Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1923-04-05
GIVES ADVICE ON
TREATING SEED
POTATOES

A uLIle care IN selecting ana treat
ing seed potatoes may mean the differ
ence between a good yield of clear
marketable potatoes and a low yield
of diseased ones, says q statement is
sued by Carl M. Grayson, county agri
cultural agent
Those badly infected with the sclero-
cia of Rhizoctonia (black spots ON the
tubers) had best be discarded from the
seed, as the larger masses of the fun
gus are not likely to be killed by the
treatment. 1t is also well to cut a
thin slice from the stem end of several
hundred of the tubers to ascertain if
there is any great amount of infection
in the vascular tissue which is indicat-
ed by a circle of brown or discOlored
tissue. Tubers affected with this dis
ease should not be planted and should
! therefore be sorted out before treating
to avoid waste.
The most commonly recommended
treatment for seed potatoes is corros-
i've sublimate (mecuric chloride) in
water, at tie strength of 4 ounces of
corrosive sublimate in 30 gallons of
water. The tubers should remain IN
the solution ninety minutes. Dissolve
the corrosive sublimate in an earthen-
ware receptacle with hot water before
placing the material in cold water. II
this work use only earthen or wooden
receptacles, as the trea ting materials
are corrosive to metals. Corrosive
sublimate is poisonous to all animals
hence care must be eXercised to pre-
vent animals from drinking the sol
luton or eating the treated potatoes.
The chemical is rapidly weakened
by use. The strength of the solution
can best be maintained by adding on,
ounce for every 500 pounds treated
keeping the volume of the solution con-
slant. This treatment retardS the de-
velopment of the buds to some extent. |
so it is best to treat at least ten days |
before the seed is out. III must be |
remembered that this treatment kills |
only the spores or germs of scab o. |
Rhixcotonia and does not proven |
these diseases if the potatoes are |
planted in infested soil, nor does ii |
prevent the Fusarium wilt or other |
diseases of the interior of the stem or |
tuber.
Some growers advocate the planting |
OF whole potatoes. Repeated expert |
ments in Idaho indicate that this is
not a profitable practice for two rea-
sons First, unless very small tubers
are used the system is extravaganza in
tnat an excessive amount must be |
used. Second, this process produces
so great percentage of small tubers
that the total weight of marketable
potatoes is less than where cut seed
is used.
As general statement, we may say
potatoes are usually cut into too small
pieces. Experiments extending over
long periods show that the greatest
Weld of marketable-sized potatoes ie
obtained when seed pieces weighing
two ounces are used. The danger of
planting too small a piece is that a
spindly, weak plant results, that never
reaches the size and productivity that
would be obtained if the seed piece had
been larger.
If the potato is cut so as to have
as little cut surface as possible and
into pieces that weigh from one and {
)ne-half to two ounces there is almost
sure to be at least one bud. which is Z
enough on the piece. The best way to
cut the potato is to first make a ]
longitudinal cut, beginning at the seed
nd. then cut the tuber again at right {
,ngles into as many pieces as is nee {
ssary. Very large potatoes some $
lines need to be cut longitudinally, q
irst into four pieces before the cross
uts. u
A simple vet efficient contrivnncr ]
or cutting potatoes is TO drive a
ase or pairing knife into tho end of il
piece of board in such a way thar
he operator can sit on the board and v
ush the potato across the upright /
lade of the knife. Potatoes should
@ planted as soon as is convenient
fter they are cut