BEST DEPTH FOR PLANTING POTATOES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 5 October 1917, Page 7

BEST DEPTH FOR PLANTING POTATOES.

Two tests were made by the University of Nebraska (l'.:S. A.) to test the relative advantage o. different depths, from one to five inches, of planting potatoes. The total yields from the plots were as follows : i .ank'd liu. il'.vp 1821b. Planted 2ir m =..ei> ISSLh. Planted 3iu. ci**p 2981b. Planted 4in. deep 3171b. Planted sin. deep 3061b. There was a very noticeable difference in regularity of tnbers between the shallow and deep planting. Those from shallow-planted seed formed near the surface of the ground, It is probable that • the irregularities' in moisture and temperature of the surface soil checked the growth of the tubers at certain times, and started a second growth at other times, resulting in the production 0* knobs on the tubers (compound tubers). Th e tubers from deep planted seed, on the other hand, were well dov. ;i in the ground, where they were lr.-s subject to fluctuations of temperature and moisture, and therefore showed little second growth. The crop from seed planted sin deep contained almost no compound tubers, and that from seed planted 3in and 4in deep but very few. The crops from seed planted lin and 2in deep, however, had many compound tubers. The best depth for planting seed, therefore, from the standpoint of yield was also the best depth from the standpoint of quality. As between the 4in and sin depths, there is little choice in yield, and the slightly better miality of the tubers from seed planted Sin deep is probably more than offset by the extra labour"~i*i digging them. Of the 3in and 4in depths of planting, the latter gaye a somewhat greater yield, produced equally as good tubers, and caused no trouble in digging. The indications of this one test are, therefore, that 4in is about .the proper depth for planting seed tubers. The lin and 2in depEns are certainly not to be considered under ordinary conditions, since sucu shallow planting is not only apt to reduce the yield materially, out also to produce irregular, compound tubers: