The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1920-02-13

weak poIulo aIta|ns exist |a lIf'r
fields. The weak hiIIn and utra.
lionel missing h|'|s il \ field are
fpun'd either hy disease ~ ny nsi.
ufaIlf Ncht tefd pololofs.
Tho heal known way ~ ,ielrf.
mine The rUndllion OF your sead
stock with regard 10 these weak
points " 10 pfofe nc unaIll, ~
YOUR scsd stock on your avn,
Farm BY the lubcf unit method -
testing here described
DeirFminsilgn ~ Tnbcr Uinii.
= Select frum the BIN a unm
Der preferably ~ 10 l0ol NJ the
best and most characteristic 20
uioe. o. the variety yuu irr.
2 Cut each u li.ess selected ro-
laioes lenefsrias into four piefes
10 The cutting IN The field A. the
potaiocs are planted.
B. Plant The four pieces from
each tuber m adloininH hills IN
the row NJ uniform distances apori
After The fourth piece of each po-
taio has been plaufcd skip one
space and then plant Tho four
pieces Of The ncrt one. Each group
Of four hills from The same tuher
u = tuber unit
l. Observe chiefly The folIowinp
things a. these iubers grow:
ta-) Observe Tho difference IN.
length Of time required for the.
various units 70 puslr through the.
coil after planting.
o. Take notice that the four
hills from The same tubcr are uni
form W their behavior o. 10 rate.
Of growth and sine. visor and dis
case freedom Of The plant.
co. Take notice that spme
groups " four plants. or iuhrr
units. are very strung and vienr-
Gus, sumo other units are Yer,
weak, and some represent varior =
intermediate stages. but alw5ys.
Tho four plants In the same unit
are similar in viRor.
d. n any tubers not true 20.
the variety or nny belonging a. rn-
other variety IRE present. They.
can often be detected by the dif.
ference In their tops.
5. Digging che luber units
la.) Dig all The iuhcr unit
bills by hand.
lb.l Note that The various hills
within q unit are uniform with rr
gard 10 yield. quality. number ~
potatoes. etc. while there " consul
erahlo difference between the N
rious units.
lc.l Note that tho higl-yiehl-
ine hills r always under vigorous
plants.
6. Lessons taught by The tuhcr
unit test NJ seed POTATOES:
a. A tuber unit test will show
that many lots ~ seed potatoes
contain many low. weak-yiclding
strains Of potatoes ~ well rs
high yielding onee and that The
total yield Of the field aud total
quality rs greatly reduced by these
weak stratus ~ potatoes IN The
lot. n also shows that q WY
large proportion Of Tho little pota-
toes or oulls are produced by the
weak hills. Consequently when III
Tie potatoes are used for seed the
number ~ these low yicldine or
weak bills is greatly increased.
Thai 10 why seed stocks run out
IN good potato regions.
d. n a strain Of POTATOES r-o-
duces many weak or low yield
ing iuber units of potaiocs u 10
nol very desirable for seed pur-
poses. Tho weak strains -harid
be eliminated by planting 4 seed
plot with seed from only the boz
ter units. discardinE entirely the
weak units for seed purposes.
lc.) Anyone interested IN I'M
proving his seed stock can do 80
ny saving seed from the high yield
ING units or hills.
For further information on y
simple method of hill unit plant
selection. inquire 9f the coun'y
agent or the horticultural depart