The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-11-03
A1rirniturQI.
Seed Potatoes,


SAINT, which has given rise more to diver
sity of opinion, than that whether large
or small potatoes are the best for paint
ing-and this very diversity of opinion
impresses us with the belief that there Is
very little difference in the yield, so that
the only matter for consideration is the
cost Of the seed, which must go in favor
OF the small potato.
Our own experience-and We admit it
to be very limitcd-would give the pref
ercnce to the small potato without regard
TO the cost of seed The large potato may
give more luxurient display of vines,
and encourage the cultivator to expect a
liberal yield; but we greatly doubt if a
single well established instance can be ad-
duced where the large seed has produced
larger crop, both kinds being in an E.
qually good condition when planted.
We have now before US, three different
communications in three different period
ieals, viz; the RuraL Ncac- Yorker, the AZ
bang Cuhirator, and the Granite n. H
F1Tn1cr-as to the result of experiments
with large and small seed-two of them
1avoring the large seed. The first is from
Mr.. {. Martin, from which We make the
following extract;
"Une year my father planted a field
with small potatoes, except six or eight
zows, which were planted with the seed
ends of large ones saved for table use
At hoeing time, those planted with seed
ends looked much the best, the vines were
large and thrifty. When ripe, we found
the potatoes grown from small seed, "small
potatoes and few in hiu, Those from
the seed ends were good size and fair
yiyiG; full twice that Of the other.
Many experiments since have con-
Ninced Inc that large potatoes are to be
preferred tor seed, as they produce more
healthy and vigorous plants, and, with
Ine, have yielded the largest crops, with
tat few small potatoes, compared with
tie yield where only small potatoes were
planted. In good seasons and on good
soil, have raised fair crops from small
potatoes, but they have not succeeded well
is general thing.
q have resided thirty years in Oswego
CO., and have raised from one to six hun
dred bushels Of potatoes per year. Be
fore the rot commenced it ravages, I used
20 get the best crops when I planted ear
y IN June; the reason ior this was that
they kept green and in good growing con-
dition until the drought Of summer was
over, and the weather became more favor
able for their growth. Much depends, I
'hink, in suiting the variety to the soil.
Large potatoes, with the seed end cut
Of, viii keep fit for the table for six or
eight weeks about as well as whole ones,
and thus you may use them for eating,
Instead Of manuring the land with them,
as some complain, and you need use no
more seed to the acre than Of smal! ones.
The next is from T. f., of Michigan:
On the 3Oth of April, 1851, planted,
Oh one square rod of ground, in seventy
two hills, seyenty-two small potatoes,
from the size Of hickorynut to that of a
hens egg. The seed measured about two
quarts, and weighed three and a half
pounds. To plant an acre in this manner
would require ten bushels Of seed. On
the same day, on a square rod adjoining,
l planted se'enty-two large potatoes, in
seventytwo hills, placing one in each hill,
without cutting. The seed measured
more than a peck, and weighed fifteen
pounds.
On the goth ofAugust l dug both patch
rs. The product of the small potatoes
was Gvc pecks, weighing eighty-four lbs.
which would give yield of two hundred
bushels to an acre. The product of the {
arge potatoes was one hundred and fifty
.ightpOunds, measuring nine pecks, which
would give three hundred and sixty bush
els to the acre. The vines averged four
10 each hill, while those of the small po-
.atoes were only three. The vines from
the large potatoes grew much faster and
arger than the other, but in the size of
-be potatoes there was no great difference.
The third communication gives us the
experiment, which, being on
arger scale, seems to be founded on a
}etter basis.
"ID the fall of 1913 measured Of two
,creS of ground and had it deeply plowed.
Ibe soil is warm, sandy loan, with deep