Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-07
STANDARD POTATO CUTTING
Hv this method at least two eyes
and all the meat are kept on each
chunk of potato planted.

CHUNK VI potdlo piduISu'
A.,sr will cut out from potatoes cone
Maned pieces of flesh, each containing one
I've Only from one-fourth to one-fifth of
the flesh of the potato will be needed to
Srovide seed and the remainder can be
Cooked for table use. These cSnes range
Srom one-ffth to one-seventh of an ounce
N 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 using ten to
fifteen bushels, or 600 to 900 pounds of
,.otatoes to the acre. This method of pre-
barring sets makes available for table use
over 675 pounds of potato flesh which,
under ordinary conditions, would be planted
per acre. To plant a plot fifty by one hum
dred feet, or approximately one-ninth 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. These
are very liberal estimates for the areas.
Using cones and eyes and cooking re-
painder Of flesh becomes a worthwhile econ.
omy even for small areas. Another advan-
tage is that it is not necessary to prepare
the seed all at one time. From day to day
cones can be cut from the potatoes as they
are being prepared for the table.
Cuttings should be spread out on paper
IN a moderately cool room (about 80 de-
srees Fahrenheit), and allowed to remain
until they have cured" (until the cut sur
face has dried). A day or two should suffice
for this, and potatoes then should be put
IN a shallow box or tray and placed where
Il Ia still cooler. Any storage condition
that will insure them against frost on the
one hand and shriveling on the other should
prove satisfactory.
The seed cones can be started indoors. IL
II Is possible to obtain suitable soil and
boxes. In such cases 1t may be desirable to
plant the eye cuttings at once, and allow
them to start into growth indoors, trans
planting into the open ground when danger
Of frost Is past and the ground can be culti-
wted.
HANDLING THE SOIL
The smaller the size of the seed piece
the more thorough must be soil prepara-
ton The more fiiUly the soil is pulver-
lied and the more uniform the moisture
conditions which can be preserved in the
soil the better is the chance for the small
seed piece to establish itself. A small set in
rough, lumpy or dried-out soil has little
\ chance to live.
q The smaller the size of the sets the
closer they should be planted Tor maxi
mum yields. Such sets may be expected to
give the best yields If not spaced more
than ten or twelve inches apart in the
row.
: FACTORS FOR SUCCESS
Successful potato growing hinges largely
N the following factors
1. Good land. well prepared.
.. Abundance OF available plant food and
moisture,
ce'esol Saes @ ot p,opea , si,,o
5. Thorough protectionI against insect and
fungus pests.
The potato thrives best on soils desig-
'aated as sandy or gravelly loan. 1t may
te grown with a fair degree Of success on
any type of soil except loose sand or heavy
sticky clay. provided the land is we'll
drained and contains the necessary plant
food