The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1919-01-31
Plant Good Irish Potato Seed

spring crop, is DecOnllIiB ill'"o iiN
portant in Georgia each year.
In the spring Of 1918 many peo-
pie planted Irish potatoes with the
expectation OF getting good yield. ;
hut at harvest time some were great
" disappointed ut the small yields
obtained.
Various causes may account Tor
the poor vields, but one cause which
was observed throughout the State,
was the diseased seed potatoes used.
Some potato diseases are not carried
in the seed, but the disease which
caused many poor crops last year,
Potato Mosaic, has been definitely
proven to be carried 1t the seed tu-
bers. Mosaic manlfests itself ia the
form OF stGnted plants, with mottleG
or yarigated leaves This nothing
is due to loss Of green coloring
matter or Chlorophyll, caused BY
the Mosaic germ.
AS it is in the leaves Of the plant
that the starch is made which is
stored in the underground stems to
form tubers, any disease which re-
duces the starch production in the
leaves, results in a reduced yield Of
tubers.
Potatoes produced by diseased
plants are diseased, and if such po-
tatoes are used for seed, they will
carry the disease to the next crop,
and go on as long as such potatoes
are used for seed. Since potatoes
attacked by Mosaic never recover,
they should not be used for seed.
Fortunately. for the potato grow
er, some varieties of Irish potatoes
are more resistant to the Mosaic
disease than others, and this fact
should be considered in selecting
seed potatoes. A number of yarie-
ties of Irish potatoes have been
grown under observation for several
years in Georgia and other Southern
States, and definite recommends
tions can now be made to aid grow.
ers in selecting good seed.
In the spring of 1918, obserya~
tions made throughout Georgia,
showed that the Bliss Triumph POI
tato was seriously effected with
Mosaic wherever grown, regardless
of the source Of the seed. This va
riety, which is medium sized,
spherical shaped potato, with a
reddish colortd skin, is also known
under the names of Bliss, Red Bliss
and Triumph. 1t is reasonably
safe to suspect that any potato con
forming to the above description is
q Bliss Triumph, even though sold
under another name, and the chanc-
es are great that seed of this variety
will be diseased with Mosaic regard
less Of where the seed were raised.
Records obtained at the Georgia
Experiment Station, and in various
parts of the State since 1915, prove
that the Bliss Triumph does not
give as large Yields as other yane-
ties, such as the Irish Cobber.
These data bear out the observa-
sion that potatoes which are not at
tackled by Mosaic give larger yields,
for it is known that the Irish Cobb
Ter is practically free from Mosaic,
wherever grown. The Irish Cobbler
is a good sized, white skinned pota-
to. rather flattened in shape, and
having deep set eyes. 1t is also
sold under the name of Cobbler.
The Early Rose is another spring
crop potato which has given good
results, in some sections. A selection
of this variety, known as Rose 4, Ks
raised extensively in the potato
growing sections of Florida.
Taking everything into consider
alton, the Irish Cobbler is the va
rietv best adapted for spring crop
potato in all sections Of Georgia. 1t
is the best yielder, and one of the
earliest maturing varieties grown,