Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-05-26
POTATOES.



During recent years much has been
written about the culture of the potato.
All tie various phases of the subject
have been treated, from the breaking
of the ground to the disposal Of the
crop in market
We have learned much as to the
mechanical preparation Of the soil of
manures and fertilizers, as well as the
general treatment of the crop during
growth. Single eye, two eyes, half and
whole potato planting, was discussed
and advocated by different writers.
The arguments for sing,e-eye cultiva.
ton are: More large tubers, closer
planting, and consequently a more
pro table crop.
My investigations into the so-called
'cye' of the potato convince me that
single-cye planting is in most plants in
accordance with the natural laws OF
growth. We all have seen how Wig
Orous shoot on some tree or shrub has
absorbed the sap so that smaller shoots
below very slowly developed or evontu-
ally died oil. The so-callrd law of "Sur-
vival of the Fittest,n would seem to lie
well illustrated in the growth of our
high forest trees, by the vigorous
growth of the topmost branches and
death of the lower ones.
Since the potato tuber is nothing else
than an underground branch, what we
call an eye is analogous to a Leaf or
llower-bud ON branches above ground,
many of these buds producing num-
Der OF leaflets or flowers, as in the case
of the cherry or apple. The same num-
Der of shoots are produced by the eye
of the potato; thus, in examining them
under microscope, we find from one
to six germs in an eye. In the Early
Rose | seldom met with more than
three, while Burbank, Beauty Of Hebron
and Snowflake have as high as six
germs or buds. Now, in all | have eX-
AHMED, | invariably found the central
germ to be from two to four times the
size of any of the others; some which
had sprouted to the length OF nearly an
inch were examined, and in few in
stances only showed any OF the minor
germs which had doubtless been alb
sorbed by the central one Again the
few that were left did not increase in
size, showing that the more vigorous
growth of the central germ prevents the
Development Of the minor ones
The presence OF the minor germs Tor
buds) Is a wise provision OF nature. In
case of an accident to the main germ
minor ones will, more or less
develop, and in this way they serve to
preserve the species. Letting potatoes
sprout before planting, and then rub
bng them of, must necessarily lc ill.,
furious to the eyes, as it requires the
development of the minor germs, VIII Oh
will b, weaker, unless an abun liant sup
ply OF liant focd is at hanl, and the
wtat er is favorable at the time Of
planting. If this central or main germ
Is allowed to develop, we get one Wig
orous plant, and may expect large
tut ers; viii c, on the other hand, ii tine
eye is forced to develop It's minor germs,
they will all have an equal chance, and
the result will be probably from two TO
five sta X, non, OF which will be strong
enough to produce large tuberS
Here it 5, ems TO me IN ADVANTAGE is
to b, gained by using a stimnlat ne fer.
tilizer in the hill or dri |. s'n;c that VII
aid the vigorous growth of tie main
germ in such way as that the minor
germs will, perhaps, not develo1, and
one strong plant will be the re suit.
MANY writers have found difference
in the yield OF stem end and 'se' ID
end eyes as well as middle eyes.
| notice that both stem and seed end
eyes have smaller buds than middle
ewes. The seed and eye are more
crowded, aud since they are situated
at the growing end OF the tubers, thy
eyes are not so fully developed. The
stem end eyes, however, have plenty O
room, and yet the bud are smaller thar
the middle ones. The claim that they
produce later tubers is no doubt true
since they lack the start that the middl,
eyes have.
Owing to the presence of cons derablt
protop,asm, which was not consumes
in the previous seasons growth, th'
seed end eyes may mature somewha
earlier than the central ones.
A suggestion to cultvators may no
be out of place here; namely, that they
make observations rs to the number o
stalks produced in single eye planting
to Sc how many of the minor germs wi
develop.
The yield of the potato varies so mucl
in quantity that we ought to b. INT L
ested in the causes of these differences
and ask ourselves how much OF thi
can be ascribed to the mechanical pre-
parat;on of the oil, how much Il
manures and fertilizers, how much t.
the conditions OF the seas ons and last
but no least, how much to our mod o
planting the tuber? - Cor. Coantr.
Gentleman.