The Coconino sun., 1919-06-27
WHY COCONINO COUNTY
 POTATOES ARE FAMOUS
(By Nichols

cul tural Agent or Coconn0 County.)
 to talk about seed selection, but the,
 practiced better selection of seed. Al
 this time conditions were favorable
 for each farmer had plenty of tubers
 due to poor market for table stock
 in the spring, from which to make
 seed selection.
 The Peachblow were given rigid SC.
 lection making it possible to have cer-
 tified some seed though this was moi done in the fall of 1917. Other varie.
 ties of white sorts were retained and
 selected for quality. Among those discarded were the old-time White
 Star and Blue Victor.
 The results of the potato seed cam
 paign were better varieties, fewer varieties, and the treatment of seed for 324 acres. Formerly no seed dip ping against disease had been given During the summer of 1918 over ,5OO acres were inspected by the county agent in the field at blossoming time, Records on the following were taken where the fields were good: Variety, percentage of mixture, diseases, condi- tion, etc., and where the fields were not up to standard no record was taken.
 The data was recorded on printed blanks and a'permanent record kept of the different fields. A further se- lection was made in the fall of 1918, and the same methods of 1917 were repeated with good results.
 Potatoes were placed in the cellars in the fall of 1918 which showed great improvement over previous years. In several instances the marketable size were sold from the undesirable fields and the smaller sizes were left on the ground to freeze with no attempt at saving such undesirable seed. Others sold the small seed for hog feed. By these methods the farmers were rid ding themselves of the undesirable types.
 Seed potatoes that were sold last winter by the farmers, were very much better selected than heretofore. In every case where the farmer sold direct, the seed was hand selected. This will undoubtedly open a larger market for our seed for the coming year. Buyers now know that they can depend on fairly good selection and . square deal if the product is put out through the Farm Bureau. for it has been the Farm Bureau that has taken the lead with the county agent in the potato improvement work. The crop of 1919 is being planted from seed which has passed at least two years critical inspection. The best seed was placed in a class by itself and the entire seed crop of 1920 will be selects ed from this class. The poorer class will be discarded entirely.
 From a~beginning of 324 acres treated by the growers in 1918, 1,075 acres have been treated with corrosive sublimate this spring. At date of writing this the county agent is re- ceiving constant calls at the office for information on the method of treat ment. Seed treatment has been prof itable. One farm gave at digging time 66h per cent marketable from treat ed seed, while the untreated produced 50 per cent. Every acre from treated seed prdouced more tubers which had cleaner skin, better quality, better color and greater attractiveness.
 With field inspections this summer to further eliminate disease and vari- etal mixture, larger percentage of the crop will be possible for certifica- tion for seed. The Peachblow variety is in some fields already 99 per cent free from varietal Mixtures. Irish Cobbles are also about 90 per cent pure. and some of the other varieties are in the same class. These are two of the leading varieties for seed at present. The aim of the county is to produce nothing short of 5000 acres of certified seed for the following year.
 The local Farm Bureau is now ad- vertising seed potatoes treated and selected. This means that the farm CTS stand for quality and they intend to live up to it.
 In conclusion, it is hoped that Ari- zona, California. and New Mexico po- tato planters will realize that Coco nino county is a potato district where seed stands for quality. California growers should look to this county for seed. Some of the varieties now grown here are the kinds in demand in Southern California and Arizona. Other varieties popular in Southern California may be imported from Cali fornia and grown here for seed to the planters in the warmer, carly potato districts. Coconino pota- to fields among the pines on the cool elevated slopes of the San Francisco | Peaks may he counted upon to pro- | 1use seed tubers of high quality.