The 100USD Prize Essay on the Cultivation of the Potato Part 5

We would call attention to the report of a series of experiments which have been made on the farms connected with the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania.

There are very many questions connected with the cultivation of the potato which can be answered satisfactorily only by careful and repeated experiments.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Excelsior.]

Seedling of Early Goodrich, now six years old, and is claimed to combine more good qualities than any other potato. D. S. Heffron, of Utica, originated it. Is said to be productive, early, and of good keeping qualities.

Ma.s.sASOIT.--A new variety from Western Ma.s.sachusetts, resembling the Harrison in appearance, but earlier and of much better quality; flesh white, cooks dry and mealy, and altogether a superior variety; strongly recommended for a general crop. (See next page.)

BELLEFONTE, February 12, 1870.

REV. W. T. WYLIE:

DEAR SIR: I inclose an extract from the report, suitable, I think, for the pamphlet.

H. N. MCALLISTER.

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

From an interesting and instructive report of the Professor of Agriculture to the Board of Trustees of the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania, for 1869, in relation to the results of experiments made upon the three several experimental farms connected with that inst.i.tution, we make the following extracts touching the Potato, verifying and ill.u.s.trating some of the principles set forth in the above essay:

_1st.--Varieties._

Of upward of thirty different varieties experimented upon, the Early Goodrich, Early Rose, and Harrison are among the best and most prolific.

LIKE WEIGHTS OF SEED UPON EQUAL AREAS OF GROUND.

_2d.--Different Modes of Preparing the Seed._

CENTRAL FARM.--One fourth of Plot No. 11--Early Goodrich--_cut tubers_, yields 500 pounds, equal to 286 bushels per acre; _large and whole tubers_, yields 410 pounds, equal to 234 bushels per acre; _medium-sized tubers_, yields 419 pounds, equal to 239 bushels per acre; and _small tubers_, yields 486 pounds, equal to 278 bushels per acre.

_3d.--Combined Diversity between Soil and Sub-soil and Common Plowing._

CENTRAL FARM.--The 4 plots, Nos. 11, 16, 116, and 416--_soil and subsoil plowing_--yields 6200 pounds, equal to 221 bushels per acre; the 2 plots, Nos. 216 and 316--_common plowing_--yields 1845 pounds, equal to but 131 bushels per acre.

_4th.--Diversity between Letting all Sprouts Grow and Thinning to Three in each Hill._.

EASTERN FARM.--Plot No. 208: Monitors; large and whole tubers, 21-1/2 pounds; _not thinned_; Moro Philips's superphosphate; yield 1174 pounds, equal to 168 bushels per acre.

Plot No. 209: Monitors; large and whole tubers, 23 pounds; _thinned_; Moro Philips's superphosphate; yield 1042 pounds, equal to 149 bushels per acre.

Plot No. 210: Monitors; large and whole tubers, 15 pounds; _not thinned_; stable manure; yield 860 pounds, equal to 124 bushels per acre.

Plot No. 211: Monitors; large and whole tubers, 14-1/2 pounds; _thinned_; stable manure; yield 839 pounds, equal to 119 bushels per acre.

_5th.--Diversity from Time of Cutting the Seed-Potatoes._.

Plot No. 222: Monitors; _cut two weeks before planting_; yield 580 pounds, equal to 83 bushels per acre.

Plot 223: Monitors; _cut at time of planting_; yield 819 pounds, equal to 117 bushels per acre.

Plot 220: Early Shaw; _cut two weeks before planting_; yield 764 pounds, equal to 100 bushels per acre.

Plot 221: Early Shaw; _cut at time of planting_; yield 907 pounds, equal to 129 bushels per acre.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ma.s.sasoit.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Bresee's Peerless, or No. 6.

The latest and best of all Mr. Bresee's seedlings for the main crop.

This is also a seedling of the Garnet Chili, and originated from the same seed-ball as the Early Rose; skin dull white, occasionally russeted; eyes shallow, oblong; flesh white, mealy; grows to a large size, often weighing from one and a half to two pounds, and enormously productive. At a trial before a committee of the Ma.s.sachusetts Horticultural Society, in September last, this variety obtained more votes as to quality than any other of Bresee's seedlings.

TABLE OF EXPERIMENTS.

TRY IT AND REPORT RESULTS.

lbs.

Two pounds large-sized potatoes, planted whole 00 " " " " cut into quarters 00 " " " " cut to single eyes 00 " " " " cut to single eyes and planted four in a hill 00 " " " " planted in drills, fifteen inches between the sets, 00 Two pounds small potatoes, planted whole 00 " " " cut in two pieces 00 Two pounds cut to single eye, and worked in ridges 00 " " " the surface kept flat 00

To these add such other experiments as may be interesting to you.

_Weigh_ the product of each carefully, and report _weight_, _average_, _size_ of each lot, and _quality_.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_Brezee's King of the Earlies._

Raised, in 1862, by Albert Brezee, of Hubbardton, Vt., from a ball of the Garnet Chili. Vines of medium height, or a little less, and bearing no b.a.l.l.s; leaves large; tubers large and handsome, roundish and slightly flattened; eyes small, and somewhat pinkish; skin flesh-colored, or dull pinkish white; flesh white, cooks well, and is of the best quality for the table. Has proven thus far very hardy. The variety will not be sent out until the spring of 1870.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE EARLY MOHAWK POTATO.

Originated in Michigan, in 1866, from a cross of the Peachblow and Brick Eye. It is of oblong, roundish shape, flattened at the ends. Skin light pink, with pink blush near the eye. Eyes slightly sunken, flesh white, cooks dry and mealy, and of superior flavor. Ripens from six to ten days earlier than the Rose, of uniform large size and but few small ones, and perfectly free from Core or Hollow Heart, and a superior Winter and Spring variety.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_Brezee's Prolific._

This variety originated with Albert Brezee, Esq., of Hubbardton, Vt., in 1861. Mr. Brezee was the originator of the Early Rose, the seed producing both that and Brezee's Prolific being from the same seed-ball, and both are seedlings of the Garnet Chili.

The vines of Brezee's Prolific are of medium height, quite bushy, and somewhat spreading, and with very large leaves; as yet they have produced no seed-b.a.l.l.s. Tubers large, regular in shape, and very smooth, slightly oblong, and very much flattened; skin dull white, inclined to be russeted; eyes but little depressed and slightly pinkish; flesh white, rarely if ever hollow; cooks quickly, and is very mealy and of excellent quality. Yield very large, maturing three weeks later than the Early Rose.