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MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART 
 
 (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2) 
 
 A APPLIED IIVMGE 
 
 '65J Eost Main Slreel 
 
 Rocheste-. He, York 14609 USA 
 
 ("6) 482 - OJOO - Phons 
 
 (716) 288 - 5989 - To, 
 

 ' S\ 
 
 DoM!'"ON or Canada 
 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
 
 DoMFNIOS EXPERIMKXTM. FaRMS 
 
 DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 
 
 THE POTATO IN CANADA 
 
 ITS CULTIVATION AND VARIETIES. 
 
 BT 
 W. T. MACOUN. 
 
 Dominion Horticulturist 
 
 BULLETIN No. 90 
 
 (Popular EdUionJ 
 
 OTTAWA 
 
 PRINTED BY J. uk LaBBOQUERIE TACH< 
 
 PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY 
 
 1918 
 
 35122—1 
 
THE POTATO AND ITS CULTIYATION IN CANADA. 
 
 POPULAR 2DITION. 
 
 Bv W. T. MAC'OrX, Dominion Ifortirnlturist. 
 
 The potato is used nlniost as freely ;is bread in Canada, and. like that food, is 
 thought as much of by the rich as by the imo-. It can be obtained at all sensons cf 
 the year, and. if properly kept, is about as (food at one time as at another. Beiuff one 
 of tiie most useful food products, its cultivation and improvement deser\-e the greatest 
 attention. 
 
 The potato succeeds well everywhere in this country, where the season is long 
 enough for the tubers to develop before the tojw are killed by frost, hence potatoes 
 are cultivated in practically every settlement in Canada, even up to, and within, the 
 
 Arctic circle. r /-. i i. 
 
 Although the potato is one of the most imixirtaiit food jirodiiets of Cuiada, the 
 methods of culture employed in growing this crop can be very much improved. This 
 bulletin is published for the purpose of giving information to Canadian farmers, which 
 should help them to obtain much better crojis than they have hitherto had. The recom- 
 mendations made arc for the most part based on the results of experiments conducted 
 at the Central Experimental Farm during the past thirty years, although the results 
 of the work of other experimentei have not been overlooked, and have also been used 
 when deemed advisable. 
 
 In the province of Ontario, where records in regard to the potato crop have been 
 kept fo- thirty-six years. 1SS2-1!>17, the average yield for that period has been only 
 11-' -7 bushels per aere. Some of the best farmers in Canada grow from 400 to 500 
 bushels per aere, and even larger yields are obtained, while :!00 bushels per acre is not 
 unusual. At the Central Experimental Farm the highest yield on a small plot was 
 at tlie rate of 772 bushels per acre, but careful experiments have demonstrated that 
 potatoes can be produced at the rate of over 1.000 bushels per acre. While in field 
 •ulture such high yields may not be possible, they are something to strive, for, and 
 there is no doubt but that the average yield for Canada could be doubled if the best 
 methods were employed by every grower. 
 
 CLIMATK ANP Si iIL. 
 
 The potato ai)pears to thrive best in a Moist, somewhat cloudy and temperate 
 climate, but providing there is sutficient moisture in the soil and the growing season is 
 long enough it is not at all fastidious in this respect. It is a little more particular in 
 the matter of soil, but large crops are grown in a great variety of soils. The ideal soil 
 for potatoes app<'ars to be a rich, deep, friable, warm s;indy loam with good natural 
 drainage, and well supplied with decayed or decaying vegetable matter. The potato 
 requires a largo amount of moisture to develop a large crop of potatoes, and for this 
 reason the soil should be retentive of moisture. Potatoes will not. however, succeed 
 well in cold soil where the water is stagnant near the surface, and thorough drainage 
 is v( .-y essential to a g'>od crop. 
 
Potatoes nuci'ccd iuiniinilily on nc-w liiiiil providinjf it i il dniiiii'il and not too 
 Ktiff, a.< the soil is tilled with dcfa.vcd viKetahlf matter and Iiuiiiu.h which help to make 
 it loose. Su( h si'l retains moisture will, and furriislie> hitrojjen in a very availalilc 
 form. They .siieeced well after sod also, as the di < ,!;. in); sod (rives somewhat the same 
 eonditions as new land. Clay and elay loams arc not so suitable to the potato crop as 
 the warmer sandy loams and pravelly soils as they arc u>ually colder atid licintr. as a. 
 rule, stiflFcr, the tuliers arc not as even in shaiie imr as smooth. The iinality of the 
 potatoes grown in sandy or frravclly soils is better than that of tho-^i' frrowu in elay or 
 elay loams. 
 
 I't.ANT Koop IIK^l lm;Ml:NTS ANf) KlJITII.IZl'.lts. 
 
 Potatoes usually succeed well when prowii after clover sod. In ftn esperiment at 
 the Central Experimental Farm, <'overintr three years, there wa- an averafrc iricri'ase of 
 thirty-seven bushels per acre of potatoes where clover had beei\ sown witli };rain and 
 ploiifihed under, over the j)lot where no clover was frrown. Experiments have shown 
 that the crop of grain is not lessened by sowing clover. 
 
 It will be readily seen that clover and barnyard manure are two very important and 
 cheaj) fertilizers for the jiotato. The former obtains lotrogen from the air and brings 
 up i)hosi)horie a<'id and potash from great depths of the >oil to be available for succeed- 
 ing crops and in adding humus to the soil by its decay it makes the soil hold moi-turo 
 better and renders it looser. Barnyard manure adds nitrogen, phosphoric acid and 
 pota.sh to the soil and increases the s.'nply of humus in it, making the -oil m.ire reten- 
 tive of moisture and looser. 
 
 From the information obtained from experiments at the Central l-lxi crimcntal 
 Farm and else ,\-hen>, the writer would recommend growing potatoes after clover wiiieh 
 had been top dre>sed with from ten to twelve tons of barnyard manure i)er acre. If the 
 clover is ])loughed uider in the autumn, green manure would be the best; if plongin'(l 
 under in the sjiring, which is the better tim(>, rotted manure is preferable, as it will 
 become incorporated with the soil better than green manure and is not so likely to 
 favour develoiiment of scab. The clover may be top dressed with green nianrre in late 
 summer or !;Utumn, even though the clover is not ploughed under until spring, in wliich 
 ease the manure increase's the crop of clover for turning under and is sufliciently broken 
 up and ^ •" • '-ito the surface soil to be in good condition for mLxin^ with it when 
 p!ough( ' ' i succeed well after corn -which has been given a lu'avy application of 
 
 barny."'- It is better to manure heavily for the preceding crop than for the 
 
 lotato T 
 
 PREPAR.\TI<)N 01' THE LAND. 
 
 The soil for potatoes should be well prepared before planting. Unlike some crops 
 which succeed best when the soil is moderately Hrui when ready for seeding the potato 
 succeeds best in soil which is louse. In loose soil the tubers will be smooth and shapelv: 
 in soil which is firm or stitf the potatoes are usually misshapen and not nearly so 
 attractive. The ploughing under of barnyard manure and clover makes the soil loo..,er 
 and this, added to their value in furnishing plant food, makes tlicm particularly 
 desirable. Soils which are very light and loose may be made too loose by the turning 
 mider of manure, especially when it is green and strawy, and while it is not the best 
 practice to plough under green manure immediately before planting, cbpecialiy on 
 light soils, if it is done the soil should be given extra tillage so as to incoriK)rate the 
 manure with it thoroughly and keep the first few inches of soil from drj-ing out and 
 preventing the satisfactory sprouting of the potato sets. 
 
 Spring ploughing for the potato crop is usually best Where rather stiff soil has 
 to be used, fall iiluughing may be preferable as the action of the frost upon it will help 
 
to loosen it. (ioixl potato liuid should ho ploufrhod in the sprinp, turninc under the 
 c-loviT witli its top dr('S;.in>: uf iniunirc. The coil slu uhl hi' plotiKhctl .licp rnoUKh so 
 that the clovor will ho well covered. Ditlereiit niethod.> of preparation w ;11 Im- neces-ary 
 for diirerent kinds of soil, hut the nearer the land i-ai he nnt into a thorounrhly pul- 
 veri/ni eonilition to a depth of ahout si.x inches or inor" hefore i>hintiii;r time the hotter 
 the crop will be. When a planter is used, the soil should he ploughed, thorouirhly 
 harrowed, and then ruiled ju.-^t hefore i)lantin>?. 
 
 When rotted harnyard nianiiri- is used on land -viihout elover it should he applied 
 Ml the sprint: and thoroiijrhly nii.\id with the si.il. If it is well rotteil it may he har- 
 rowed in. Xeither rotted nor fresh manure si I.l he p-.u in the drill with the sets, 
 
 as nuinuro when it eonies in contact with the tiihers favours the development of scab. 
 This WHS well prnven in exiMTinwnIs at the Central KxixTimeiital Farm. 
 
 lI.A.NTINti I'OTATKIS ON (UiKKN SOU. 
 
 If the land has heeii ploughed the potatoes could he planted h,v openinfj holes for 
 the .sets about four or five inchi's tleep and fourteen inches apart, makiiif; he rows 2^ 
 feet ajiart, the numure having been spread ove.- and harrowed in v ith the disc harrow. 
 If the sod has not been ploufrhed one of the hi >t methods of plantiu'.; in fjrei^n sod is to 
 have sona^ one plantin;; when the iilouL'hintr is hcin'r done, the .sets heinpr dropped every 
 third furrow and covered by the plou^li, wlu'n tlu' ue.xt f'lrrow is made. After the 
 IH)tatoes have been jjlanted the ;rround is di-. '.larrowed and if it is li;;ht soil it may ho 
 rnlh d after that to help "lose up any openiiifrs where trrass conhJ }jrow throufrh and to 
 compact the soil somewhat and hasten the rottiufr of the sod. This would not be desir- 
 able where the };round was heavy, as it woidd make it too firm. As soon as weeds start, 
 harrow with the smoothing: harrow and as soon as the jxitatoes are !-howin;r ah vc- the 
 ground harrow afiain. then if thorouj-'h cultivatioh is foll(l^^■ed afterwards and the tops 
 protected from insects and disease, there s^iould be a ffond crop. 
 
 TIMK < r IM.AXTINC. 
 
 The best time for planting' [wtatoes will vary in the different parts of Canada, 
 much deiK-'udiufT on the condition of the ground and spring frosts, but when these have 
 not to he considered the earlie-r the potatoes are planted the larger the crop is likely to 
 he. The sets should not lie lonjr in the ground before sproutiii^i'. as there is danger of 
 rotting, hence they should not he jdanted when the soil is cold and wet. If they are 
 planted too early also the young vines are liable to get nipped b< spring frosts. As 
 tKirly iwtatoes usually eoninumd good priei s it is often wortli taking the risk of frost 
 and planting early if the soil is in goud eonilition. If the vines should ho above ground 
 and there is danger of frost they ni;iy be covered slightly with the soil by turning a 
 shallow furrow over them. Potato growers have saved their vines by doing this. 
 
 IV IMItT'.M E 111- s UliCK AND VITALITY OK SKKD. 
 
 In an experiment carried on at the Central Experinientjil Fanu in 1017 with seed 
 from I'redericton, N.H., Port .\rthnr. Out., and Ottawa, the following yieliLs were 
 obtained: Total yield per acre, Fredericton seed, •'541 bushels; Port Arthur seed. 400 
 bus!>els 24 pounds; Ottawa sei>d, S.') bushels 48 pounds. 
 
 The importance of seed from different sources has been eonfinned by experiments 
 conducted at the Agricultural College. Ouelph, Ontario. 
 
 Just as marked differences were obtained in other years. 
 
Experiment showing Importance of rhnnpe of seed — Taller plants from Indlba itead seed; 
 ■horter plants of the same varieties from Ottawa seed. 
 
 \Vlll:S TO (HANOI: M'.RK. 
 
 When a prrowcr 1ms fuuiid that it pays liiiii to nbtaiii >efd of a certain variety 
 from a ct-rtaiii soiirci' In- ^'.ould ciidi^avnur by e.\|MTiiiu'iit aivd calculation to learn 
 whether it will pay hit i to change his seed every year, every two years, or every three 
 years. 
 
 The cause or causis nf the very low yield- at the K.xperinieiital Farm. Ottawa, 
 durins recent years from seed f^rowii at Ottawa tlu! ]>n'vii)iis year, are not yet dearly 
 uiider-tood. The low yields bej;au in the very dry seasons of 1!>0<J, 1907, and l'.>ii>, 
 nnd there have hiH.'n few trDud years for potatnes -ince, and, since? that time, the 
 disciises such as Leaf Rol' saic and Khizoctonia all have been found atfectin-; the 
 
 |Kitato jdants at Ottawa. ' far tliese are tlie primary causi' of the l.iw yield- and 
 
 liow nnich should he attril ..icd to i-limate, is not yi>t certain, hut tin? fact remjiin ■ 
 that hy trettinff new seed every year from cert:iiii places, pro.MJ yields can he 
 obtained. While such marked results niitrht not l>e ehtainec) elseui.er', as al 
 Ottawa, a ehanfje of seed is ro-omincnded where satisfactory yields are aot bein!; 
 obtained. It has been the writer's oli-ervation that wherever jiotato's frrow vifjoronsly. 
 as a rule, until the tops are cut down by frost in the autunni, there will po<m1 teed 
 potatoes be obtained, pj'ovideil they arc free fnm di>case. Su -ii sources of se<'d 
 potatoes can be found in all the orovinces of Canada and particularly in those parts 
 of the provinces where the days id ni^zhts, during' the }rrowin<r season, are relatively 
 C(Mil, and where there is usualb a trood supply of moi-ture in the s<.il. 
 
 It has been shown hy the expt^riments Ottava that tlu? lu'st results were obtained 
 from the most immature seed, and whil-, doid)tless. there is some other factor or 
 factors than immaturity which ensure such trood results from s<^'d from the cooler 
 parts of Canndii. and which for the present may be called " vitality," it would seem, 
 with our present knowledge, that the best seed will come I'rom those parts of Cainidu 
 
uhcrr, lis a ml... tlio main part of tin- .Top is most iiiiiimtiir.'. th.>ii(fh .,f ^' 1 i.mrkpt- 
 
 al.lr siz.\ when fli,> t..ps an- cut .l.)wn W niifuinii fr.*ts aii.l wh.T.- tli.T.- i^. little or 
 no (liHcnso in the crop. 
 
 IMI'lt.lVKMKNT nV IirT.I, sFI.KCTrON. 
 
 After a variety lias liceri ..riKJnateil, aii.l al'irr its jreneral .•liaracteristies have been 
 sufficiently fixed to intro.lu.-e it, a variety may l.e eliant'.-il, ti. >..tne extent, by careful 
 (■election. This may he iiiulertaketi fur the piirjxwe ,,f ii,crea-<iiw the yield or to obtain 
 1) variety which is ear'i.T .)r Liter, shallower in the eye. .ir of h.'tter shaiH\ Selecti.)n 
 •i.uy also be made to obtain a potato which is more resistant to dismise nn.l <ln ntrht. 
 better in .lunlity. , r with a hI'.'h.T p..rc..nta>re of starch, but while se'.tH-tion is d.^sirable 
 there n. .<ls to be ni ro experimental evidence to show thr.t marked, permanent ebantres 
 in a variet.v can be i.Mde in this way. 
 
 The most iiccun>te way to carry on hill selwtion is by the individual tuber or 
 tuber-unit meth.xl by which the yield from each individual tuber is kept separate. 
 
 A simple method ol' selection, and one which will be found to nhc ^rood results, 
 is to diK enousrh of the (rer.nral cr.)p by hand each vear so that enough seed can bo 
 selected from jrood hills to ffive a suiJcient quantity of seed for the general crop. 
 H.v this method the >H>or hills iiicliidiiiM- potatoi's <,f low vitality and those atfe<'ted 
 with disease are eliminated and the standard raised. This is i)erhaps the best method 
 (if selection for the averape farmer. 
 
 While the methods . f s.-lection described are mainly for tlir purpose of inereasine 
 the yield, it is desirable to sele.^t at the same time for purity, trueness to type, 
 improvement of shape of tuber. r(>sistance to disease, a!id anything else which will 
 improve the value of the crop. 
 
 KIND OK SKTS To PI.WT. 
 
 Many expt-riments have been trie.] to determine the best kind of sots to plant, and. 
 on the whole, it has been found that ix""d marketable tubers cut into pieces so as to 
 have, at least, thre.> Rood eyes to a piece, and a liberal amount of flesh, are the best 
 A medium sized potato shoul.l make tlir.v to four set^, .-uttiiur the iwtato '.-ngthwise 
 and tli.'n across, when four are made. Tlu> less iK.tatoes have sprouted in the dark the 
 berter the seed will be, hence fiey should be kept as aormant as possible by storing 
 i.i a cool place. ' ' ** 
 
 rjXDITION OF SETS WIIKN PLANTED. 
 
 The sooner the sets are planted after the potatoes have been cut the better the 
 yield will be The sooner the sets are covered nfter they have been dropped in the field 
 the larger the yield wiU also be. Coating the sets with land plaster or lime will also 
 materially lucreuse the yield. 
 
 BEST DEPTH Til Pf, 
 
 It is important to know the most economical depth to plant potatoes, as there is no 
 doubt that ditlerent depths of planting will give ditFerent results, but there will not 
 be the same results on all soils. The yield, however, is not the only point to be tik.>n 
 into consideration, the question of labour being impi. tant also. While shallow planting 
 has given the best yields at Ottawa in loose, sandy loam soil, the i.iost economicil depth 
 is from tour to five inches for good loamy soils on account <,f the liarrowiii"- which is 
 necessary to destroy weeds and which would di -r out sets which were planted'^shallower. 
 Sets should be p.anted deeper in soils likely to dry out than in others more retentive of 
 moisture. 
 
From the result!* citai.'id it would M'ctji i\vi\r tli;it wlicrc early p..tafn,> .,rc 
 wanted, the .-ets slwiuld lie |)hiMti(l sliallow in the warm >nil. Althoiinh the U'-t reiull-. 
 have been iihtained in .-andy Inani M.il wliieh was well su|)|>li.d with ni<ii-fure l.y 
 planting only one inch divp, this inetli.,d is uot reeninni. nded l'..r jjeneral tield culture 
 I'nless the surfaee ,,f tl»> soil is kept hiose ai.d free ..m weeds, the [...tat., emp will 
 not be lar^o. In ..rder to kill a lurp- proportion ,,f toe weeds which >.tow. the ground 
 
 tiliould Ix! harrowed once or ♦.wicc before the jwtatocs come up or just as tlipy are n- 
 
 iiisr up, and if the sets wore only one ineh deep they would bo drafrped out. lienee from 
 4 to r. Indies is the most satisfaetorj- depth to plant. 
 
 DISTANIJK AI'.MIT TO PLANi 
 
 It 19 iniportatit to know the most economical <listanco apart lo plant the sots, -o 
 a> to get the larj-M -t jielda with tlie lea.-.t amount of seed. Those varieties wliieh have 
 .small tops may in planted a little ch)ser than tho-e kinds which are more ' iwourous. 
 At the Central K.xiK'riinental Farm an e.xiMriment has been eondu.teil for eijrlit vi-ar- 
 to determine the most economical distance apart in the rows to plant varieties of averane 
 vijfour. After deductiufr the seed the net avera>;(- yiel<l was ^'reatest from the sets 
 planted in rows 2\ feet ai)art. with the sets U iiu'hcs apart in the rows, thonjrh those 
 planted 12 inches apart yielded i rly the Siime. K.viH-rimcnts on branch Farms and 
 .Stations confirm this distance ;, o.iu'.' the best in most places in Canada. Where 
 potatoes are hi'rhly ridged, rows ;i fctt a,,art might be better. 
 
 I'l.ANTrMi AM) I OVKHINO. 
 
 The best method of bringing the land inio good condition baring boon discussed, 
 also the time to plant, kinds of set to use, depth and distane.. apart to plant, it' 
 remains before taking up the question of cultivation to say something about the actual 
 slanting itself. A common method among farmers is to open the furrows, droj) sets 
 by hand and close the furrows with an ordinarj' phiugh. This is not the best way. 
 A better plan is to oi)eu the furrows with the double mould Ixii.rd iilough, making them 
 deep enough, so that when the jKitatoes are covered and the soil Ic'-oHod the t ts will 
 bo from four 'o five inches Ih'Iow the surface. The furrows may a be .-overed with 
 this implement. When covered with either of these ploughs the soi juld be levell; d 
 iifterwards with the smoothing harrow. Some good grow rs use i mplcment with 
 two concave discs for opening and closing the furrows, as. wh se clover is ploughed 
 under, it is sometimes dragged out when the furrows are i ... le with the plough. 
 
 The most satisfactory method of i)latiting. however. ' ■ ,np with a fairly large 
 or large area to cover, is with the potato plan'er, of which tuere are several good ones 
 now on the market. 
 
 The potato planter makes the row, opens the furrows, plants or droiM the sets, 
 covers them and applies commercial fertilizers at the same time if desired. To do' 
 as much by hand would re<iuire a span of horses and a nuin to open the furrows with 
 a plough, three men or boys to plant, and one man to scatter the fertilizer; and a 
 span of horses and a man with a double mould board plough to cover the sets. Then- 
 is a great advantage in using the planter, as there is uo 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 sot, when planting is done with the 
 planter, is brought closer into contact with the soil and prevented from drying out. 
 In a year, when there was a very severe drought, the writer knows of a ease where in 
 a field of potatoes planted with a planter there was practically a perfect stand, while a 
 field of a neighbour just over the fence planted by hand ai; covered with a plough was 
 practically a failure. If the planter is properly watched there will be few, if any, 
 misses from sets not being dropped. In a very drj' time when there is danger of the 
 sets dryin;; out, it is wise lo roll the land before the [xitatoes are up, loosening it again 
 with tlie harrow as soon as there is rain. 
 
TILLAGE. 
 
 A few days after the sets have boon w)V<'re(l by tlio plouf-'b and before the 
 pliwits have been above Kro\nid, but not until tlic wifd seeds have frcrniinated, the soil 
 should be harrowed with the smoothing harrow to level it and to kill the myriads of 
 weeds whieh usually germinate about tliat season of the year. If possible, tlie soil 
 should be harrowed twice before tlie potatoes are far enoufjh up to be injured. If two 
 harrowinfis are driven there should be little trouble from weeds aftervards, and harrow- 
 iiifj is a much more economical way of j^ettiufr rid of them than by hand hoeing:. As 
 soon as the potatoes are far en(iut;h up so that the rows can be readily distintfuisiied, 
 the cultivator should be i)Ut in and tlie soil loosened between the rows to as frreat a 
 deptli as possible the first time and as near the sets as it is safe to no without disturbin}? 
 them, so as to loosen the soil for the tubers. Al' future cultivation sliould be quite 
 shallow to prevent injury to the roots and tubers. The soil should be cultivated every 
 week or ten days, dcoendiufr on the weather, the object hcinjr to keep the surface soil 
 loose until the tops meet well iM'tween the row?.. If tlu- soil liccomes baked evajKiratiou 
 of moisture will be verj- rapid. 
 
 Conservation of moisture is very important in {rrowinjj potatoes and thoroufih 
 cultivation is one of the best ways to retain moisture. Tlie jKitato vines would not 
 siitfer from droujfht, as they often do in the middle of summer, if the soil were pro- 
 jicrly prepared to bcfiin with and well ' iltivatcd during the early part of the season. 
 The vines must be kept frrowi;ifj thriftily from the time they appear above trnnind 
 until autumn if a maximum crop is to Ik? obtained. If jrrowth is cheeked in the 
 middle of summer the crop sutfors and the tubers when tlu'y start to increase in si/e 
 when the rains come are very likely to be<M)mo jnisshaiKMi. A jfood cultivator is very 
 essential in jjrrowinjr potatoes. 
 
 I.KVKI, fl'rsi(.1 HIIXIK II I.TIV.VTIOV. 
 
 Many farmers owln^ to lack of help and sometimes throuph lack of knowledge, 
 pive no further attention to their jiotato crop after the bi-etlcs are killed and when 
 hayint; begins, and as an end to the culture for the season they ridtre up just before 
 haying. There is no doubt some advantajrc in ridfrin^r over Icavinft the soil level when 
 such conditions prevail, as the ridKiiifi will (five the tulicrs loose soil to develop in, 
 while the soil would roon pet hard if left tlat and not cultivated. 
 
 There are districts in Canada when' the climatic I'onilitioiis in suinmer are not 
 very unlike those in (Ircat Britain. In such districts ridfriiitr will iirobahly as a rule 
 yive better results than level culture. Tlicrc are, however, larj^e areas wher(> droufjhts 
 are liable to occur and where conservation of moisture is a very iniiHtrtant fai'tor in 
 obtainiii)!; a piod crop. In such districts the iM'st results will jirobably, as a rule, he 
 obtained if thoroufrh and deep workiufj of the .soil l)e frivcu and by adoptinjj level cul- 
 ture. The reason is easily apparent. The evaporation of moisture is not as trreut froi: 
 level soil as from soil in ridnes. Few experiments .seem to have been tried for comiiar- 
 ing level with ridfic ciilf ivatioii, but in the drier parts level culture has, as a rule, given 
 the better results. It should 1)(> ch'arly understood, liowever, that unless the soil is well 
 worked the lietier isniditions of the soil for the tlevclopineiit nf tubers when it is 
 ridged will offset the advantage of retaining more mi>isture by level cultivation. 
 
 It would he advisable for each farmer to try for liinisclf whether level or ridge 
 cultivation gives the lx.4t<?r results under the conditions on his farm. 
 
 SEMiol TIMl 
 
 ItKKOliK IMANTINi; FOIt KMil.lNKSS AM) l\( HKASKI) YIKI.n. 
 
 Where there is a domatid for early potatoes it is important for the potato grower 
 to know how he can hasten the (levelopment of the tubers, as the s<ioiier tlii< potatoes are 
 on the market in good condition the mon- money he will make out of them as a rule. 
 The method usually adopt<Ml by the best growers is to use an extra early \ariet.v and 
 
"sprout" tbo potatoes before plantitiR. Medium-sizcnl tuljcrs arc sclcotpJ l)eforo thoy 
 have begun to sprout and placed in single layers in shallow boxes or trays with the 
 seed end up. The boxes are then put in a brijiht, airy, cdoI i)lac'c, where the tempera- 
 ture is low enou>;h to prevent sproutiiifr. After a few days the jwtatoes will turn 
 KrtN>n and the skin beeoines nuieh toucher than before the ixitatnes were exposed. Th(( 
 l)otatoes are now ftiven a little more hi>at. but still kept in a l)ri^'ht. airy i)lace. From 
 the seed end will now develop two or tiiree stronp sprouts and the ()l)ject of exiMJtiiiifr 
 the i)otatoes at first to touphen the skm is now apparent, for most of the eyes do not, 
 start and prartieally the wliolo strength of the iX)tato is ('(incentrated in a few spmut^ 
 at the end. Tliis is what is desired, as tlie fewer sprouts there are the larger i)ropor 
 tion of marketable potatoes there will be. If the potatoes an^ given plenty of light 
 and the plae*! where they ar<> kept fairly cool, the sprouts will become! very stur(l,v 
 and strongly attached to thi- tuber and will not be broken off in handling unless very 
 careles.sly used. Tubers will develo]) more ([uickly from si>roiits made slowly in a 
 bright, cool, place than from .sprouts wbicb hav(^ grown rapidly in a dark place, ami 
 furthermore, the yields will be much heavier. Potato(>s whieli r-prout in the dark are. 
 moreover, very difficult Ut handle, as the sjirouts break off very easily. It is not abso- 
 lutely necessary- to place the potatoes with tlie seed ends up as very satisfactory results 
 are obtaiu'cd when i)otatoes are emptied indiscriminately into sliallow lH)Xes or trays 
 and then treated as already descrilxHl. The sprovits shouhl be al)out tw.) inches in 
 b'ligth at time of planting. If longer the sets are more difficult to Imndle. 
 
 The warmest an<l Iwst drained soil that can be obtained should be used for extra 
 early potatoes and thi' -els shoultl Ik- planted shallow so that tliey will get th<^ advan- 
 tage of the heat from the surface soil. The potatoes are planted whob-, as they do not 
 rot as readily as cut jiieees, and the sjirouts also have more to draw on. TIh' sprouts 
 arc, of course, left uppermost when tU)' j)otato is ])lanteil. As nin>t cxtr:. early varie- 
 ties have small tops the sets may, as a rule, be j)lanted a little <'loser than for the main 
 crop. 
 
 PKOTIX'TlXd POTATOKS lUOM l.NMl'RIOrS JXSKCTS .\Ni) IT.VCOrs 
 
 i)i.si;.\sF.s. 
 
 The leaves of the iwtato vine must be kept intact and in a thrifty condition if a 
 maximum crop is to be obtained, and both insects and (!isea>e> -hould and can he 
 fought and comiuered if the well-known and thonjughly tested preventativis and 
 remedies are used. 
 
 ^~praying tor the Colorado potato beetle should not he delayed initil the vines are 
 h.ioiv i.'ijuretl. 'Ut preparation should he made to r-i)ray a> soon as the lai'va^ or young 
 hn;:.- hatch. In about a week after the eggs are laid the young bi'etles or larva' ajipear 
 ani! begin to devour the foliage with a rapidity which is only too well known. The 
 la,-t l)rood of larva', which di>appear into the soil before severe t'ro-l, pupate there, 
 •.■cmaining in the gnnnul in the form of iiertVet insect- until the following -iiring. 
 Fortunately, there are good n niedles for this insect in Paris green, arsenate .it' 1. ;h1. 
 iind other insecticides. The importanci' of preserving the foliage as nearly iiit ict a> 
 Iiossible has already been impressed (Ui our readers. It is well known that the lo>s in a 
 crop where the vines have been allowed to be devoured by potato bi'cl'es is enormous, 
 the crop sometimes being scarcely worth digging. The longer the sprayinj? is delayed 
 ♦'■,;' greater loss there will he. If cheap help can be obtained it will be advisable to spray 
 the vines wh'U they are quite small, or pick oti the old beetle^ before they have deposited 
 their eggs, but if help is scarce it may not he [lossihle to do this, and the temiitation to 
 leave the ohl "bugs" alone is great, as they do little iniury to the foliage. I'ntor- 
 tunately, on perhaps the majority of farms, nothing is done to destroy tlie potato 
 
10 
 
 Livtles until the foliage is noticed partly eaten. This i. too late. Bv the time the 
 ]. isou takes effect the vines are badly injured and the future croi) niueh lessened 
 
 1 otatu growers should not wait until the vines are injured, but should be on tiie 
 lookout tor the young "bugs," and as s,.on as they appear an application of some goo.l 
 insecticide should be made. As the ejrgs are not all laid at the same time, the larvie 
 do not hatch all at the sa.ne time, an.l it is usually in.cessary to spray several times 
 before they are all killed. As it is important to kill the beetles us soon as possible an 
 insycticido which will act quickly is desirable, and also one that will adhere to 'the 
 toliane. 1 aris green and arsenate of lead are two of tiio best iM.isons to use. Paris 
 frreen should be applied in the proportion of ,S ounces or more Paris green to 40 gallons 
 ..f water, with about 4 ounces of lime to neutralize the effect of free arsenic on the 
 t,.hMge. iour ounces of Paris green to 40 gallons of water will kill the insects but 
 .lues not act as quickly as eight ounces. If aju-licd dry, a good pn.i.ortina is 1 po„„d 
 f aris green to 50 pounds slaked lime, land plaster or any perfectly dry powder The 
 dry mixture should be applied when tiie vines are wet, so that it will adhere better 
 i here are strong advocates for both the wet and the dry mixtures. Wet mixtures may 
 be put on at any tune when the weather is fine, but if the best results are to be obtained 
 dry mixtures should be applied only vhcu the dew is on the foliage. If the dry mix 
 tnre is put on when the foliage is moist it will adhere better than the wet mixture and 
 w>l also be more evenly distributed. Arsenate of leadpaste used in the pro,,<,rtion of two 
 to three pounds to forty gallons of water, or powdered arsenate of lead at the rate of 
 1 to 1^ pounds adheres better to the foliage than Paris green, and is a good poison to 
 use. it does not appear to kill quite so rapidly as Paris green, and a mixture is recom- 
 nunded ot ,S ounces I'aris green and U pounds of paste arsenate of lead to 40 -allons 
 of water. Bug Death dry and also in the proportion of 1 pound to 2 gallons of 
 water, lias been found a good msceti.'ide, but is more expeik-ive than Paris gr«-ii 
 
 The cucumber flea-beetle fre(iuently does much harm to the potato crop, and being 
 so small, is often not seen, but the results of its depredations will be found m tlie 
 many small holes which may be noticed in the leaves and in the lessening of the croo 
 on this account. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture and arsenate of l,.ad will control 
 
 . \\ '^1'71"1 that the parts of the leaves which are injured by the flea-beetle make 
 suitable lodging places and points for germination of the spores of the early and 
 pos-ibly, late bliglit. W.- believe that keeping vines covered with Bordeaux niixtnre 
 and 1 ans green is the best preventative in this case. 
 
 THli K.Mil.V ItMGIIT OK I.KAF .SPOT DISEAsK .\M) TIIK LATE ttlAC.ln OR HOT. 
 
 Although much of ihe premature killing of potato vines is due to the eirly 
 blight, which is fr.quently mistaken for the late blight, the latter in l,y far the n'lore 
 seno'is d.^ease, as it spreads with much greater r.ipi.lity and in addition to the killin.' 
 (it the 'ops causes the rotting of the tubers. ^ 
 
 Tlie late hliuht usually a,,pears b.-tween the middle of Julv and the first f 
 Augu.t. t!H,n,h sometimes earlier or later, dependin.^ on the season an.l part of 
 Canada. The strong and disagreeable odour from a potato field where the late blight 
 Y at work ,s famihar to all. and although it is too late to get the best results after H^ 
 .!,se:,se has begun to spread rapidly, it may sometimes bo che<.ked bv thoroimh <vvJZ 
 at that time. The loss from blight is usually greatest fnm, the main CTop or h e 
 varieties as the early potatoes are usually well advanced before the con.liHon, a e 
 the most favourable for the rapid d.-velopment of the disease. The weMth, r vl. '^ 
 ap,>ears to favour the spread of the late blight, is what is usually known a ' 'mu . 1 ' 
 or dose 'lays with nuuh moisture in the air Wiif, fl,., > !••• "''i-'-.^' 
 
 spores germinate, and the disease spreads thro:^! tl!l tt H^ Sr '^ allJ'T" ^ "' 
 them with great rapi.lity. The ohj... of spraying is to prote. t the h ly" vll'h T 
 Bordeaux mixture so that if the spon-s germinate they are kille<l by it 
 
11 
 
 Potatoes sprayed to prevent late blight. Unsprayed potatoes. 
 
 In a thre(>-,voiir cxiKTiinciit coiidiiftcd nt the C'e!itr;il Kxperinicuuil Furni in 
 controlling late bliplit tlii>ro wns nn nvcrafro (lifforoiico of iU bushels per acre of 
 marketable potatoes in favour of the sprayed. Tiie inii)ortaii<-e of keepinjr the plants 
 growing and the tops uiiinjuriHl hy insects and disease was well brouifht out in an 
 experiment in Vermont where it was shown th:it there was an increase nf ]19 busliels 
 per aere durinp the month of September when the tops remained preen and unin- 
 jured. 
 
 The cost of spraying' with Bordeaux mixture is not large compared with the frrcat 
 averatre increase in yield and value of the crop from the use of it. Some years the 
 results may not be marked but it is the ..verajre results which should be considered. 
 A good spraying mm'hine is imiiortant. 
 
 KOII.Ml I.AK »K( OM.MKNT)KI). 
 
 Bordeaux mutuir. — Vor Early and Late Rlifrlit and for Flea Beetles: — 
 
 Copper sulphate (bhiestone") 4 to (i pounds. 
 
 I'nslaked lime 4 
 
 Water (1 barrel) 40 frallon.-. 
 
 Dissolve the copi)er sulphate by suspendiiijr it in a wooden nr earthen vess<'l 
 eontainiufi four or nicire jiallons <>{ water. It will dissolve ludre (juickly in warm 
 water than in cold. Slake tiie lime in another vessel. If the lime, when slaked, is 
 lumpy or granular, it should be strained throiifrh c.iarse sackin;;- or a fine sieve. Pour 
 the eoi)per sulphate solution into a barrel, or it may be dissolved in this in the tiist 
 pUuH'; half till the barrel with water, add the slaked lime, til! the barrel with water 
 and stir thoroughly. It is then ready for use. It is important not to mix the lime 
 water and the sulphate of copper solution before dilutinj:. 
 
 A stock solution of copper sulphate and lime wash may l)e prei)ared and kept in 
 separate covereil barrels thmui-hout the sprayinsr season. The ([uantities of i upper 
 (■ulphate, lime and water should bo curefuUv noted. 
 
12 
 
 DIGGING POTATOES. 
 
 If potatoes have not been aflFocted wi Ji late bliplit or rot the best time to dig them 
 is as soon as the tops have died, if the weather is favourable. Potatoes are usually dug 
 jii-t after the corn is harvested or before the frost becomes severe enough to freeze the 
 toil to a depth of an inch or so. This time of digging is usually chosen as a matter of 
 convenience and quite irrespective of when the stalks die, as the latter dry up in many 
 places about September 1, and often before, and the i)otatoes are fre<iuently not dug 
 until about a month afterwards. When the soil is vdl drained and not wet there is 
 not much danger to the crop by leaving ''t in the ground for this length of time, but if 
 there is no disease the sooner they are dug the better. 
 
 Potatoes v.nieh have bwn killed by late blight will usually rot as soon as the condi- 
 tions are favourable, and for this reason a diseased crop is better left in the ground, as 
 the tubers which are discasini 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 almost certain to 
 develop in the pit or cellar and healthy tubers will rot from contact with the diseased 
 ones. It is not good practice to dig diseased potatoes early and pile them in tb field. 
 It is better to delay diggins,' as long as possible and then put the potatoes in a cool, well 
 ventilated cellar where the disease may be checked. Potatoes in wet soil should be dug 
 sooner than those in that which is drier and well drained. 
 
 Potatoes should ht' dug in dry weather so that when they are taken to the cellar or 
 store-room they will bo pi^rfectly dry. If the tubers are housed when wet the condi- 
 tions becom(> very favounible for the jr^velopniont of the disease which may airccl them 
 and for tlie rotting of the healthy potatoes from contact '.vith those thus affected. 
 
 Where there are large areas to be dug a good potato digger is essential. Not only 
 will a potato digger raise the crop more economically than a fork or plough but with 
 it the grower is more likely to get his crop dug and picked up while the weather is 
 fine, which is a great considc^ratimi. Tlicre are a number of good potato diggers now 
 on the market whi<'h will dig up and leave on the surface of the soil practically all the 
 tubers. 
 
 Potato Uiuulr. 
 
13 
 
 STORIX(l I'OTATORS. 
 
 «;o>id.t<nu in which th.. „otato..,s woul.i k«M, and 1, n.^ ^ f ^ i •'' *'"" '"'""'■ 
 
 t.om tlioni. If it is „„t .■„n.i,l,.r..,l It •>"«'"•"■ «'"' ""'r.' pr..ht th, re u„,il.l 1„. 
 .-.I- to have as irood a .^l^^ia i f . It'^.r; ^ :: -'-- 'jv-X ^"fort .i,..uhl he 
 th,. potatoes a^^unst the wall or on the tl, , 1 t , i," 1 ' i' l-T"^ "' "'''"''' 
 
 six inches or nu.re from the wall Tim '.';' " "'"'"''•• " ''«tl- apart ahont 
 
 A temporary floor should le pu dow, ,1, , • " "/■""■''"'""; "* '"■" '"''''"•' »'"■ I'*'^'- 
 eraeks hetw vn tlu- ho . K T i w '""^:'-\ ""'"-/'•"'/" tl.o Permanent <lo,.r with 
 
 pile. Then if the ph: v.. ^ 'he ,:';';'; - z ""■""'"'■ "'t' "'"' ^''^'■"-'' «'- 
 
 of slats and running, Crom the t.,n to t e ?. '"'^-'\ r'"":T ventilators of wood n.ade 
 there thro„..h t!.,. ^uJ Tl !e th t v .-Tr a- ""."""^'' '"' ""* '" '"^••- '""l 
 
 ^vill keep the p.^tatoes' in L eh ' , 1 ^'-"l.' i'^'"" •'•"•"■:1:-I ^'t the shh. an.l holtom 
 Another p,cd plan is to LTtt ,^ """""" ''"'" '* V'"-^' "■'■'■'' "' " «""'' I'"-- 
 to^^ether to prevent tie pot ,tVJ- 1 " >» ^^--n:,. erat.. n,ade with slats close enou^d. 
 wonld assist er 1 i,r:^^;':^';;:f ""*: "'•; -'.._il:|tion hctween these cra;;.s 
 "f potatoes are h.st ever ve r' w ,w h r " V '"""' '"","'''"'"• T'""— 'J^ -f L-hels 
 tion. The temperature „t he 1 • r '^'''"^'^^",'" ,'"; ''■■,""• ^"' '"^''^"ti'^'r v-ntila- 
 F. as possihl... The ,., ,ler it, or 1 '"T^':T" -';""'' '«' '^"P» "^ ""'^rlv :!.r to 35" 
 
 Loeu stated how nu.ch he' -;;;;:''!: .";'"* ''^t-V^'' •"•""'•• ^^ '--^ "^--iv 
 
 tl...,v are also nnu.h injur t f, r 'tiL f "" I T' '^ '"""""' ''^- ^"^'""i"^'- '»" 
 the spring there will e , H 1 1 ?';"■'.'";■'■>•• 'f the ,..tatoes are luOd over to sell in 
 
 .'Prinff when it is difficult to keonnXoTr .'!^' ''""U'"' '"*" *'"' '■''"'"• f""'"-''^ 
 
 * """ - "■■■ ^'^:^i^'.s^:s^j'^-^zS^'i!X' "■ 
 
 STOI.1X.: POTMOKS o.TSinK IN ,oU. CMMATKS; MMiKKTINC 
 
 lined with hoardJ o tn^ , ,r tm filii, ''t' "l"' r"'^ "' ''"" *'"'" ""'^ '' 
 
 is put on t..p of the p,^,toes W 7 ! . ' ' "-" "■" '*■■""■ "'' ™'''»^1' ^^hatever 
 
 «ho.dd he h^ a sii^iit r::io,;a;i:er;;t :::;; ^'^'^'^'^ '""- --^•- ^'"■■- 
 the.n^oi: J'ti!::^!;/';::::;:;;!:-;,:;:,,!:!:'-;::; ^'r';- •;; => 'i-ie ha. thrown over 
 
 son.e of the loose earth win,! : d " u ,.f ^i^ i^:;; tfi T " T" T'''"'"' "'"' 
 ahout 1 foot deep of c.u-th and <o. s An, Ir '"'' /''"V;""'' "7''^'" '"'^^ '" ""<l<e 
 
 will hesnfficientdurin.Mlu/ ie Vint 'tL :l?^^^ "■'?;''• 'T '""'' """""•'" 
 will keep tlie ten.perature furlv eve , T. \'«;,".'"".''"' '-7"""<1 heat from the hotton, 
 
 tors eai about 4 x U i:,;:^^ f 1^ Hs" , o^^lcf '^ ^''"y'^' '"'.^"T '''"'- 
 The... should he put in when roo,i„;. Tl e. • ci .' , 't',;; T'"' ""r/" "": ' "■"• 
 
 directly un.ler the end ventilato'rs .:7.t^:/::;.^^::: ;f:'^^'^,r' """T 
 potato, to rot. A thermometer can he let dov^n an^ tlL;": tLt t,:: ^;;;::ir:' t 
 
14 
 
 a pit of tliis kind tlic tcnipi'rature should not K'> luuch liolow 40° F. Tt is iidvisaldo to 
 liave a small sjiacc at oiio I'lid to <;ct to the ix)tat(>os in the ^| riii<r. This should he 
 sunk as deep as tlio pit and roofed over ns the pit. and can he kipt, filled with manure 
 or old liMirs durinfj the winter to prevent frost pettin}; in. 
 
 An inexpensive outside root eellar used at the Kosthcrii Kxperimental Station is 
 described, and plans are illustrated, in Exhibition Circular Xo. 71 of tho Exporim«Mital 
 Farm Series. 
 
 There is usually more profit, taking one year with another, iii selling potatoes as 
 ■ on after di^'ninjr time as i)ossil)le. While occasionally when rot has been bad and 
 the ero" short throtifrhout the country and one happens to have perfectly sound tubers 
 it may pay to hold them over, yet on the whole It is wiser f(jr the firower to «ell at a 
 lair price in the autumn as he thus avoids all the anxiety rejiardins tho k..-epinfr of 
 the crop and does not take any risk from probable losses. 
 
 IIlKKiATIOX OF POTATOES. 
 Bv W. 11. F.MiiFiKi.'D, M.S., Huprriiiti'iidfiit, Kj-peiimentul ,'<lal{on, Lr'hhrld.je, Alta. 
 
 There is an impression mure or los jr.ueral that potatoes grown witli irrigation 
 are apt to lack in (luality; that when cooked tiiey are inclined to be soggy or watery 
 and Ic.-,;, mealy and dry than are ixjtatoes raised without the aid of irrigation. That 
 there are grounds for this belief caimot be denied, for, if the crop is irrigated in a care- 
 less manner and too much water is applied, the resulting crop is almost sure to be ixior 
 in quality, as just ixjinted out. However, by using reasonable care and iiitelligence, 
 this trouble may be easily avoided. To begin with, the land should Ih' in good tilth. 
 There is pn.Sably no better preparation than to summer-fallow the land tho season pre- 
 vious to when the potatoes are to be planted. If an application of manure could be 
 given before the land is ploughed for the summer-fallow, so that it would have a chance 
 to rot during the summer, the yield of the following (•n)p would be materially increased. 
 Another (piite satisfactory method is to manure the land in the spring and then raise a 
 grain crop to be cut for green feed. This will leave the land relatively clean for the 
 potatoes. As soon us a farmer on an irrigated farm has enough alfalfa seeded down so 
 that he can afford to break up a tV)ur or tive-year-old field to plant his potatoes on, ho 
 will have a field that will be certain to give large returns. 
 
 As indicated above, to avoid the iwssibility of producing p)tatoes of poor quality, 
 cure must be exercised as to whon a: J how the crop is irrigated. It pr. bly raiuires 
 more skill and experience to raise potato.^ successfully under irrigation tiian any other 
 crop commonly grown here at the present time. The secret appears to lie in being able 
 to keep the plants growing vigourously from the beginning with no set-backs, and on 
 the other hand in being able to apply the water so that too sudden growth will not bo 
 induced at any time. If ix)ssible, the first irrigation sh(juld not only bo very light, 
 but it should not be given until the small potatoes are set and are i)orhaps the' size of 
 peas. This stage is usually about the time the first blooms appear. If the croj) is wet 
 before this time there is danger of the plants setting more jwtatoes than they will ho 
 able to develop to a marketable size. To be sure that the potatoes are not wet too nmch 
 when the first irrigation is given, it is well to run the water between every alternate 
 row only and turn it off just as soon as it gets through so as not to let the ground soak 
 ui) any more ihan is necessary. As soon as the ground dries sufficiently, the land should 
 bi' given a shallow cultivation. About ten days after the first irrigation, the se<-ond 
 should be given. This time, the water mny be run down between all the rows and should 
 be allowed to remain running until tho land is well wet. After irrigation has once 
 begurj, the land should never be allowed to dry out completely. Unless heavy showers 
 
16 
 
 intervene, it will lie found uecessiiry, in (irder to nmintain this condition, to irrigate 
 about every ten days. After each irrigation, as soon as the surface of the soil dries 
 sufficiently, it should he given a shallow cultivation. If. for any reason, after irritratlon 
 has once begun, the lat\d is allowed to become relatively dry, the iK)tatocs should not 
 again be irrigated, for, if they are, a second growth is almost certain to be induced, 
 and this will injure the quality, for the main cause of soggy iwtatoes being produced 
 when grow^n under irrigation is from allowing the land to become somewhat dry so that 
 the growth is checked and then applying and inducing a fri>sh growth of roots and tops. 
 
 COST OF fiROWI.VC POTATOES. 
 
 The cost of growing jwtatoes varies in different parts of Canada. Labour is 
 more exjwnsive in some provinces tlian in others. In certain jiarts of Canada there 
 are no Colorado potato beetles to contend with and rarely any serious injury from late 
 blight, making spraying not so important a part of the operations. In IDl.") the cost 
 of growuig iwtatoes was recorded at wveral of the Experimental Farms and Stations 
 and the details ^verc published in th(> annual rci>ort for T.»lt; and will be found in the 
 complete edition of this bulletin which will be sent to anyone who desires it. The cost 
 of growing and marketing a .'500-bushel i>er acre crop in thi> province of Ontario was 
 estimated at $S0.."(8 per acre, to which should be added $*'.0 for the year 1017 on 
 account of the high cost of seed. 
 
 VARIETIES KKCOM MENDED. 
 
 Experimental Farm, Ottjwa, Ontario.^ 
 
 Varieties recommended. — Early: Irish Cobbler (Eureka Extra Early) and Early 
 Ohio for mark<'t gardeners where extreme carliness is desired. Main crop: Creen 
 Mountain, (including Gold Coin, Carman No. 1, and Wee MacGregor, which are 
 very similar to it), and Empire State. 
 
 Experimental i<l(ilion, Charlottetown, F.E.I. 
 
 Varieties recommended. — Early: Early Rose, Irish Cobbler. Main crop: Green 
 Mountiiin, Table Talk, Melntyre. For Bennuda trade: Garnet Chili, and Bliss 
 Triumph. 
 
 Experimental Farm, Xappan, X S 
 
 Varieties recommended. — Early: Irish Cobbler Vick Extra Early. Main cop: 
 Green Mountain, Wee MacGregor, Rawlings Kidney. Carman No. 1. 
 
 Experimenfat Station Kentville, X.S. 
 
 Varieties reeomniended. — Early: Irish Cobbler. Main cro)i: Green Mountain. 
 Delaware. 
 
 Experimental Station, Fredericton, X.II. 
 
 Varieties recommended. — Early: Irish Cobbler. Main crop: (irecn .Mountain. 
 
 Experimental Stitio'n, Ste. Anne de la PoeatU're, Que. 
 
 Varieties reeommended. — Early: Irish Cobbler, Vick Extra Early. Main crop: 
 Green Mountain. 
 
 Experimental Station, Cap Rouge, Que. 
 
 Varieties recommended. — Early: Irish Cobbler. Main crop: Table Talk, Carman 
 No. 3, Gold Coin, Davies Warrior. 
 
16 
 
 F.riirrtniriital Slnlioii, Lenuoxvilh, Que. 
 
 V;iri('fii.s rcc(.ninifii(liil. — P-arly: Irish Cubblor. Main <Top: Oroen Mountain. 
 
 K.rpirimciilal Slalion, Mordin, Man. 
 
 Varii'ties n'*x)niiiuii<lv(l. Knrb': Sci- I!riiii<l(iii 'ist; Kiiil,\ Oli' is jxiijular in tlw 
 (li-ti'ict. Too soon .vi't tci ri'i-diiminul niy tnnii ix|M'riiM<'<- iit liii- Station. Main crop; 
 
 liraiiilou list. 
 
 l-LipiiuiK iilnl Fitrin. lliini(liiii, M<i 
 
 \'arietifs rocomnu'iidi-'il. — Early: Uuvcc, Hamilton Karly, Karly White I'rizo. 
 Main rrop: Kini>irc Stato, \\\-r Mac' lrii;or. Ilawlinfis Kitlncy. 
 
 Kxinriininlnl l''iirm. Indutn Iliad, Siish. 
 
 arnUes rt'coninnii 
 
 Icl.— Ivriy: Karlv Ol 
 
 Kxtra I'aiily, Irish (' 
 
 Main cruii: Wee Mac( ircLrur, (lolil tUiii, (annan Xo. 1. 
 
 ariftU'S rcToniniciK 
 
 \tiis Kiduiy, Dnir Slaiulard. 
 
 ilicriminlnl Shilioii, Hoslhi'ni. .'"■Vj.s/.-. 
 
 led.— Woe .Ma<-(;rtr'ir, Irish CobhliT, Everitt, Early Ohio, 
 
 /;. 
 
 r lie run I 'II 
 
 till Slatioii, Siutl, Sa.sli. 
 
 inclRs n ciiiiinic'iu 
 
 led. — Early: {".veritt. Main crop: Wee MacCircnor. 
 
 K.ipirtiarnlal Staliun, Litlibildijr, AUa. 
 
 Variilius rtcimuncndi'd. — Early: lri>h CohbliT, Vick Extra Early, Rochester Rose, 
 Reeves Rose. ^lain crop: tiold Coin, Wee .Maedrejior, TabU' Talk, E^nipire State. 
 Irish Cobbler makes botii a j^ood early an<l a jrood main erop potato in phu'es where- the 
 
 It. as it yi(!lds will and rii)ons well, ensuring good 
 
 soil is rieh and the season 
 <iuality. 
 
 ExiH'iiinvnlal Slation, Lacombr, Alta. 
 
 Varieties rei'onnneiuled. — Early: Irisii Cobbler, lloulton Rose, Early Xorther. 
 j\[ain erop: Table Talk, Enii)ire State. Wee ALudreiror. I''.pieure. 
 
 Ejiirriiiiriital t<tation, Jnicnnirc 
 
 B.C. 
 
 irieties r(H-onini(>n( 
 
 led. — Early: Iri>h Cobbler, Eureka Extra Early. Mai 
 
 n erop: 
 
 AVee Mae(!regor. Late I'uritan, Clyd(>. American Wonder, Table Talk. CoiKjiiering 
 
 III 
 
 A e^in'cially gnod <iuality. 
 
 iliil tihitwn, Sinnmi ilunil, Ji.C. 
 
 arietie> reeommen 
 
 ded. — Net >uffii 
 
 e.-peeial!y. 
 
 ..ijiiriini'ii 
 
 cu-nt experience yet to reeomnu'nd any varieties 
 
 till Fiinii. Ai/O-ysi:, Ji.C 
 
 aru'tii,: reconinaiii 
 
 le<l. — Early: Irish Cebbb-r, Early liose, lloche>ter Rose, Early 
 (loUl C^iin, P-rer Standard. Junpire State, Anierii-an Wonder, 
 Carman N'o. 1. The variety called Sutton Reliance is nmch grown on the lower 
 
 Hero. M 
 
 un crop 
 
 iidand of British Cohiii: 
 
 ,.rfh'ninvii 
 
 till Sl:lioii, .^'i(//e'/^ Vaticoiirrr Inland, B.C. 
 
 arn'-ies recomniem 
 
 led. — Early: Iri^h C()l)l)ler, Eureka Extr;: Early. Mai 
 
 n erop: 
 
 Factor, Table Talk, Million Dollar, and Xetted flem. \'anetie.s most popular 
 
 Vant 
 
 ■r Inland: Sir Walter Ralei-h, Million Dollar, Cp-to-Date, Xetted Gem, and 
 
 Eureka Eiitra Early.