The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-04-25
SEED POTATOES

TAsrs are nany people who hold
10 the idea that their seed potatoes
run sa ana that every year or two
they sua send away and buy new
seed. This practice keeps them
from securing the best results from
raising potatoes, particularly since
by ebaasing the seed every year or
two The grower does not give the
tuber a chance TO become acclimat-
ed and developed TO its best. This
can be overcome by selecting your
seed potsioes at digging time. selec'-
ing fhe tubers from hills where
there is a goodly number of medium
10 large potatoes that are free from
diseases and true 10 type. These
should be placed in separate boxes
or crates st digging time and stored
in such a way that they will not
sprout during the winter. This is
a comparatively simple method OF
saving your own seed potatoes, and
vet, il gives very satisfactory re-
suits. and after practicing three or
four or FIVE years it should increase
both the yield and the quality of the
tubers. when il comes TO select
ing the potatoes to be planted. one
should always keep in mind the type
of the potato that will nearest rep
resent their idea. Always make sure
10 select tubers free from disease
and Of at least a medium size. '
believe il is a mistake to plant small
potatoes but there are some people
who insist that one can plant small
potatoes and secure just as good
yield as from large ones, neverthe-
less. if this is kept up for several
years il has tendency to decrease
the size of the tuber. Secure, l.
possible. potatoes that will weigh
from 6 TO 8 ounces, cutting them in
such a way as TO have at least two
eyes on each seed piece. Do not cut
off the bud eyes and throw them
away, but quarter the bud end OF
the tuber. leaving one bud eye on
each quarter. These bud eyes are
usually very strong and will be the
first TO send out sprouts. Plant
these seed pieces IS inches apart in
the row, dropping one seed piece
to a place. This will give bet
ter results than where two or
more seed pieces are thrown to-
gether since the hill that has two
or three good. strong stems will
Weld more potatoes than the one
that has five or six. This can best
he accomplished by cutting the
seed potatoes to two eyes and plac-
ing the seed pieces singly.
The seed pieces should be plant
ed 4 to 6 inches deep in ground that
has been prepared to a depth OF 4
to 10 inches. Practice level Guilt
walton in so far as it is possible since
by ridging up the soil one exposes
more Of the soil particles to the dry
ing Of the sun and wind. hence
greater loss of moisture. IL may be
necessary TO throw some dirt on the
potatoes in order to keep the tubers
from sun-burning, but that is all
the ridging that will be necessary.
Il is much better to use five shovel
cultivator or a IL tooth harrow than
it is TO use a bull tongue pillow.
The Application of Fertilizer at
Planting Time
Avoid the use Of fresh manure,
especially hot manure. that will
come in contact with the tubers
since il favOrs the development o.
the disease known as the scab. In
case manure is TO be applied to the
potato ground. it should be applied
the previous fall so that it will be
allowed to decay and then pillow 1t
under in the spring. Compost or
well rotted manure will not do so
much damage as fresh manure. In
the use of commercial fertilizer use
one containing 2 to per cent OF
nitrogen and 10 to IS per cent oil
PHOSPHORUS. Apply at the rate OF
600 TO 1900 pounds per acre. broad
casting one half over the entire
ground and narrowing in and plac-
ing the other half in the row at
planting time. Nitrogen is too high
to buy. therefore grow soy beans,
cowpeas, or clover in order to get
your nitrogen supply.