The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-12-01
Agricultural.
Improvement Of Potatoes.

An article In the Revue Horicoic trans.
lated, and published in the Farmer (Eng.)
contains some points worthy of attention by
our American farmers, as the same princi-
pies which govern the growth of this tuber
In Europe are also potent here. When we
/ want to regenerate any particular kind of
potato, or still more, to prevent its degener-
alton, II is of the FIRST importance to make q
judicious selection eff parent plants. Sever
al means may be adopted to this end For
example, the choice ofthe largest possible tu-
bers which represent well the marked feat
ures Of the variety, since the too frequent
rejecting of small tubers tends to deterora-
ton. Another plan is to choose the seed
when digging up the crop, from the well
furnished roots, and select the tubers which
are most typical of the special variety un-
der treatment ra.r
The shape ofthe tuber need not be too
much considered. Some people imagine
that tubers which differ from the usual shape
of the kind to which.they belong, are Of nec-
essity degenerate specimens, but this is an
shape characteristic of the variety, and yet
produce well.shaped potatoes in the follow
ing year. As rule the shape of various
kinds of potatoes differ according to the ma
ture Of the soil in which they are cultivated.
For example, II is generally supposed that
the "Marjoulin" ought to be long and mar
rows nevertheless, seme light sandy soils
produced 1t in a swollen, and sometimes
even rounded form, though it turns out long
and narrow grown in stiff soil. 1t is gen.
eral physiagical fact, common to almost all
plants, and specially marked in the case of
the potato, that if they are planted early
every year, their precocity increases, whilst
BY reversing the cause of action the contra
ry effect Is produced, and they tend to be-
come later in attaining full growth. The
some result appears If we plant successively
In cold soil. In this case they become Ia
ter in arriving at maturity, while the con-
tfary happens five select warm ground.
Again 1t Is almost certain that if we take
the first buds that are developed on potato
for planting, the crop will be earlier than if
W0 piuutcu VIII Tue second Duus, or Stlll
more with those of a third termination. II
results from all this, that amongst the va
rious precautions to be taken in attempting
to maintain or even improve any variety OF
potato, a judicious choice of tubers for plan.
ting Is Of especial Importance.
The employment of seeds properly 30
called might also perhaps be resorted to,
sometimes advantag geously SO. But how of.
ten must we not SOW before we get good
types, and good varieties us a result? Still
notwithstanding its uncertainty, this meth.
cd should not be neglected. 1t is generally
believed that certain kinds of potatoes, such
IS the "MaIoulin,' neither flower nor run
to Sed. This n again an error. All pota-
toes will flower and yield seed when they
are very strongly manured and are in con.
dition of exuberant vegetation but it is
none the less true that there are some varie-
ties whose natural strength leads them to
flower and seed more freely than others.