at the top to shed rain and r-rcvent spores being washed down to the tuber*. ' In estimating the value of the present mo^t important experimentol results it must be borne in mind that the potatoe* at all the experimental stations were grown side by side without any difference whatever in the eonditions under which they were grown other than in the moulding alone. Consequently the disease has, by perfect protective moulding, on an average been diminished from 2.3-4 or 18.7 per cent to 1-4 per cent, or verbally expressed, from a very considerable magnitude to what may, practically taken, be called a mere trace of disease. Expressed in entire numbers, the average disease for the different methods of moulding from flat to perfectly pro- tective (high and sharp ridjfes) stands as 17:13:3:1.' While this hif?h proteetive moulding whirh cuiisistiil in high ridges sharp at tlio top and with the top* of the vine* bent over, pppear* to have prevented the spores reaching the tubers, it had of course no effect in preventing the tops from being destroyed by it. , ^ , , . -jji . t i The disease usually appears in Ontario and Quebec between the middlfi of July and the first of August, though sometimes later. The strong and disagreeable odour from a potato field where the Lcte B'.ght is at work is familiar to all, and althouirl. it is too late to get the best result-s after the disease has begun to spread rapidly, it may sometimes be checked by thorough spraying at that time. The loss from Blight is usually greatest from the main crop and late varieties, as the early potatoes are usually well advanced before the conditions are the most favourable for the rapid development of the disease. The weather, which appears to favour the spread of the Late Blight, is what is usually known as 'nuigiry,' or close, warm days with much moisture in the air. With these conditions myriads of spores germinate, and the disease spreads through the tissues of the leaves and destroys them with great rapidity. Prevention of Late Blight.— It is now about twenty-five years since Bordeaux mixture was first used for the prevention of T>ate Blight, the first known application of it having been made in France in 1885. From the very first it gave good results and has lieen steadily growing in favour ever since, but only a small proportion of Canadian farriers even at this date spray their potatoe* for the prevention of Blight. In America the first systematic and continuous experiments witli the Bordeaux mixture were those begun at the Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station by Prof. L. K. Jones. He began experimenting in 1SS9, and for eighteen corsecutive year* continued demon- 1122->— 1* .te ■U«ting the practical value of Bordeaux mixture aa a preventative of Late Blight and Kot. lu Bulletin 142, published in 1009, ho give* the average results of. eighteen years' ezperi-nenu. The yield of potatoes where sprayed averaged 271 bushels ; where unsprayed, 16fl bushels, or an average difference in favour of spraying of 112 bushels |)cr acre. The lowest gain from spraying during this period was 26 per cent, the highest 215 per cent, the average 92 per cent. This should be sufficient evidence for every farni'?r that even if some years the Blight does not do much injury, yet it pays many times over to spray every year. At the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, this disease has received much atten- tion, because of the importance of the potato crop in Canada and the great loss there is every year from Blight and Rot. In his report for 18!)2, Dr. James Fletcher, En- tomologist and Botanist, described the life histcry of the Late Blight and recommended the use of Bordeaux mixture as a preventative of the same. Circulars were also sent the same year to the leading newspapers. In 1894, Dr. Fletcher published a bulletin on Potato Blights, in which further information was Riven and from that time a con- tinuous effort has been made to get farmers to spray their potatoes f ." this destructive disease. Experiments were begun in 1892 at the Central Experimental Farm and at Nappan, N.S., with gratifying results. During the past few years the Blight has beon worse than usual and the effect of spraying has been more marked. In the following table will be found the average results obtained at the Central Experimental Farm foi the years 1901, 1902 and 1904. In IWVI the stand of plants was uneven owing to a protracted drought in spring and the rcs^ults were made of no value. As we have already stated, some varieties of potatoes appcnr to be much less subject to blight than tiihcrs. 1 I n 1901. Average Yitild ST Acre of krketable PoUtoea Sprayed four times, and Unsprayed. Sprayed Unsprayed Areraee increase in yield per acre of mar ketable Potatoes from sprnyiug Bush. Lbs. 33!< 238 43 11 100 32 1902. Average Yield per Acre of Marketable PoUtoei Sprayed four times, and Unsprayed. Buih. Lbs. 310 189 12 54 120 18 1904. Avenge Yield per Acre of MarkeUble Potatoes Sprayed five times, and Unspri.}'«d. Average Yield per Acre of Marketable Potatoes Three Years Spr. yed, and Unsprayed. Bush Lbs. 3«9 306 fi2 21 39 42 Bush. Urn, 33T 243 94 45 15 30 The cost of spraying potatoes with Bordeaux mixture is not large compared with tlio great increase in yield from the use of it. Following are approximately tlie itunis of expense: — Cost of Spraying with Bordeaux Mixture for the Prevention of Blight, per Ae re- Four Applications. Bhieatone, 72 lbs. at 9 cents $6 48 Spraying four times, horse and two men — 8 hours at 40 cents 3 20 Tot«l. $9 68 This expense will be less on larjfc area:? and with the best aDplianees for making and using the mixtures ; from four to six dollars being a fair estimate for large areas. Bluestone can be obtained in large quantities wholesale for about five cents per pound. As it would be sometimes necessary to spray with Paris green about the time of the first application of Bordeaux mixture, these could be put on together, lieuce the 37 cxpenM of one aprayinft with Paris grpen, 80 cent*, may be deduoted, leaving |8.8S M the extra coat in applying Bordeaux iiiixlurc. The uvrrage incrrage from spraying three years has been shown to I* 94 J bushtl!". At 40 cents a bushel, this is 187.80, or after deducting $8.88, a net profit of $28.02 prr acre. As a good spray pump can be obuined for less than this amount, the prioe of a pump would W more than i to reduce the number of applications to two or three, but for the ordinary farmer it is wise to begin spraying about the middle of July, and keep the vines eovcroni Hlijfht. The vines on the unspruyed plot were dead eighteen days before those on the sprayed. The results of spriiyinjr at the Central Kxperimcntal Farm in I'JIO, on plots of one-forty-fourth of an acre each were as follows: Sprayed with Bordeaux mixture Not tpnyed with Bordeaux mixture Sprayed with -Soda Bordeaux (Burgundy Mixture). Xot sprayed with Bordeaux until Auifust lit Viur PKI( AciiK, LU. Buih. 2M 117 190 200 40 20 18 12 Experiments with Bug Death, which have been reported on in the anaual reports of the Central Experimental Farm for 1902 and 1904, have not given nearly as satis- factory results as Bordeaux mixtuw. Bug Death and Bordeaux mixture together did, however, give better results in 1904, than Bordeaux mixture alone. This combination has only been tried one season, hence no definite conclusions can be drawn. Tip Burs.— This is a drying up of the t'ps and margins of leaves, and is due to a loss of vigour in the plant either on account of hot, dry weather or neglect in cultiva- tion. Leave? injured by Tip Burn are often affected witli the Early Blight disease also. Thorough cultivation will prevent Tip Bum to a large extent. Potato Scab {Oospora Scabies, Thaxter).— In some parts of Canada and une saved in one year on one acre by spraying potatoea with Bordeaux mix- .Si'Kit Pump Mot.siKU ok a Cakt. t ,re t<. j^i«vent Wijrfit or rot. but a ^pray pump is u9<-f iil for other purposes than apply- ifitr lin with. One great advantage that a good pump has over a poor oiif is that tlie operat'/r can develop more power with it. The accompanying cut lepreserit* a Spraniotor pump mounted on a special cart for spraying purposes : — Spraying u not iprinkling. A Rprajr ahoiild be applied in the fonn of a Aim foe-like milt, and thia only can be obtained with a guod pump and a goot place; half till tlw barrt-l with water, mill the pInIiimI lime, fill the barrel with water and itir thoroughly. It ii then read^ fur ute. It ia important not to mis the lime water and the sulphate of mpper tolution before diluting. A ttock (olution of copper xulphntc and lime waih may be propnred and kept in neparate covered barrels throughout tho spraying season. The quantities of copper sHlphat«, lime and water should be carefully noted. For Colorado Potato Beetle. — Add 8 ounces of Paris green to the above formula or :| |]ound« of anienato of lA.>ail; or a mixture of 8 ounces Pnrif* gn^-n end 1) pouniU of arsenate of Lead. ! ! Formalin, Cerro$iv» Suhlimatt. — For Potato Scab Soak the tubers either: — 1. For two hours in a solution of commercial Formalin (Formaldehyde) 8 or., in water 15 gallons, or 2. For one and a half hours in a solution of Corrosive Sublimate 1 ot., in water 7 gallons. When dry cut up for planting. Formalin has the advantage of being neither poisonous nor corrosive, while Cor- Tit»i\e Sublimate is a fatal poison if taken internally. It also corrode* metals. The t'olutii. ould, therefore, be made in wooden or glazed vessels. All treated seed »huuld be planted, and any solution left over should be poured into a bole in the ground. Paris Gretn. — For Colorado Potato Beetle: Paris green Unslaked lime Water 8 oz. 4 oz. 40 Kullons. A less quantity of Paris gieen, say 4 ounces to 40 gallons of water is sufficient if the insects have just hatched. Make a paste of the Paris green before diluting, by mixing a little water with it. It will not settle as quickly in the barrel if this is done. Arsenate of Lead. — For Colorado Potato Beetle: Arsenate of lead 2 to 3 lbs. Water 40 gallons. Arsenate of lead varies considerably in the amovftit of arsenic it contains, some brands being poorer than others, hence two to three pounds to forty gallons of water are recommended. Make the arsenate of lead into a paste by the addition of a little water, preferably warm, before ililiitinpr. Ar.-icna'-^ of lead odhcres better to the foliage than Paris green and its use is recommended on this account, but as it does not appear to kill os rapidly as Paris green a mixture of 8 ounces Paris green and H lbs. arsenate of lead to forty gallons of water is suggested. Dry Mixture. — 1 pound Paris green with 50 pounds flour, land plaster, slaked lime or any other perfectly dry powder. Soda Bordeaux (Burgundy mixture). — For Early and Late Blight : — Copper sulphate (bluestone) 6 lbs. Washing soda (carbonate of smla) 7j " Water (1 barrel) 40 gallon*. m^ 41 OiMolve copptr tiilphate •• (or BurcliMus mixtuw. DimoI' - 7} lU. WM*hinii 'wla in four gallon* of water. Pour the copper tulphata iclution int . Iiarrri : half till tlic barrti with water, then itir in the toliition of washing auda, hh.i fiiiHlly till the barrel with water. It ii now ready for uie. The Soda Bordeaux adhere* better to the foli- agi- when freshly made than ordinary Durdeaux mixture, but it deteriorateH rapidly in tbiii rekpect and muit be u»ed as soon »» ninde. If left to ittaiMl for twenty-four hours it will have lost nearly all its adhesiveness. The Soda Uordeaux in not reiHinimeiided in Itrt'ference to the ordinary Bordeaux mixture, but where limn rauuut bu obtained it nmy l>e used with iroo<. Furthermore, on account of itx freedom from Rritty matter there is less likelihood of the nozzle becoming clogged whim it i« ii*ed. As washinv soda ia considerably more expensive than lime this mixture i-o and fun- ((icides now ofFered for nale under various namei*, but none of thoHo wliii-b bare been tested at the Central Experimental Farm haa been found aa satisfacu>ry to use as those we have recommendeil. although some of them have proven effective. Imporlanre of having Good Uattriali and Preparing the Mixtures Propfily. — The importance of having good materials cannot be too strongly impresaed upon potiitu growers. (Ireat losses may occur frcm having an insecticide or fungicide of poor quality. The mixtures should bo carefully prepared. Unk"»!< a mixture or solution is made properly and applied at the right time it may have liltio or nu effect and the time ami materials are lost. There may also be injury to the vines. DIOQIKO POTATOES. If potatoes have not been affected with Late Blight or Rot the be«>t time to dig them is as »>oou as the tops hare died, if the weather is favourable. Potatoes are usually dug just after the corn is harvested or before the frost becnraos severe enough to freeze the soil to a depth of an inch or ao. This time of diggiiiir it u^^uiilly chosen ii« n matter of convenience and quite irrespective of when the ^tnrK* iVw. ns tlu> latter Potato Dkk^kr. dry up in many places about September 1, and often lieforc, and the potatoes are frequently not dug until about a month afterwards. When the soil is well drained and not wet there is not much danger to the crop by l^uving it in the ground for this length of time, but if there is no disease the sooner they are dug the better. Potatoes which have been killed bj- Late Blight will usually rot as soon as the conditions are favourable, and for this reason a diseased crop is better left in the ground as the tubers which are diseased will most of them show signs of rot before they have to be taken up on account of frost and they need not be picked up at all. If diseased potatoes are dug and stored as soon as the tops are dead, the disease will be HI ., I •loMMt cwrtain to drvslop in Um pit or eidlMr aad hml^ tuban will rot frsii ooalMl with the diMM«l oiiM. It it not food praoUo* to die d l — wd potatoas awly and pila tbrm in the flaU. It ii bottar to daUy diMtinc M lonff aa paaaibb and tlMB pat tha potato« in a oeol, wall ventilatwl orilar whar» tha diiaaM maj ba ehaekad. PoUtoaa in wet toil should ba dug Roonar than thoM in that which ii driar and wall drained. Potatoaa ihouM be duff in dry waather m that whan thajr are taken to the oallar or store-room they will be perfectly dry. If the tulwrs are houMd whea wet the condi- tions become rery favourable for the derelopmeut of the disease which may affect them mid for the rottiiin of the health) potstoes from contsct with those thus affected. Where there are large area« to be dug a good potato digger is essential. Not only will a potato digger raise tlie crop more aoonomioally than a fork or plough but with it the grower is more likely to get hit orop dug and picked up while the weather i* fine, which is a great consideration. There sro a number of good loUto diggers now on the market which will dig up and leave on tha surface of the soil practically all the tubers. I'ljlAlO UlOl.gtt. Next to a good potati) digger a fork-like attachment to a plough doea the best work. That in tho illustration is one used nt the Central Experimental Farm with very fair guccess. The fork is attached to the side of the plough and not to the point, in which it differs from some others. Being attached to the side, it prevents much closing from the potato tops as the rows can be ploughed from the side. There are some potatoes loft in the ground even when this attachment is used, but not nearly as many as with the plough. The following description of how this diggpr U mado may prove useful: Take the mouldboard off a good strong plough and use the land side as a founda- tion to which to attach the fork which extends behind. This fork should be oonstruct- cd of J-inch or S-inch iron, should consist of five prongs, each about two feet long, iin;l should stand at ihp baHt about one foot from the ground, when the plough is on the level. These prongs should start off about two inches apart and end up about three inches apart, the two outside prongs being the highest; and further, the two outside prongs where they jut or bow out from the stem should be sharpened or flattened so •■ to prvtrnt • cutting rHgf vi\mn ihry weulii naturalljr §et into the *oil and fntlnw brlilnd the plough. Ploughing potiilop* out hiM liccomv quite • common mpthmi amonr rirmer* •incn ■ hrlp h4>Kan to gi-t wHrro and it waa difllcult to get mfn to dig, but in pi )ughinv 'hint nut there ii alwn.v* a largo number of potato<>ii left in the ground and the addiii i: or to sell in the sprirg there will be a great deal of shrinkage in weight if potatoes are allowed to sprout. It is important to have tome means of letting cool air into the cellar towards spring when it is difficult to keep ^wtatoes from sprouting. The cool air should be let in at night >r'.ien the tempierature is loweet and the cellar kept doseo' during the day. Sometimes it is difficult to get all ithe crop to the cellar at digging time and when this is the case they may be put in piles of forty or fifty bushels and covered with ktraw with a little earth on top to keep them dry, more earth being put over the straw if the weather becomes cold. If tlie potatoes are diseased, however, it is not safe to pile them in this way and even if they are healthy, piling in the field should be avoided if nt nil possible, as the crop is much easier to handle afterwards in the cellar than outside in the cold, perhaps inclement, weather. If potatoes are found to be diseased at digging time a good plan is to fix up a place in the barn where it is quite dry and where frost can be kept out for a time and spread *' potatoes out in as shallow piles as possible. The place, should, however, be ma ■ perfectly iaA as potatoes soou deteriorate very much in quality if exposed to light New settlers in the prairie provinces have difficulty in storing their potatoes before they get a good cellar, and older settlers sometimes have not sufficient accomo- dation. The following description of a pit made and used successfully for aeveral years by Mr. T. Rowan, Macgregor, Han., should be of assistance to thote requiring such a place for storing potatoes. To store about 1,000 bushels, a hole in the ground 14 feet wide, 4 to 4i feet deep, and about 30 feet long will give ample space. The sides and ends of the hole may be lined with boards to prevent earth from falling in, though the earth may be braced back with poles if boards cannot be readily obtained. Fill the hole to a height of Si feet with putatocs, then place logs along the sides and ends to hold back the earth thrown out and for supports for the poles of the roof. The depth of this side log and elevation in centre of roof is to be left as an air space and no straw or rubbish what- ever is put on top of the potatoes. A roof is made with poles placed close together. There should be but a slight elevation at the centre of the roof. i^ When the poles for the roof are in place there should be a little hay thrown over them to keep the soil from falling through. The roof should now be well sodded and f onie of the loose earth -.vhich was dug out of the hole shovelled over the sods to make about 1 foot deep of earth nn Aeine Blaneli>> X»(W-1!>09 Adirondack 11887-1890 Admiral 11909 Alabaster 1899-1901 Alarioh jl89a-1901 Alaika |1907 . Alexandria 1887-1«« Alexander Prolific I1889-18!»2 Algien I1887-1S8!) AlgomaNo. 1 1801-1899 AlgomaNo. 2 il8»l AlffomaNaS ;18!)1-18(« Alkohd 188: -1888 Alma 'J8S7-1888. AlmondBlue il887-1888. Alpha 1887-1880. 1^99.. ..I, I. I ..il, .1. . .II. • il- .. T, .11, . ( . iC, . r, 1809-19M-1906 t8»»-ltM 18afr-19»7 18at-1804, 1906-l£lO Apollo Ambroaia AmerioaD Giant Amerioan Wonder Amylon Il887-18n' AndarMO 1887-1888. . . . ABhkaif Kidney !l9IM-19tO. . . . AehtopFInke 588T-1888.... Asparaffni 1887-180S. . . . August der Starke 1887-1888.... Aurora 1887-1888. .. I.Q. I.Q. Varietiks of Potatoes Tcstol at the Central Experiineiitnl Farm, &c. — Ctntimutd. It ^ Iff Name of Variety. Year when Teited. Aiwtralian 1887 1888.... Babbit WOft lavj. . . . Balmoral ISilOlSOl. . . . BarUey'it Seedling iliWi 1910. . . . Barrett, P I90n-1910. . . . Beauty of Hebron 1887-lMW.... Beauty of Kant »inn8-1909. . . . Beauty of Ottawa 18»l Belle Eco.»aiMe imtS I'JIO. . . . Belle de Konttwiv 1908-1909. . . . BedMm 18!Ht Beefsteak ,188M889.... Bemron, J. N., fr..iii lS95-19aS. . . BisRoie 111107-1909.... BiUNye il897-lU02 Why Dinarded. I. P. I. P. I. P. Biamark. W>7- U89 BiKjuit ..::....:..... 'm; isss Bliu Triumph 18-7-1891, 18^9 VMi. BlueBeU .. 1890-1891 BlueCup 1892-1899 Blue Giant I I90«-19(O Blue Prolific... Blue Seedling Blueher Bolero Bombay Bovee Bovinia Brandale Braut Bra* d'Or Seedling Breck's Chance Bretonne Broeaeau, A. S., from inoO-1909 1909-1910 1887-1888 190S-1909 1887-1889 1897-1910 1887-1888 1908 1939 1890, 1892-1898. . 1892-1895 1907-1909 1908-1909 X»17 190J. I.P. I. P. I.P. I.P. I. P. I. P. I. P. }:?:• I.P. I.P. LP. I.P. I.P. I. P. I.P. I. P. I.P. Brown'* kot Proof ll8H5-l!t03 jl. P. BrowneU'a Beat 11887-1888, 1891 j t. P. Brownell'e Beauty |1887-1888 ll.F :c Brownell's Multiplier Btownell's Su|>enor. . Brownell's Winuer... Bruce Brunhilde Buffalo Bunder Landwirthe. . Burbank'* Seedlinir. . Bumaby Mammoth . . Burpee'* Extra Early. Burpee's Seedl- . 1907-1910 1899-1901 1887-1889, 1899 19(H 1893-1910 1890-1!H«(, 1905 1910..... 1889-1892 1881-1891 1887-1891 190(H'.K)1 1887-lS!t0 18S7-1888 18l« 1905 1898 1910 1900 1910 I.P. 1908-1909 I.P, I.Q. I.Q. I.P. I.P. I. P. I.P. I.P. I.P. I.P. I.P. I.P. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP., D.E., LQ. LP., LQ. LP., LQ. LP. I.P. I.P. 11322-p. 4K. 4f VAinnni of PoUtoet Tested at the Central Experimental Farm, ke.—Conlinutd, Name of Variftjr. Year when Tiahtd. Why biwunlitl. Chicwo Market IHKT-lflia ChonhUl S««Uin> IflOO-lflW Chiiian Variety AraiMana Muaea 1U07 . . ChUian Variety Cabrita. JISl'15?- Chilian Variety Doyen — •"«. . Chilian Variety Paitaneaa CiicaMienne CUrli't Pride CUrk'aNa 1 ayde OUrmdon... ClayRnae Climax Coekeryoata Columbaa Cottar Comptan'a Surpriae Connolly, T., SeedlinR. . . . Conqueror Corona lleauty Comflowrr Coonopolitan Cottage Cotinteaa Count Moltke Cunntry Ovntlvman Craift oeedlinR Crine'i Lightning Crown Jewel Cyclop Cxarine Dabenche Duiay . . . llakouRed Dalmahoy Dalmeny Beauty Dalmeny Early Darby Dark Red Seedling. Darling J., from Daw noil City, from Daybreak Debreau, K. Seedling Delaware D«licipnip«ey Seedling Detroit Dewdrop Dewey . . Duwuy Roae DiaeU VJXi. isor-iiXNi 1907-1900 IM7-1«7-18»1.... 1890-1801... 1887-1888. . . . 1890-lCOl.... 1887-1888. . . . 1887-1888.... 1H87-1888. . 1809-lOOU. . . . 1898 1902-1910. . . . 1889-1890.. . 1899-1901... 190*-1900.... 1887-1888.... 1890-1902. . . . 1889-1903.... 18i}7-1889. . . . 1901-1910. . . . 1906-1909... 1890-1891.... 1898-1901.... 1898-1899.... 1903-1904. . . . 1903-1909. . . . 1891-1892... lS90-in09. . . . 1887-18H8. . . . 1889-1891... 1910 1887-1888.... 190!>-1910 . . 1905-1910. . . . 19(17-1909.... 1887 Diacovery |1905-1!)09. Diamond. |1907-1!H)9. . 19(i7-l'.ilO. . 1900-1!H)2 . 1887-18Ki».. 1808-1900. 19011910. . Dibble'a Favorite Dobwin'aEarly.... Doctor Doherty'a Seedling D?"»Lrker ■.'..■... Il899-l!ll0 Dreer'a SUndard 1894-1910 Dr.Luciua |19»»-19I0. Duana !18S21!»S '•'■■ l)ooh«« of ComwaU !j!2J"!!i2 Dutoh Blue Flowvrinf *S"j2S DtIuidmi l8BT-lllrB SrlrAlWno 18W-18W lulyAndn 1888-1904. IW^-IDW Kulf AttonUher J22MS22 Kwllartoi All 18B3-11IW E^irSird HW-18W, 1906-1910 KMljrBMigor JSSI'HS E«lj0i«£r i2SMS22 KwljrDawii J255"l!2 BMlyKatiiw 1890-18W SSJiccHpi ,}«5:iSll KviyEikiWh IS2M2S2 EarlyEiiTO* jl»01-1909 Earlr Exeter 1007-1909 EkryKortme..... |1»9*-1«9 E^lyOem 189»-18fl9 ItalyOUnt }S!-1^ Early HoueehoW JSIiSS RariyHarvMt ISMSS Early lUrreeter, Pink ISSJM'K Early Harrerter, White }J"^'}"12 Early Johiuton }S?iiSSS Eariy King 190»-Itl0» Early Marlet ■ .1899-1903 Early Maoiitee I S25ii»i Eariy Manitoba ISMSi Early May I1M6-1909 RulvMaine !188»-1K'1 1899-1908 I.P. 1908-1910 .. !l.P, Early Maine. Early Michigan Early Monarch Early Mortgage Lifter ~ ■ 'Xorther I.P. l.P. I. P. !:^. I.P. I.P. I.P. I. p. I.P. I.P. IP. I.P. ii.p. I.P. 1906-1009... 1894-1903 1887-1910 190B, 1907-1910 180^1903, 1906-1UU'.I 180O-19OS, 1906 190S-1910 Early MortI Early Ohio. . . . Early Petoakey Early Pride.... Early Puritan . Early Regent ,oo- ,«~. Early Row 1887-1906. Karly Round Blue il887-1888 Early Ruwet I}!S2;a;A Early Sensation '*»-^?12 Fj»rly Six Week! 1896-190J Early Short TopM 1^,^-1**? FArly St. George 1898-1906 Early Summer 190O-1904, 1006-1907 Early Sunrise 1889-1903,1906 I.P. I.P. Karly Sunlight Early Superior Early Surpiise Early Thorbum Early Trumbull Early White Prize Early Wieoonnin Edwards, R., S<'i'k Geneeiee Flat General Gordon Oea H. Foraker Giant Giant Blue Giant Dutch Lung Giant Early Giant of Marmont Ooee Goodrich Karly Goodrich Late Gold Coin Goldra Early Gtxxlfellow Good News Gov. IjaFoUettff Grand Chancellor Grant 1887 imi. 18HI-mO. 18R7 1«« IflOI-lWW IR0»<1IK« I90B 1910 1H87-}88!I 1887-1881). 18ri7-1888. 1888 1887-1888. iaoi-1910. UR7-18M». 1801-1910. U0t-190e. 1SOI>-1910. ttOA-1910. 1907-1900. 1888-1800 1887-180*. 1906-1910. iMft-igoe. 1887-1889. 1887-1888. 190»-1910. IMM-tOOIi. IW-lttw. 1887 1887-18HU. 1897-1899 1908-1909. 1889-1891. 1887.. .. 1893-190S. 1887-18F8, 1!NW-1910. 1889-1893. 1887-1888. 1887-1893.. 1889-1901.. 1894-1899. 1909 189t-l(«W. . 18»4-18!)ii.. 1899-1!)01 . 1S92-1894. 1887-18S8. . 1887-iaS«. 1887-l(«t2. 1899-1!H)2. . 1909-191(1 . 1899-lOlM . IMSn-lSOl . . 1&S7-18H8 1887-1889, 1887-1889 1888 1887-i889! . 1908-1909- . 1887-1888. 1887-1892. . 190^-1910. . 1887-1888. . 1907-1909. . 1897-1899 . 1907-1910 . 1907-1910.. 1890-1881.. VMM \'»». Why Discarded. I. P. I. P. I. P. I. P. I. P. II.P. LP. I. % I. P. I.P. I. P. I. P. I. P. LP. LP. I.Q. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. IP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP., Lg. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP- LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. 11222— 4J s* ▼AMCTin of PoUtoM Tetted at the CMtnl EiperiiMDUl Farm, to.—C»nUnu*i. I Nmm ot Varialjr. Om» Dirida. OnMEMtwii. OiMB MouBUia Hals'! Obaopiai Baltwntadt. Halloa 8MdliB«. Hammalabaiaar BIim* HamUworth Karly I'iclieo. HarbiBfw Hard lo Baat Uarlaquin Hambul Harrii' Snowball Harvcit Kiof HMTiaoD.- HarrMtor. Haatb Hnoula Hcrtha HibemU Hiek'i JubilM Hiahlandor HMborn Abundance. Hochheim Honcoye Row Hopaful Hoolton Boaa Howard Idaho Idaal Immigrant Imperator Improved llarly Oliiu Inei Inrinoible looin Seedling Ireland Iriah Hlae Iriah Champion Iriah Cobbler IrialiDaiay I.X.L Jacluon's Improved Jackaon'a White Jani«« Nugget Japanrae Joanette John Bull Johnaon'a Na 2 ■Tnaeph Rigault Juana Jubilee. . ..- Jumbo. June June Eating Crane Kaiaer Kelley Kidney Kingof AU King Kdward KiiiKKdward Vll King of the Karliea Kingof Michigan King Seedling Year Whni Taeted. I U8»-i«a 18W-U91 UBo-iDoa, mo. ISW-ISOB 1M7-1WW m»-\tm 1W7-18M8 im-imt uas-iwo, iiiuK \.nf.>... 1M«-I9tu i«i7-j«m UOft-tSW lMS-1910 i88e-i«» inr-uw 18B7-1M8 1887-1888 1887-1888 Why Dfaeatdad. I. P. I. P. jI.P. I. P. I. P. I. p. King of the King of the RuR><>t« King of the Valley Il«« K i-iK-i f liKiii;.!.-.! 1!'(W I'.iio II.P. I.P. ;I.P. :::::::::■:;;:!{:?: ::;:::;:;:::::{:S i.p. 1887-1888 I.P. 1904-1908 l.V. 1906-1910 I.l'. 1907-1910. I 1889-1910 1 1887-1888 I.P., 18e7-180!t I.p.' U«S-18!W I.P. 1897-180J I.p. 1900 I.P. 1887-1889 I.O. 189ft-]t«l0, 1U«.;-1!I0!I. I.P. t90»-l!no I.p. 1889-1890 I.p. 1907-1910 1888 I.P. 1906-1909 :I.P. 1906-1909 I.P. 1907-1910 LP. 1887-1888 I.P. 1899-1803 I.P. 1897-1910 1 1891 ,|.P. 1901-1!>"0 II.P. 1907-U'9 il.P. 1909 !l.P. 1909-1910 1906-1910 1 1906-1909 I.P. 1887-1891 l.P. 1901-1903, l!Hi7 1!!1(». 1909-1910 1 1897-1899 il.P. 1^9-189: I.P. I.P. IQ. D.E. M VAauTm of PoUtoM Twted at the Cratral ExperimoiUl Fann, kc.—ComUntui. KMMolVwiMy. YfM whM Twi«i. WhyOlMMiM. KhhMjr Anfttrt Kidn^Blu....... .• Kidsqr Dccun'i Yellow KidBvy KiwIUh KidiMjr IUichD«n KidD^ Lute White.... Kidiwr Maifolia KidnerlUd KidnvyRojrkl White... Xopv* ■ ■ KbowIm' Bi( Crop Kjrl^R J., tnm UrViKy*. Uiid Iiwluon, hum. LmIjt PingOT L»te Pctflokrr Lata Puritan. I^toKcdUrf*. lAtcKoM Lm« Rom (Blue) Uto Rom (White) . . tTi^J IBOS-MOO jj™""- ''""• .■■::::;;:. ::::::iw:ifl6i {i|l;r^lS.::::::::..::.:.:::::::::::::":i!??i^ IH87-180O UW7-1MM IDKr-lIK* l»t»-l»«» UW7-IMW IIW7-1IMU UW7-I>«8 UWT-ltlW 1HH7 I*7-1W* 18MH IMHT-ltMJ iww-mo t8» im-vm IWff-tSUS ia8T-1888 law-iMis 1W»-I»10 I8M-101O 18W-188* tt«7-l8t(», IH'Jl 1W3. . 1M87-1888 iMtr low IMO 1003- I. P. I. P. I. P. IP IP. I.Q, I.P I. P. I.P. I. P. I.P. I.P I.P. I.P. I. P. I.P. I.P. I. P. I.P. \:%. I.P. I.P. I.P. I.P. D.E. I.P. I.P. I.P. LlAry, Milk lifuT, BMdIing LippiMi Rom. lire LivinRttao. Livinntoa'a Banner Liuiei Pride lionsfellow Lord M»yi* Lortie, K., from Loodon Luwr, John, from — . ■ . Magnum Bonum (American). . . Magnum Bonuui (Sutton'a) Marmum Bonum (Select CarU-r Maggia Murphy Ma^ar King 1910. 1887-1H80.... 1887-ltW9.... tHiW-1903.... igbo-ifloa... UI»-1'J02. . . 1906-ltl<».... 1887-1888. . . . 18U.V1898.... ISWHSTO. . . . 1891-1892.... 1887-1889.... 1887-1888.. . 1889-1891... 18ft5-190;<. . . . 19"» Won. . , . 1895-1S98. . . . *•"" '^fccorder::::;::. :::::::;:::::.::.:::::• i»«-i»:« I.P. I.P. I.P. I.P. I. p. I.P. I.P. I.P. I.P. , I.P. I.P. I.P. . I.P. : \1 I.P. MammothPearl ;}2!!t }2fi Mammoth Prolific. itS- iS«, Manhattan }Sn^ mn Manistee 19(»V-1910 Manitoba Kidney Manitoba Kidney White Maple Leaf Marjohn. Martinn Mata.y*ine Matchlen. Matador ,■:•••,••■ Maule's Thoroughbred. . . Mayfield BloMoiii Mayflower Early May Queen Vjirly May (jueeii I.P. I.P. ■I.P. I.P. 1890-1891 1890-lWiO 1906-1910 190^-1909 1804-1899 1908-1909 1887-1889 18W-1889 18K-19II9 190»-1910 1887-1889 iw7-I'.in:i ItrjO lii-ni I.P. I.P. I.P. I I.P. .'I.P. I.P X.P. I.P. I.P. .I.P. I.P. l.P. Tamitim of PoUtoM TNtcd at tiw r«atr il i., 8«HilinK Nu. it Mrt. Fonker. Mnnntein Rom.. Mulhou**. Myatt't AahlMf Maokinloah, D. K., fniui MeCloritcy, R. A.. Srwlling MoanikMr, HaMllinff No. / NfoCaid, from. MolMt)rn> McKnuio, Heo., fiutn. Meftdimiy, Thos., Hivdlin;. Nsp>l«oii Nnuirht Hix Xelnrnka Netllelecved NmHi Kr'i I'kriy) P«Mk Blow (improrwl) pMroa PWurlofHoBM Pfam't Kilm Kariy PMum'i Pria WinniT. . . Pnwl Pt-wl of a«To]r Pcamuun . . Paok'iKarly Peerlnw .,_. P«wrt»" Junior jIMNV-ltnW Penn Manor |.«W IHOn Pmianoe Kidney IMnS-IMO PHrfeetioB ItW 191i» Pwie , |glW 1001 IMM D.K. I* iMH7-1«M iDutm iMW taw 1«IS 1003 im tHM, IM»-1M4, IWilL. inr iMM UM7-Um...., 1M7-IIIK 1M»I!>0II WBl imatMii KM^UOS, 1808 VIOL Mm-l>m,lW! vim iw uei, iw^iiKw 1008-1000 IMS-IOOO IfWr-IMOH perron, A. No. 1 from. Pr-rntn, A. Now i fruni. Pftiea. Frra, fron. Pinnaa PinkKve Pink HwdlinR from .A I) Smith Pin* Coiw" Pinnacle B«iaulj PioNano Planet Polariii. Pomeranian R«l Puotaluck PotenUte Polyi^iM Prairie Setxlling Pr«'aident Kruger. Preston Price, from IlolUml Pride of America Pride of the Market . Pridpof the Table Pride of Tunbridge. Prime Miniiter Prince Biamaif k Princo Allw-rt Prince Freilerick Charli< Priie T»ker Prolific P»reext'H Prolific Kcwe . Prolific. Pri»a|»nty IflHO lon-img. 1907-iooe 1901-lOOIi i8o»-ioon i90»-mo. 1887-188U 100T-191U 1887 -IHSt. , iwrr 1910 ifto»i9on.. 1887 18(1* . 1880-lWl . 190B-1909 1!«t8. , IH87 ISHI 1906-1910 1890-1891 . 1887-1889 . 1887-1891.. 18!H1908 . 1804-189!). 190n 1900 18.S7-I801 1880 1907-1910 , UR7-18S8 . 180^-1902 1887-1889 . M09-1904. 1908-l!il0 1!>"?-1910. I. P. ll.P. :t.p. I.K 'r.p. ii.p. .ii.P. IP. IP. IP. IP. I. p. i«* IP.. i.y. n' ir.p. I. p. I. p. I. p. IP. IP. IP. IP. I. p. I.K U.K. !:!>• I. p. IP. I. p. IP. IP. I. p. i.p. IP. IP. I p. I.p. I.p. IP. IP. IP. I.p. IP. IP. I.p. IP. Prof. Xoiiuliey : 'lU08 l»0!t iI.P VAMiTlEa of PoUtoea Tested at the Central Experimental Farm, tK.—Contiimed. Xnnie of Variety, Purple Mid Quid Pyka^ Q«o. froni Quaker City QiianntiiM de la Halle. Uueeos. ^"ty of Beautie*. Rom of the x?orth RomNo. 9. Rome's New (iiant Row'h New Invincible. R(«y Mom. Rutnrant Rough Coat Cup Rough Diamond .... . . RouiK Royale Rouge Hative de Province, France. Ruby Rural Blu»h Rural No. 3 Runell's Seedling Rust Proof Rutling Roae. SabeaiTs Elephant Sachnen Yellow B'leshed Oiiiun. Year when Tested. SagoBlaek (18W-1888 1887-1«80 190l)-l«Ul 1887-1003 l»(7-188t< 1887-1888 1887-188S 1008-1910 100»-1910 IH8T-1888, 1801 18-ian9 1908-1909 1907-1910 1887-1889 1887-1891 1887-1S92 , 1887-1888 1896-1910 18H0-1W)1 1909-1910 1908-1909 1888-1902 1890 . 1890-1893 1896-1903 1807-1906 1888-1891 1891 1887-1898 1887-1890 1903-1904 . 1889-1892 190S 1906-1909 1887-1891 1S80-1910 1889-1892, 189a I 1894-1898 1903-1900 1908-1910 1896-1910 1887-1888 Why Discarded. I. P. I I. P. IP. jl.P. :r.(i:, D.E. Satiofuction . Saunsse Scott Saunden tJcotoh Blue Scotch Champion Scottish <,^een Scotland's Pride Scotch Mountain Roae Hchoolmaster., Sc.ilsfeet 1HI3. . . . I8!U-1899, lOOU-llllO. . 190»H909 1906-1909 1890 1887-1888 1886-1893 1887-1888 1910 1887-1888 1887-1860 1906-1910 \1 I.P. I.P. I. P. I.P. I.P. I.P.,I.(, I.P. I.Q. LP. I.P. LP. LP. LP. LP. I.P. LP. I.P. LP. LP. I.P. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. I.P. I.P. LP. LP. LP. I.P. I.P. LP. I.P. I.P. I.P. I.P. T.P. I.Q. I.P. LP. I.P. LP., I.P. I.Q. IP., U.K. I.P. 8T Varieties of Potatoes Tested at the Central Experimeutal Farm, &c.— Continued. Nkme o< Variety. Smttle, from «tib«c Hetd. Hecdlimt No. 101, Lawrence S«>dlingNo.2U, (C.K.K.) S«edling Na 2S0, (C.E.F.) Seedling Roek Heedliiw No. 7. (Agamix) SeinmeC Seneca Queen Senutiun ■Skarpa'e SeedliuR. ."^hipper'a Pride Shoat. Sivberhauser Siegfried aUver Dollar £ 1887-1888 1 1896-lWM jl 1887-188.S I 189!)-19U2 |I. mo I 1887-l!»i:i |t lOI^-lWJ II inoH-iao!! I 1887-1888 jI 1887-1888, lHSO-1901 il I900-l'jo:i il 190,S-19O9 I 1887-1888 II 1907-iaiO 1906-1010 I906-1U10 1807-1903 1891 1887-1888 1887-1888 1887-18!«a 1887-1890 1887-1888 II 1909-1010 1 1906-1909 II 1007-1«IO, I l!t02-l!f I lil05-l'.«'.' 1 1887-1891 'I (aee Blue Uiant.) 1900-1909 I 1907-190il I P. P. P. P. R. E. P. 'i D.E. 1H07-1909 1887-1888 1887-1888 1906-1909 1899-1901 1906 1909 18S0-1891 1890-1910 1905-19U9 1908-190!) 1890-1892 18!I5-18!K) IIKK) 1881)-1H91 1887-1891 1887-1891 18!I9-1901 . IQ. 1889-1902 I 1S07-I010 1906-1909 I 1889-1891 I 1887-1X88 I 1887-1888 |I 1887-1891 |I 1897-1909 ll 1891 I 1894-1899 1908-1910 1887-1890 1907-1910 18UI .1'. P. P. Q. P. P. P. P. Varieties of Potatoes Tested at the Central Experimental Farm, &c.— (7on(ifi«ei{. Name of Variety. Thorbum 1888-1897, liMW-llMtt. Year When Teeted. Thuenelda TilleT, R., from... Tadd'(S«edUD>... Todd. W.H.Jiwdlin^ 1887-1888. 1901 1908-1904. 19X0 1887-1CS8. Triumph de Pomerania Trophime 11887 1889. Trophy 11887-1888 Troy Seedlinir 11895-1008. Tattle's Kxcehior |1887-1888. Tiuffle 1887-1888 Twentieth Century 11899 1903, 1907-1909.. Uncle Gideon's Uuick Lunch lt90A, 1900, 1910. Uncle Sam '1897-1910 Unioa 1899-1901 Up-to-Date '1901-191A, IMO. Vanguard 11887-189S Vanicr, D., from 11892-1P08 Van Deman's Earliest 1902-1906 Van Orman's Earliest ,1906-1807 Venus 11897-1888 Veribest 1909-1910 Vermont 1887-1893 Viclc's Extra l-^rly 1892-1910 Vick's No. 9. 1903-1901! Vickton 1906-1908 Vict.* 1906-1910 . . Victoria 1890-1901 Victoria Pale Red I1S87-1888 Victor Rose. 11896-1899 Vigoroea. 189»-1902 Violet Rempal {1908-1909. Virginian Potato 1908-1S09. Volunteer 1910 VoodleRed 1887 Vulcan 1907-1010 Wall'sOrange 1900-1904 ... Washington 1906-1909 WeeMacgregor 1906-1910 Wesel |1SI«-1901 Wellington 1907-1910 White Albino 1904-1910 White Beauty 189»-1902, 1907-1910. White Chief White Elephant White Fleshed Onion White Giant White Mammoth . . . White Ohio White Rose White Wonder ... White Star ,ili«7-1891 White Sprout I18S7-1890 WhiteQueen 1887-1888 Why Discarded. 13: O.E. I.P. I. P. I.P. I.P. J:§: I. p. I.P., i.q. I.P. LP. LP. 1909-1910 1887-1889, 1891-1893, 1897-1909 1887-1888 1898-1902, 1907-19ia 1906-1910 1907-1910 1907-1910 1900-1910 LP. IP. LP. }:?: LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP. LP LP. LP. LP. iU.E. Wilson's Kiwt Choice 190B-1909 1887-1889 1906-1910 1899-1009 1901-1910 1887-1898, 189(m902, I'.HXS IfllO 1894-189!t 1908-1909 LP. Williams' Early LP. Windsor Castle Woltiiian LP. Wonderful LP. Wonder of the Wc.rlH WorW's Fair. LP. Wortley LP. 1887-1888 LP. Zwit'bcl Kartoffel 1808-190!) IP. i 69 SUMMARY. Although the potato is a very important food product of raimiU the methods of culture can be much improved. The potato succeeds well in Canada almost everywhere where the season is long enough for the tubers tu develop before the tops are killed by frost. There is no farm crop the yield of which can be increased so much by ono season's work as the imtato. Potatoes have been grown at the rate of over 700 bushels per acre in small plotA at the Central Experimental Farm. The average yield for the whole of Canada was about 123 bushels when tlie last census was token in 1901. The potato is a native of South .America and Mexico and wa3 introduced into Ireland in 1.585 or 1586, and from there to England. New varieties of potatoes may b<^ originated from seed, by bud variation, or changed by selection. The twelve most productive varieties grown at tlie Central Farm for five jrear* are Dalmeny Beauty, Hard-to-Bcat. Carman No. 1. Gold Coin, I^ite Puritan, Empire State, Ashleaf Kidney, Rochester Rose, Sharp's Victor. Dewey, Early Hero, Holbom Abundance. Factor and Sutton's Prolific, tested for four years, are very productive varieties. The six most productive early varieties for five years are Rochester Rose, Extra Early Hero, Reeves' Rose, Irish Cobbler, Vick's Extra Early, Crine's Lightning. Some of the earliest varieties are Early Petoskey, New Early Standard, Eureka Extra Early, Burpee's Extra Early, Early Trumbull, Bliss Triumph, Early Ohio, Rochester Rose, Bovee. Some productive varieties most free from blight are: King Edward, Dalmenjr Beauty, Factor, Ilard-to-Beat, Highlander, Duchess of Cornwall. Varieties may be affected either favourably or unfavourably by change of seed. If seed is obtair...J from a comparatively cool, moist climate it will give a much larger yield, as a rule, than deed from a drier and warmer climate. Potatoes succeed best in a moist, somewhat cloudy and temperate climate and in a rich, deep, friable, warm, sandy loam soil with good natural drainage, a constant though not too great a supply of moisture and well supplied with decayed or decaying vegetable matt«r. A crop of 200 bushels of {wtatoes exclusive of the potato tops, removes from the soil approximately 40 lbs. nitrogen, 20 lbs. phosphoric acid, and 70 lbs. potash. Potatoes succeed well after clover, there l)eing un nverage increase in a thrca years' test of 37 bushels per acre whore clover was used than where it wns not. Heavy manuring with barnyard manure is not recommended, but the use of a moderate quantity is advised applied on the clover in the autiunn. If used in tha spring the manure should Ije well rotted. Chemical fertilizers, if used, should be applied ii( tlie rate of 500 to 800 lbs. or more per acre in the pro|»irtiun of 2.">0 Uis. nitrate of sotla, ."JSO lbs. superphosphate, and 200 111.-', sulphate of potash nr muriate of potash. Tlip soil should be very thoroughly prepared ; the better tlie preparation, the bettor the crop is likely to be. The be^t time to plant varies; it depends largely on the condition of the ground an;1 spring frosts. As a rule, the best time is as soon as possible after danger from frost is past. Sets should be cut from mcHum or larite potatoes anil nlnuted. and covered as soon as possible after planting. If allowed to wither the crop will be less. An increased CO field will be obtained by coating the sets with land plaster, gypaum or lime, especially if potatde-^ are cut a few days before planting. A set should have a large amount of flesh and about three eyvs. The best d^th to plant is from four to five inche<«. Potatoes should be planted in rows 30 inches apart with a set from IS to 14 inches apart in the rows. Potato planters are ver> satisfactory. The crop of potatoes will usually increase in proportion to the number of times the potatoes are cultivated during the growing season. Vnere was found to be an increase of 40 bushels per acre in a crop of potatoes cultivated six times over those cultivated three times. Level cultivation will sometimes give better results than ridging, and vice versa. Where the soil is stiff, ridging is advisable. Where the soil is loose and liable to suffer from drought in a dry time, level culture is recommended. Where the soil is both loose and moist, ridging will usually give best results. Mulching with straw is too expensive and results do not justify its use. Potatoes can be forced by some days by sprouting the potatoes before planting. The crop of marketable potatoes can be almost doubled by having three weeks' growth in September. Pouto tops should be protected from insects and diseases as the yield will be in proportion to the leaves uninjured. The Colorado Potato Beetle and Cucumber Flea Beetle are the most injurious insects. The former can be killed by using Paris green or arsenate of lead, and the latter can be prevented from doing injury by Bord-i.iux mixture and Paris green or arsenate of lead. The principal diseases affecting the potato are Early and Late Blight, and Potato Scab. The two former can be prevented by spraying thoroughly with Bordeaux mixture, beginning before the disease appears and keeping the vines covered. From three or four sprayings are sufBcient In a three years' test the increase in yield by spraying with Bordeaux mixture was 94 bushels. The total cost per acre will be from four to six dollars on large areas and about nine dollars on small areas plthough good results will be obtained in some seasons with less expenditure. The spores of potato scab may be destroyed on the potato before planting by soak- ing the tubtij for two hours in a solution of formalin or for one and a half hours in a solution of corrosive sublimate. Spraying mixtures should be applied at the proper time and thoroughly if good results are to be expected. It is important to success to have a good spray pump and pure spraying materials. Good potato diggers are now on the market by which potatoes can be dug more economically than with the plough or fork. Potatoes should be dug in dry weather so thnt thoy will be dry when taken to the cellar. If potatoes are diseased it is best to leave them in the ground as long n^ possible. Tubers should be stored in a dry, cool, well ventilated cellar and kept at a tempoi- ature between 33° and 35° F. if possible. It is usually more profitable to market potatoes in the autumn than to shnv them. Good machines for sor;ing potatoes can now be obtained. The cost of growing a 300 bushel per acre crop of potatoes is estimated at $0.1. Hi. although this will be reduced considerably on large areas where the most modorii machinery is used. The number of varieties of potatoes tested at the Central Experimental Fm .; from 1887 to 1910 is about 1,000. ®