Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1914-03-31


er should pay particular attention to
seed potatoes, cautions the Depart
ment of Agriculture, and the use Of
high grade seed would increase the
returns from the potato crop of the
country many million 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 years would amount to over
34,00O,OOO0 bushels, having an approx
innate value of $21, 100000 Of the many
causes which operate to produce
low average potato yield in this coun-
try, pure seed is an important one.
The American potato grower pays too
little attention to his seed potatoes.
The European growers, especially
those of Great Britain and Germany,
pay strict attention to the quality and
quantity of seed they use. This has
led the differentiation of the potato
industry into seed and crop special
lists. The seed specialist makes bus
mess of producing high-quality seed,
while the crop specialist produces a
high-grade table potato. No such diff
ferentiation, at least to the same eY-
tent, occurs in this country. While it
is true that in certain sections there is
a well-developed seed potato growing
industry, but comparatively few grow
ers in these sections are paying suf-
fcent attention to the elimination of
diseased and unproductive strains, or
to eeping the variety grown free from
mixtures with other varieties.
By far the simplest and most prom
ising means of developing high-grade
seed potatoes is that of the tuber-un't
and hill-selection methods. The form
Ell consists in selecting from the seed
bon before planting time a consider
able number of the most perfectly
shaped tubers of from 6 to ounces in
weight When planted these tubers
are quartered, as dropped, into 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 pieces OF
each tuber are dropped consecutively
in the row at a distance of from 10 70
~ inches apart in the furrow. All tu-
bers showing discoloration of the flesh
Of other evidence of disease should he
rejected.
By allowing an additional space be-
tween each set of fours, the four
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 mbethod also
enables him to detect any mixtures
that may occur in thevarieties.
At diging time the product of each
unit is separately harvested, and Il
further selection made from the mark
ed units of all those which most nearly
approach the size, shape and smooth
mess desired. The selected tubers
should be numbered with both field
and unit numbers and separately plac-
ed in small sacks. From each of the
units retained, 10 Of the best tubers
should be selected for the next seas
ons planting. 1t is desirable to main
tain the study of each selection on the
Ituber-unit basis the following season
/ because it permits a more accurate
comparison Of the behavior of each.
The hill-selection method consists
| in marking the most promising plants
during the growing season. At hary-
esting time save only those which
give greatest promise Keep the pro-