Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1923-09-21
SELECTING
SEED POTATOES

Prof. VIM. Stuart OF the U. 8. De.
partment Of Agriculture says. in hia
book on "The Potato" just from the
press this year. THE Importance OF
using good seed potatoes can scarce
ly be over-emphasized. The Gus
ssaary practice Of using what II
left from the seasons crop. after
marketing or consuming the best Of
Il, must be discontinued II the pres
ent quality and yield Of the potato
II to be materially improved or in
creased. 1t is as useless for the po-
aato grower to expect maximum
yields from inferior seed stock as
for the dalryman to hope to develop
. superior milking strain from scrub
stock. Nature does not work in that
way"
Good seed must be pure with re-
epect to variety; II should be pro-
duced . by healthy vigorous good
yielding plants. The best way to
secure this good seed is to breed
It up from special seed plot selec-
tion. on the farm. where the COM
mercial crop is grown. II one feels
that he cannot do this. then he
should seek to get this seed from
someone who CAN and DOES do
this.
To start a seed plot for the next
year. select special hills that show
desirable type, grown on healthy
vines. free from disease. Dig these
special hills before the main crop
n harvested. Place In sacks where
same can be well cured. away from
1ntense sunlight but with good cir
culation of air.
The writer knows OF instances
where. by using field run or average
bin seed. has produced one sack OF
culls to an average OF twenty sacks
OF commercial potatoes. Use OF seed
grown In seed plot. has reduced. on
these same farms. the production OF
Gull potatoes to one sack OF culls to
200 sacks OF commercial potatoes.
This season. weather condition.
have been favorable to the growth
Of fungus diseases that prey on po-
tatoes. There are . multitude of
them we cannot here take time to
enumerate or describe. The one
that is causing the greatest loss to
Colorado potato growers. and. which
10 one OF the hardest to combat. 10
. disease known ~ Mosaic. II 10
now found In 81 potato states. 1t
- credited with cutting down yield
aud reducing quality. The only way
70 successfully combat Mosaic 10
Through rigid seed selection. since
fhis disease In transmitted through
infected tubers. When digging hills
for seed. take special care to select
Aills that show the characteristics
OF the variety grown and have
good yield Of clean. market stock
tubers.
A definite system OF using hill
selected seed has made the Conrad
johnson strain of Irish Cobblers the
very best In the United States. II
has increased the yield per hill and
fixed the definite type most desired.
In q similar way Il. A. Chisholm OF
Del Norte and the Sweet Seed Farm
Of Carbondaie have developed a most
desirable strain OF Russet Burbank
potato. II is this kind OF work that
must be done with our San Luis
Brown Beauty II its good qualities
are to be perpetuated. Also similar
work with Peach Blows and other
commercial potato types.
Seed Selection pays rich dividends
and the potato farmer can not afford
20 plant other than GOOD SEED.
In the fall. before he digs his com
nercial crop, he should secure his
CHOICEST potatoes for his next
years seed plot. This liz the first
essential for POTATO SUCCESS.
4 W. II. OLIN.
Supervisor Of Agriculture.
Denver Caln Sapt "A 1907