The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-11-19

SPUDS PROMISE
To BE POPULAR
Demand for High Quail
ity Seed for Next Years
Planting Exceeds Wis
IDLE Supply.
BY E. R. BENNETT,
Field Horticlturist, University of Ida
ho Extension Division

ne potato STOp OI 1udHO lot the
= season of 1920 is disappointing to the
grower. The yield has been good.
The price is bad. At the present price
only small proportion of the potato
growers of Idaho will receive the cost
of production for their crop. This
condition is not entirely unexpected.
The history Of potato growing in the
United States shows that without ex-
ception high priced seed seasons have
always been followed by low price
markets. This year, because of the
shortage of potatoes last spring. was
to be an exception. 1t was not.
Notwithstanding the low price of
potatoes at the present time, the call
for ceStified seed potatoes for next
season is already greater than the
supply. This is as it should be. The
most successful growers Of the COM
mercial districts appreciate the great
importance of clean, we'll selected
seed. They also realize the desirability
of securing their supply of seed in the
fall rather than to wait until planting
time in the spring.
What Is Certified seed7
There seems to BE considerable con-
fusion as to what is meant by "certi-
fled" seed potatoes, Some dealers
have advertised Certified seed pota-
toes" for sale when there were none
certified in the state. The certifica-
ton of seed is delegated by law to the
commissioner of seed of the state.
All certified seed of any kind in Idaho
must be certified by him.
The certification of seed potatoes
I'm Idaho is done under rather strin-
gent rules. The specifications for in
spection and certification we're formu-
lated by committee composed of del
egates from all the western states and
they have been adopted by the states
of California, Utah, Idaho, Oregon
and Washington Hence, certification
of seed potatos means the same thing
IN all the western states.
Small Amount Of Certified Seed.
This year las men in Idaho put in
plots of selected seed of either Idaho
Rurals or Melted Gem potatoes
Many of these were small plots plant
ed primarily for the purpose of build
ing up better strain of stock. The
total acreage of these plots amounted
to approximately $40 acres. OF this
number of fields or plots, 20 fulfilled
the requirements of the first and sec
ond field inspections. The total
amount of these plots is only l2o
acres or about 20 per cent. This
acreage should yield approximately
rs cars of certified seed, although a
part of the stock has already been
purchased by growers for next sea-
sons planting.
None of this stock has yet been
certified. 1t must first be sorted and
sacked ready for the seed market,
when it will be ready for inspection
and certification.
The grower or owner of potatoes
eligible for certification is given a
certificate OF inspection signed by the
state seed commissioner, showing the
variety, with acreage of same maxi
mum amount of seed stock, varietal
purity, average percentage of freedom
from disease, market condition and
quality.
Each sack so certified is also la
beled with tag which shows the
growers number or name, together
with the information contained in the
certification of inspections. Buyers Of
certified seed should insist on seeing
the certificate of inscction and see
\ that tags are attached to each sack.
Causes of Small Percentage.
Two diseases were chiefly respon-
sible for the failure of so many plots
TO pass the growing season inspection.
Blacklcg, a bacterial disease Of the
stem or tuber. has become increas.
ingly prevalent in the Idaho potato
fields. 1t has attacked both varieties
and has become a menace to the in
dustry. II is hard to eradicate from
seed stock except by hill-selecting
seed from the fields before frost and
then taking seed only from plants that
are free from the disease.
Spindly sprout, which is indicated
by dwarfing OF the plants, was much
in evidence in many fields Of Melted
Gems this year. The cause Of this
disease or condition is not we'll under
stood, but where more than IL per