Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-11
USE ONLY GOOD
SEED POTATOES
Crop Can Be Increased by Mil
lions of Dollars Yearly if Care
Is Exercised in Planting.

This is the season of the year
when the farmer should pay particu-
lar attention to seed potatoes, eau
lions the department of agriculture,
and the use of high grade seed
would increase the returns from the
potato crop of the country by many
millions Of dollars. A conservative
estimate of the increase that might
be expected from the use of high
grade seed is certainly not less than
10 per cent. Such an increase based
on the average production of the past
five years would amount to over "a,
900, 900 bushels, having an approXi-
mate value of 81, 900, 600 OF the
many causes which operate to pro-
duce a low average potato yield in
this country, pure seed is an impor-
tant one. The American potato
grower pays too little attention to
his seed potatoes.
The European growers, especially
those of Great Britain and Germany,
pay very strict attention to the quail
ity and quantity of seed they use.
This has led to the differentiation
of the potato industry into seed and
crop specialists. The seed specialist
makes a business Of producing high
quality seed, while the crop spec
ialist produces a high grade table
BOldlps NO buCl ulDtItiilldllOllt Ut
least to the same extent, occurs in
this country. While it is true that in
certain sections there is a well de
veloped seed potato growing indus
try, but comparatively few growers
in these sections are paying sufficient
attention to the elimination of dis
eased and unproductive strains, or
10 keeping the variety grown free
from mixture with other varieties.
o.. IT. "A
Using means of developing high grade
seed potatoes is that of the tuber-
unit and hill-selection methods. The
former consists in selecting from the
seed bin before planting time n con-
siderable number of the most per-
fectly shaped tuhers of from six to
eight ounces in weight. When planted
these tuberS are quartered, as drop
ped. into four as nearly equal parts
as possible. This Is done by splitting
the bud-eye cluster in each direction
from seed to stem end of the tuber.
The four pieces of each tuber are
dropped consecutively in the row at
a distance of from ten to twelve
inches apart in the furrow. All tubers
showing discoloration of the flesh or
other evidence of disease should be
rejected.
by allowing an additional space be-
tween each SET Ol IDuTSb tnt lOuT
plants from each tuber are definitely
isolated from adjoining ones, and the
grower can readily observe any varia-
ton in vigor and uniformity between
the units planted, This method also
enables him to detect any mixtures
that may occur In the variety.
At digging time the product of each
unit is separately harvested, and a
further selection made from the
marked units of all those which most
nearly approach the size, shape and
tubers should be numbered with both
field and unit numbers and separately
placed in small sacks. From each OF
the units retained, ten of the best
tubers should be selected for the next
seasons planting. II is desirable to
maintain the study of each selection
on the tuber-unit basis the following
season, because 1t permits a more ac-
curate comparison Of the behavior of
each.
The hill-selection method consists
In marking the most promising
plants during the growing season. At
harvesting time save only those
which give greatest promise. Keep
the progeny of each hill separate and
take the same data rs outlined for
the tuber- unit. Plant on the tuber-
unit basis the following season. For
sake OF uniformity a definite number
of tubers-fiVe or more-should be
planted from each hill selection.
From this point on the methods given
in the tuber-unit work should be fol-
lowed.
The only requirements for the sue
cessful practise Of the two methods
OF seed selection are reasonable
degree Of painstaking effort on the
Part Of the grower some twelve-inch
garden labels, a small pair of bal
ances, a sufficient number of suitable
small sacks and q safe place in
which to store the tubers until re-
quired by the next seasons planting.
In addition to this the grower should
have q breeding plat in which each
seasons selections can be developed
UP to the point of planting stock.
The selection of breeding plat need
not necessarily be divorced from the
general field plat In most cases it
can be more conveniently handled if
IT. is a part of the regular field All
that is required is to set aside as
many rows as may be required to
plant the selected tubers These
should be preferably on one side of
the field so that they can be more
readily observed. The planting fur
rows may be open and fertilizer
distributed with the potato planter
by removing the disks and setting
the pillow q trifie deeper. If plow is
used in covering care should be exer-
cised to avoid displacing the seed
pieces.