Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-30
SEED POTATOES CAN
BE SAVED BY USE
..-....l ~. OF CONES WITH EYES

The cost Of seeding Irish potatoes
can be greatly reduced, the garden
specialists of the United States De-
partment Of Agriculture point out II
instead of using a whole potato for
planting, the gardener will cut OUT
from potatoes cone shaped pieces OF
flesh, each containing an eye Of the po-
tato. In this way only from one-
fourth to one fifth Of the flesh Of the
potato will be needed to provide seed
and the remainder of the potato can be
cooked for table. use. These cones
range from one-fifth to one-sevsnth OF
an ounce in weight, whereas, under the
usual methods. the sets range from
three fourths to two ounces in weight.
A gardener, under ordinary conditions,
will get best results by usng fifteen to
eighteen bushels, or 900 to 1850 pounds
of potatoes to the acre. This method
Of preparing sets, therefore, should
make available for table use over SIS
pounds Of potato iesh which, under
ordinary conditions, would be planted
per acre. -.....
To plant plot 5ox100 feet, or APP
proXimately one-nnth of an acre, at
the same rate Of seeding, would call
for one and two thirds to two bushels
Of seed. planted in the ordinary way.
The method of using the cones and
eyes for seed and cooking the remand
er Of the flesh, therefore, becomes
worth while economy even when
small area is to be planted.
Under this plan 1t is not necessary to
prepare the seed all at one time. From
day to day the cones for seeding can
be cut from the potatoes as they are
being prepared for the table. The cut
tings then should be spread out on
piece of paper in a moderately cool
room (about so degrees F. and allow
ed to remain there until they have
cured that is, until the cut surface has
become dry. A day or two should suf-
flee for this. and potatoes then should
be put in a shallow box or tray and
placed where It is cooler. Any storage
condition that will insure them against
frost on the one hand and undue shriv-
cling on the other should prove salts
factory.
These seeds can he started indoors,
provided ii is possible to secure suit
able soil and boxes. In such cases II
may be desirable to plant the eye cut
tings at once. and allow them to start
into growth indoors with the idea of
transpIanting them into the open
ground when danger of frost is past
and the ground is dry enough to be
cultivated
In western New York. southern
Michigan and Wisconsin and Iowa. the
Rural New Yorker No. 2. Sir Walter
Raleigh, and Carman No. 3 are the best
adapted varieties. and divide honors
with the Green Mountain in the north
ern portions Of these states.
Depth to Plant.
Plant the small eye cuttings from
one and one-half to three inches deep
depending upon the character Of the
soil-the lighter the soil the greater the
depth of planting. Larger sets may be
planted four inches deep.
If an early variety is planted. and the
work is to be done by hand. the rows
may be spaced as close as twenty-six
inches. whereas If cultivation is to he
done with horse, thirty to thirty-four
inches usually is allowed.
IF late variety IS planted, the spac-
ing should be greater. say thirty four
to thirty-slx inches between the rows
and twelve to fourteen inches between
the plants in the row. The closeness
Of planting should be determined first.
by the variety and, second by the
amount of available plant food and
moisture in the soil, or that can be ap-
piled to it.