The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1916-11-09
VITAL FACTORS Of SEED
| POTATOES ARE FEW
Awards at Shows andPotato Crop De-
pend Largely Upon Selection.

Corvallis, Ore, Nov.S-(SpectaD
Although the vital factors of good
eed potatoes are few and easily learn
cd. not many persons know and prac-
tice these essentials in selecting their
potatoes for seed or for exhibition,
report the o. A. c. specialist who has
been called upon to Judge potatoes at
numerous Oregon fairs and potatoes
shows. ..
The leading points of good quail
ties in potatoes are as follows:
True to name, true to type. made
mature, sound without bruises or ca
vities, uniform in size, medium size
for the variety with shallow eyes and
smooth skin. free from disease and
insect injuries, firm and sound.
Experienced judges, score potatoes
in any competitor on very definite
basis. the most important items of
which are the foregoing. Lots Of po-
tatoes that come most nearly up to
these standards are the lots that will
win in competition.
Since commercial potatoes have ap-
| proximately the qualities of the ex-
Inhibition lots, it will be seen that an
effort should be made to grow such
potatoes. They are the best for the
irade because they are, the best in
competitive exhibits, and in order
to grow them in commercial lots 1t Is
necessary to select seed having the
same general characteristics.
While the main point in the seed
potatoes should be the same as in the
best exhibits it would be impossible
to secure them altogether for the rea-
son that the exhibit stock. is selected
from the entire amount of potatoes
grown whereas the seed is selected
hill by hill. OF course it is not feast
BILE to get hill of potatoes as nearly
lperfect as single potato, but this
shOuld be the standard and the ideal.
The hills which bear largely of pota-
toes approximating the exhibit type
is the hill to select and plant from.
Here again the value of this will
be seen when it comes to putting the
crop Of pototoes on the market. The
dealer will look to see whether the
Burbanks are really Burbanks or
something else or a mixture of two
or three varities. They will also
know the general characteristics Of
the potato and will examine to see If
the lot generally corresponds to the
proper type. They will see, that the
potatoes are sufficiently matured to
keep well, and are sound without
bruises, cavities or disease spot.
They will see If the potatoes are of
medium size for the variety and free
from knobs, hollow places, deep eyes
and other indications of inferiority
causing waste in preparing them for
food.
Not one single speck of disease
should be allowed on any Of the sell
ected tubers, for a few such spots
will disqualify the whole lot In an ex-
hibit and in planting will spread the
disease in the next years crop. Scat
is easily seen and recognized. Rhy.
zoctonia looks somewhat like spot
If black earth that cannot be wash
ed from the potato, making black
circles near the end that can be seer
on the outside only from the closest
observation but Is rather plain when
the potato is cut open.
Disappointment for the exhibitor
the grower is almost sure to come
to the one who fails to observe these
/, simple rules.