The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-03-18
LARGE YIELD OF sPUDS
HINT IS GIVEN TO THE MR..
POTATO GROWER
Specialist From the State Uni
versity Makes Some vaIua-
BILE Suggestions

"Mr. Potato Grower, are you in
terested in getting a larger yield
from your acreage, as well as better
grade of stock?" asks r, C. Rose, po-
tato specialist with the agricultural
extension division Of the state uni
versity. IF you are, then why not
join the movement to maintain potato
seed plots and develop high grade
seed that has record for production
and freedom from disease. Just re-
member that good seed will always
give good returns under favorable
conditions, while poor seed is always
uncertain"
Mr.. Rose points out that the aver
age yield of potatoes in this country
is around 95 bushels an acre, while
in Great Britain and Germany the
average Is about 200 bushels an acre.
Several things may contribute to this
great disparity in yields, but Mr.. Rose
is positive that difference in methods
Of propagation and handling seed are
the greatest factors. Growers of po-
tatoes across the big pond are usually
very careful about their seed. Amer
lean growers, on the other hand, are
rather lax, relying too much on bin
ing to control diseases. These meth
DDS are all good, as far as they go.
but they do not reach all the seed
borne diseases and weaknesses which
may be present.
. What Constitutes Good Seed.
What constitutes good seed? Mr..
Rose replies that high grade seed
should be of high yielding strain of
a standard variety which is vigorous
and free from diseases. In building
up high grade seed stock the unpro-
ductive strain should be eliminated
Just as the boarder cows are cast out
Stacker hen is removed from the best
producing focks.
The general maintenance Of potato
seed plots will, in the opinion Of Mr..
Rose, gradually increased the average
production in this country. Mime
sofa potato growers" he says. "are
advantageously located for seed plots,
and it should be the aim Of every pro-
production by the seed plot method.
Not only the grower Of table stock.
but also growers of certif ID seed,
should have special plots for improv-
ing their seed. A seed plot should
consist of about one-twelfth of the
entire acreage to provide enough seed
for the following year. If possible, il
should be on land that has not grown
potatoes for at least Ave years.
Medium Sized Tubers Preferred
MEDIUM sized tubors are prefer
red for seed. Large ones are not eco
nomfcal, and the planting of small
ones involves the danger Of increas-
ing the proportions Of degenerate
plants in the stock, as weak plants
generally produce small bulbs. The
ideal size of seed potatoes is from
five to eight ounces. AS an additional
precaution against such diseases as
scab and black scurf, the seed ought
to be soaked in a solution of corrosive
sublimate a ounces in 80 gallons of
water) for an hour and one half"
The seed plot should be carefully
inspected at least twice during the
growing season, the first inspection
at blossoming time and the second
Just before the plants die, and all
varietal mixtures and diseased and
and weak plants removed
Results are not apparent so quickly
with the seed plot methods considered
in the foregoing as in the tuber- unit
of hill method. However, the latter
method requires much more labor than
the first. Anyone interested in 1t will
md it described in detail in Mime
sofa Agricultural Extension Bulletin
No 20