The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-12-25
COMMERCIAL POTATOES



With the close OF the potato harvest
season for 1915 the time seems oppor-
tune to call to the attention Of both the
grower and the scotsman the desira-
billy OF considering seriously very
material reduction in the number OF
yarities grown in any given community
or section OF the country.
II has been the history OF every other
staple crop that the fewer the yarities
grown the more easily are they mar
keted The pioneer fruit grower in
America tried 10 grow as large list OF
varieties as he could afford to pur-
chase, while today the tendency is TO
reduce the list to the least number that
can be depended upon to meet the mar
ket requirements. The reason for this
is that It has been found much easier
task to sell large quantities of one
variety than an equal quantity made up
OF large number of varieties. II is
DeltNtu lildl tire nolhV piihNiPic oP~
plies TO the potato crop.
In recent publication by the de-
partment, Bulletin No. 176, system OF
classification of potatoes is presented
in which the leading commercial types
are referred to IL groups. and list OF
the varieties studied which are thought
to belong to each group is furnished
In many cases the varieties listed In
each group are SO nearly identical thar
in the opinion OF the author OF this
bulletin there no justification for
the retention OF more than 10 per cen,
OF them.
The commercial grower should de-
termine what group or class OF pota-
toes is best adapted to HIS climatic and
soil conditions. and then confine his
efforts to not more than one or two
varieties within that group. In this
way Il will be possible for him to be-
come more familiar with the behavior
OF the variety he is. growing; TO rec
ognize its special cultural require
ments; and to offer for sale a much
more uniform and high-grade product
than where he is dissipating his ener-
gies on a dozen or more varieties
The potato growers of some OF our
middle west states, particularly those
of Wisconsin, are being strongly urged
by their potato specialists and state
associations TO adopt the community
plan OF growing potatoes OF one, or, at
the most, two varieties. In this way
the buyer can be assured of securing a
uniform stock. in carload lots, OF Green
Mountain, Rural New Yorker, or other
classes of potatoes.
The movement must come from the
grower through combining his efforts
10 a few varieties, preferably not more
than one or two. These should be
selected intelligently. with reference
TO soil and climatic conditions. For
example, the Green Mountain group is
particularly well adapted TO the cooler
and moister sections of the United
states The Rural New Yorker. while
succeeding under similar conditions, is
also able TO produce satisfactory crops
where air and soil temperatures are
higher, and where the summer pre-
ciptation is scant. provided moisture
Is abundant In September and Octo-
Der. The Irish Cobber group. consist
ing OF early varieties. is at it's best in
the north. but also produces well
when planted as an early truck crop
i'm the south.
The size Of the seedman's lists is
very largely. II not entirely. governed
by the grower and the remedy lies
wholly with him.
The efforts OF the potato grower
dealer and scotsman should be direct
ed as follows:
l. Reduce the variety list TO a few
standard commercial varieties
2 Standardize these by careful
selection and culture
B. Adopt the community plan of
growing but one or two varieties and
advertise this fact to the public