Page:Treatise on Cultivation of the Potato.djvu/45

 plot of ground (at Polmuir Nursery, Aberdeen,) measuring $8 1⁄2$ imperial poles; and, by carefully cultivating these plants, the stem attained to the height of from $2 1⁄2$ to 3 feet by the latter end of August, and bore a profusion of blossoms and 'plums.' And on lifting the tubers on Saturday, 29th November, the weight of the crop was found to be 9 cwt. 2 qrs, which is equal to $34 1⁄2$ Forfarshire bells 6 pks. and 71 lbs., or 8 tons 14 cwt. and 17 lbs. per imperial acre. It will thus be seen that seedling potatoes can be cultivated so as to yield the above returns the first year of their cultivation from the plum. I may also mention that the seedlings in question are of various varieties, are good in quality, and average-sized potatoes; and, further, that the ground they were grown on received no manure this season. In short, I have no hesitation in asserting that seedlings can be cultivated so as to yield at least from eight to nine tons of potatoes per acre the first year of their cultivation."

In the winter of 1875, I sent to the 150 people to whom I had sent seed the query sheet following, and give in full the following most valuable and interesting information: the succeeding reports refer to same query numbers.—Please Say—

1. At what distance were your seedling potatoes grown from the nearest diseased potatoes grown from the set? 200 yards.

2. Were there any walls or hedges between the seedlings and the sets? A hedge and belt of trees.

3. Had the disease previously developed itself in the field in which the seedlings were grown, and if so, how long since? No.

4. Of what description was the soil? Rich loam ground.

5. Was the locality well or ill ventilated? Well.

6. What manures were used? Leaf mould, with a little horse droppings.

7. Were the seedlings grown in a seed bed, and then transplanted? If so, were not some or even many of the tubers full size? Some in a frame, some in border facing south.

8. At what period or periods was the seed sown? And if at several, did the early or late sowings better, or equally, resist the disease? About 1st April.

9. How many plants per hundred absolutely resisted the disease? Cannot tell.