The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-03-30
oG Seed foG Potatoes.

From different sources we gather the eX-
perience Of farmers with rezoro,soc to the
amount of seed it is profitable to use in
planting potatoes. Our readers should
mari, this article, ani refer to it at plant
ing time.
Johnson saws: For the main crops it
is evident from experiment. that moderate
sized whole potatoes are the best, from
which all but two eyes have been removed;
but especially having the crown, which is
a congery of small eyes, first removed; for
from these proceed little spindle stalks,
which arc comparatively worthless, and IN
iure the main stem
For the early crops almost the very
contrary to the above is the most aIyanta-
ceous to be practiced. The set should
have the c1own eye, which is one growing
in the center Of the congery OF small ones
above mentioned preserved. Some pota-
toes have two such eyes, but the generality
only one. This is always the most prompt
TO vecetate, and if not known by this de-
scription may be eyinced by placing two
or three potatoes in pan OF moist earth
near the ire. If the earth IS kept moist,
the crown eve will be in a state of ve5eta-
ton in five or six days
To obtain early crops when tubers are
rapidly formed, large sets must be
cmploved. In these one or Two eyes at
most should be- alIowedto remain. If the
sets are placed with their leading buds up
wards, few and very strong early stems
will be produced; bat if the position is re-
versed, many weak and later shoots
arise. and not only thc earIincss, bat the
quality Of the produce be deprecated.
Another writer urges that farmers DC
not waste seed BY 1883 9t.-o---
or two eyes in a hiii-unless it IS desired
to spoil the crop. He succeeded four folt
better than upon the whole potatoe plan
Would advise three or four eyes in hill, !
planted two by three feet apart; il in drills
six inches apart in row, one or two eyes
five sixths Of the seed is saved, aud proper
ton of large to small potatoes, is increased
three-fold over the old P Ian.
Since writing the foregoing, the tebTua
rv number oft Valley Fumer has come
to hand in which a Minnesota correspon'
dent gives the product of three potatoes to
be ten bushels-from the largest potatot
he says he raised five busheIs-planted one
eve in each hill. From the two smaller
pototoes lie grew the other five bushels
planting two eyes in each hill.
A recent writer in the New England
Farmer says, where some hills of corn were
missing, he planted sprouts or vines pick
ed from the potatoes in the cellar. They
were picked off with the finger as close tc
the potato as possible being to Is inch
es long, set out, and grew, and produced
equally as we'll as the same varieties dld
on the same ground a year previous. The
varieties were the 'Coburg' and 'oano
Land potatoes. He believes the sprouts
may be used and save the potato, obtain
ing an equal crop, and saving all the seed
A writer in the Farmer and Gardener
says, his experience favor the use of f'spllts
las the Irish call the potato cutting) with
only one eye, or with at most two eyes,
He rejects small potatoes for this purpose
selecting tubers Of medium size with long
vigorous shoots. Plant the tuber5 at least
twelve inches apart in the row, observing
care to insert them SO that they shall
spring up evenly.
Thus we might continue to add testimo-
ny Of this character. We have no more
space, but shall keep an eye out for what
ever we think will profit our readers on
this, az on al other subjects Prairie
Farmer.