Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-05-03
Cutting and Planting Potatoes.

Potatoes are SO cheap this spring that
hear of many farmers who propose TO plant
them whole. with the idea that il will not pay
to cut them But our experienced potato
growers do not share this notion They tind
by trial that cut potatoes, three or four eyes
in hill yield a better crop, and average
more large potatoes than they do by using
more seed. The increased work Is better
paid III the crop than III the saving of seed
What they will do however. is to use bet
ter quality of seed-good size and of the right
shape. In using small potatoes, there is al
ways danger of getting some that are unrlpe,
and these will make weak, splndIng plants
But with n well-rpened small potato, whose
starch is fully developed, can get as strong
Il plant and good a growth of tubers as if
the seed We're extra large. My chief objec-
ton 10 small potatoes for seed Is that they
are not Of the right shape-usualiy round,
rather than oval and smooth Cutting al po-
tatoes for seed is a great advantage, as II ena-
bles a careful farmer TO throw out all that ap-
pear watery and unripe. Such potatoes are
not worth much for cattle or pig feed. but
they are worth more for that than for any
thing else. My rule in planting is not to use
any seed that would not be fit for use on the
table. This does not exclude small potatoes
for seed No matter how small, if potato
plant if Ised for seed. There is even greater
need OF cutting the seed, if small potatoes are
used, as the small have more eyes often than
very large potatoes If they have too many
eyes, il Is "A pretty sure sign that the potatoes
are watery and unfit for planting.
There Is considerable advantage in cutting
potatoes and storing them in some warm, dry
place few days before planting. A green
potato has to dry out good deal before it
l..
ripened Early Rose from August till Novem-
Der without digging and not n sprout will
start. 1t is true, they are still attached 10 the
root but as the tops are dead the root fur
nishes little moisture. Even If We dig such n
hill and keep the potatoes well-covered, not
one will start sprOut. But dig some ripe
Early Rose in August Let them dry in IL
warm kitchen for week, cut and plant them,
and they will grow as readily as if planted in
May. Storing in a cellar or in pits, is "A slow
process for ripening potatoes Ii usually
takes all winter 10 accomplish what can be
done III a week above ground III July or Au-
gust Even II the spring the centre of a po-
tato Is somewhat immature. Cutting it I'D
nits the air to di out surplus moisture and
enable the shoot 10 put forth
Potatoes intended for seed should be got
out OF the cellar As soon as possible and
spread III some place where it is warm and
uRhl. SOlht RAINY Gay Wheu Olntr Work can
not be done, they should be cut in pieces.
with two or three good eyes each then spread
again and busted with gypsum or land plas-
ter The dust viii adhere 10 the freshly cut
surface and keep II from shrivelling while
drying. It will also be stimulant 10 the
young plant as It starts. 1t is probable that
this year potatoes will get several dressings OF
plaster in connection with Paris green but
the application 10 the fresh-cut potato before
planting viii do as much good as any. This
treatment Is especially important for early
planting of pOtatOes Where seed is brought
from damp, cold cellar, where it has lain all
winter, and Immediately planted il ground
where the temperature is not above forty de.
grees, no wonder that it is weeks before the
tardy shoot peeps above the ground, and thai
many potatoes rot in the ground without max
ing plant If you do not do any more
let the potato at least have IA chance 70 ge
well warmed before being buried again
If the cellar mas been warm as well a.
damp, tine eyes or ''chits' have probabl,
grown SO us 10 seriously injure the potato TO
seed No time should be lost IN removing
the potatoes 20 some warm light place an,
breaking of the chits If cut and kept in
warm room o week, the eyes will push vigoT
ously though Of course less so than if tn
seed had not been injured This difficulty O
keeping the seed good Is the only dnEibac