Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-01-27
FARMERS TOLD
TO PLANT GOOD
SEED POTATOES

Now that the farmers are beginning
TO plan for their crops this year the
following message on the growing of
potatoes in Georgia has just been is
sued by the department of botany,
Georgia experiment station, prepared
nv J. A. McClintock, botanist and
plant pathologist.
THE Irish potato especially the
spring crop. is becaming more i'm
portant in Georgia each year.
I'm the spring of 1918 many people
nlanted Irish potatoes with the eXpec-
tation of getting good yields, but at
harvest time some were greatly disap-
pointed at the small yields obtained
Various causes may account for the
moor Yields. 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 mo-
sale has been definitely proven to be
carried in the seed tubers Mosaic
manifests itself in the form of stunted
plants, with notified or varigateo
leaves. This nothing is due to a loss
of green coloring matter or chloro-
phyll, caused by the mosaic germ.
LAS it is in the leaves of the plant
that the starch is made which is Sta
ed in the underground stems to form
tubere any disease which reduces 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 car
ry the disease to the next crop, and
SO on as long as such potatoes are
used for seed. Since potatoes attack
ed by Mosaic never recover, they
should not be used for seed.
Fortunately, for the potato grower,
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 varieties of Irish pOta
toes have been grown under Observa-
ton for several years in Georgia and
other Southern states, and definite
recommendations can now be made to
aid growers in selecting good seed.
I'm the spring of 1918, observations
made throughout Georgia showed that
the Bliss Trimphy potato was serious
ly effected with Mosaic, wherever
grown, regardless of the source of
the seed. This variety which is a
medium sized, spherical shaped pota-
to, with a reddish colored skin, is also
known under the names of Bliss, Red
Bliss and Triumph 1t is reasonably
safe to suspect any potato conforming
to the above description is a Bliss
Triumph, even though sold under an
other name and the changes are so
great that seed of this variety will be
diseased with mosaic regardless 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 varieties. such
as the Irish Cobbler.
-eAL9sqo 9Q lno 1890 B}gp 6s7qL,,
ton that potatoes which are not at
tackled by Mosaic give larger yields,
for it it known that the Irish Cobbler
is practically free from mosaic wher-
ever grown. The Irish Cobbler is a
good sized, white skinned potato, ra-
Their fattened in shape, and having
deep-set eyes. 1t is also sold under
the name of Cobblet
"The Early Rose is another spring
crop potato which has given good re-
suits in some sections. A selection of
this variety, known as Rose 4, is rails
ed extensively in the potato-growing
sections of Florida.
Taking everything into considera-
tion the irish CObbler is the variety
best adapted for spring crop potato
in all sections of Georgia. 1t is the
best yielder, and one of the earliest
maturing varieties grown. Growers
will do we'll to use the Irish Cobbler
for seed in preference to any 9th
variety which can be obtained for
spring-crop potato"