The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1864-05-18
Potatoes for Seed.

There is quite variety of opinion
atnung farmers as 10 size Of potatoes for
Seed Some will plant the very largest;
others say medium will answer all pur-
poses, and the product will be as fine in
appearance aud quality rs If the largest
seed were selected; and vet another class
are satisfied that the smallest potatoes
will produce nearly or quite rs heavy a
crop as the biggest. A writer in the
Country Gentleman gives his testimony
upon the question. He says:
"The results of some recent expert.
ments with planting large and small po-
iatoeS, performed by the writer, may
prove interesting to readers. The small
potatoes used were, in no instance, more
than an inch and half long, and would
average about the size of small plums.---
The large ones were from four TO ten
inches long, and would weigh from half
pound to a pound or more. Both the
large and tho small potatoes were cut SO
rs TO leave about the same number of
eyes on each piece. Care was taken TO
plant them when the ground was in
moist condition, in order to prevent the
drying up of small pieces. The large and
small seed were planted in alternate rows,
and after digging, the contents of each
row were placed in piles at the ends
these piles thus representing alternately
tho large and small seed we're then close
ly examined bv several PERSONS, and not
the slightest difference could be perceived
in the size of the potatoes; on being
measured, however, the large potatoes
were found, in every instance, TO yield
oue-ffth more than the smaller. The va
rety was the Prince Albert. This result
was the more striking, as one of the rows
planted with extra largo seed (sihgle po-
tatoes, of which weighed ms much rs 8
small ones), yielded no larger tubers than
the smallest seed. The crop, from all
the rows alike, was a good one anil many
of the potatoes, even from the smallest
seed, were from eight to ten inches long.
We have tried this experiment but sin
gle year; it is n common opinion that if
repeated for several successive years
that is if small potatoes are selected sue
cessively, the crop will ultimately run out
Wo have no personal knowledge of such
a result, and it is worthy of careful ex-
pertinent. At the same time, the series
of trials here reported show conclusively
that farmers may use small seed for rails
ing the tnain crop of consumption, so far
as the size of the potatoes are concerned,
although losing something in amount, and
that, on any supposiIion, n small portion
of the field should be planted with large
potatoes for seed. As potatoes are now
high priced, it may be well for farmers TO
save their small ones for planting and tri-
all and m hour or two devoted ench year
to set off experiments may give them re-
suits of considerable practical value
They should, however, bear in mind that
small seed are often planted on the poor
est portion Of the field, while the larger
selected tubers are given the best chance
of the best cultivation, It would seem
that the chief advantage in large seed is
in giving an early start and stronger
growth, resulting in larger crop-but
the experiment must be repeated and va
tied many times before confident results
can be reached"
1 a