Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-03-04
Whole or Cut Potatoes !?
MORE PRODUCT FROM WHOLE TUBERs
BUT EXPENSIVE.

| Two questions asked at the last meet
ing of the Western New York Horticul-
tural Society were: "In an October
number of The Tribune Farmer the
statement was made that whole potatoes
are planted in Germany, and that their
yield is twice that in America. Why do
our experiment stations advise cutting TO
one eye? Do German potatoes have a
less number of eyes than American
tubers?' There was no response to the
questions.
do not remember who made these
statements in The Tribune Farmer, nor
do know who asked the questions. 1t
| is a we'll known fact that Germany on
her comparatively small territory raises
every year several times the number of
bushels of potatoes that are grown in
the United States. The German pota-
toes, on An average, are much smaller
than those grown here. cannot now
tell what the average yield an acre is In
Germany. But should not wonder II
the use of whole potatoes for seed Is
more common than here, where the
tubers are usually large, and planting
W wholepotatoes therefore almost out of
the question.
Years ago made many experiments
with different seed pieces. fused whole
potatoes, half potatoes, potatoes cut in
three and four or more pieces, or to
single eve. | have always been able to
grow more potatoes on a given area by
planting whole potatoes of fair size than
by planting either whole small potatoes
or pieces of potatoes. And usually the
smaller the seed piece, the smaller the
resulting crop. am not aware that ex-
pertinent stations here generally and un-
oualifiedly advise cutting seed potatoes
to single eye. II they do, they are on
the wrong track. When seed potatoes
are very scarce and high priced, planting
single eyes may be all right. ln some
cases, as when We have only small
amount Of seed of new variety, or have
to pay fancy prices for seed, 60 further
and raise single sprouts, IN the same
way as sweet potato sprouts or "siips
are grown, sometimes getting four or
five sprouts from one eye, and plant
such sprouts in place of seed pieces.
Let me state unreservedly that under
ordinary conditions, and with the same
treatment, have always been able TO
raise nearly or fully twice as many Pota-
toes on given piece Of ground when
planting whole potatoes of fair to good
size than when planting single-eye
pieces. My practice, however, is to cut
the seed potatoes unless smslll In from
two to four pieces. To plant whole po-
tatoes Of even moderate size would re-
ouire not less than S5 to 40 bushels OF
seed an acre. II potatoes are worth oo
20 80 or more cents busbel, the first
cost of the seed Is really more than we
care to risk. II might pay us to plant
the whole potatoes even then. IL VIII
usually pay well to do 1t, however, when
seed potatoes are plentiful and cheap.
The objection is often raised that large
seed pieces give an immOderately large
number Of sprouts, consequently large
setting Of small tubers in the hill. /
lind that a whole potato that Is well
kept, and particularly II "greened," d." Will
produce from three to five sprouts, and
these will usually produce ten or twelve
potatoes, all of merchautable or usaoie
size.-T. Greiner.