Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-09-06
lime to Cut Seed Potatoes.

AL leaSC CHiCo AlEcflt an experiment.
stations have conducted tests to learn
he effect of cutting seed potatoes sew
elal days or weeks in advance o.
planting The results varied some
W4lat according to the length of time
laat tic eut sets remained implanted,
3ut CA tue wHele Indicated no marked
litfalenoe in prodUcti2e4ea5 between
planting freshly eul pics aaA hose
t,s.zt lad been cut for q &ec& .l2s
fae Investigations of Eia6s &aa .
#GIias ia Germany led 10 she coa
l0sioa taat stighf willing Of tie
seei pieces increased the Sie1a Oh
aai-g=atl.s and ia=#ei eeasoaz. b#Ht -
sUaea il ea soiIs net - ea5ive= - - fs#e
{z=5 N cry seasons.
on whole il appears taas ~
st,l il.s II cu pieces for. ys2al lazz.
winch sometimes becomes Hecez any.
S atf53ded With 10 afea aiesz.yaa-
- +. OF course due czs'A zh,#a. De
taEaa IN such instances % 95efa5H
eat.ag. ana it maT he well Ia dHst tsa
ata9s tena eEpsuH@ Odd F=s tas.j %
seveHt excessive wittjns5
Change CT Seed.
- fst the effect on the yield OF
l5n4 seed potatoes from different 10
s.iGias. several varieties Of potatoes
.loWn in Vermont and ii Maryland
we're planted in both states. The seed
grown in Vermont gave larger yields
nGth in Vermont and in Maryland than
seaa grown in Maryland.
! has been found advantageous To
A. ge seed potatoes every few
wears but from the small amount Of
E.5nite experimental data now aEaila-
re we believe no final conclusion can
,,a drawn as to the effect OF the prac-
ice. To make the change. tubefs oil
the desired grain may BE sent TO the
grower at distance, and after t.
wears culture under new conditions the
stock may be brought back to it, orlgl-
ral nome.
common practice in the req hs
where a second crop can be grown on
the same land in the same year is 10
plant in the spring a small area with
northern seed potatoes, replantlng the
resulting tuberS in July or August. ana
using the crop produced in the fall for
the main spring planting. BY TINS
course seed is renewed frequently With
out sacrificing any of the advantage
resulting from the use of second-crop
seed stock. such as freedom from
sprouting, etc.
When potatoes are cut IN hall
through their smaller diameter we
have a seed or bud end more or less
c.cwded with eyes and stem or butt
end on which there are few eyes. The
governments to determine the relative
values of cuttings from the stem end
and from the seed end of the tubeI
have been numerous The majority OF
these showed that the yield was great
er when the seed end was used. The
| superior productiveness of the seed
end as compared with the stem enc
| was maintained. whether the halves OF
the potatoes, the thirds, or smaller cut
| tings were employed.
In few instances, however, the
! results suggest that the general super
! iority of the seed end may not be
maintained with some varieties anC
immature seed tubers.
Effect Of sprou1ing.
The growth of sprouts before plant
| ing is made at the expense of the
tubers from which they draw then
support. Hence if these shoots are
rubbed off before planting. there is
total loss of the nutriment contained
in them Moreover. numerous Weak
shoots grow from the injured eye. T6
prevent these evil consequences Of pre-
mature sprouting, seed potatoes are
stored in a dark. dry. cool place. In
| -uite of all precautions the tubers
sometimes sprout, but when practlca
! dc only potatoes that have not sprout
! "a should be selected for planting.
If tie eyes appear dormant in spring
seed potatoes may be exposed to the
ieht and warmth for a few days be
fore planting SO as to promote germi
i, 2ation and prompt growth. If Ions
| exposed. sprouts will form and care
j fl cutting and planting by hand be
| a@neS necessary. so as to avoid break