Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-05-18
REPORT ON POTATO SEED
EXPERIMENTS 1M TEXAS

Of Montana seed as compared with seed
from other states. MIR. Courtice says re-
suits were gratifying.
Seed used in these Texas demonstra-
tons were certified Bliss Triumphs do
mated by Montana growers. Small con-
trlbutions from many growers making
I'D the carload were assembled by Mr..
Isaac, Northern Pacific and Great North
ern railways contributing TO a fund at
the agricultural college used in detray-
Ing expenses of the project.
Plans for handling the demonstrations
IN Texas were worked out between the
horticultural departments of the Mon
tana extension division and that OF
Texas. w. P. Stapleton of the Northern
Pacific making initial contacts a year
ago.
The shipment was distributed in sew
eral Texas counties through county
agents, who selected men to whom the
potatoes were given for demonstrations
Bore Montana Tags
Each contribution bore the Montana
State certihcation tag. with the name OF
the grower. The plan for the demonstra-
lions was that the seed be planted in
comparison with Texas grown seed and
seed from other northern states. The
identity of the grower of each lot was TO
be kept by planting each lot in a separ-
ate row. In most cases the plan was
carefully followed by Texas farmers who
received the Montana seed.
In general. the Montana seed showed
up as good or better than other Northern
grown seed and was far superior to
southern grown seed. giving better
stands, thriftier growth and always ap-
peared q month to six weeks In advance
Of southern seed planted on the same
date. Where the identity of the seed
samples was kept. some striking differ
ences were noted in seed stock from diff
ferent Montana growers. some showed
much thriftier growth than others. Vary
ing percentages of disease were easily
checked. Some seed showed more miss
ing hills than others. In some instances,
a whole row would be noticeable, being
ou~tstandingly poor or good. This condi-
ton could be detected as far as rows
could be seen.
Demonstrations conducted by the
Texas potato men and visited by the
Montana delegation were at Galveston,
Dickinson, Eagle Lake, Wharton, San
Benito. Brownsville, San Antonio. Wes-
laco and Garlic Springs, representing a
wide variation in soil. climatic and mar
keting conditions, ranging from a region
where Irish potatoes have never been
4 IL RlACA1 CIV hAAA0a6a hAA%
winter garden section of Garlic Springs
and the lower Rio Grande valley TO big
potato growing sections of Wharton and
Eagle Lake, where each planter grows
from 100 TO 1900 acres of potatoes. Mon
tana seed was given a thorough trial. &C
cording to MIR. Courice.
Disease and insect pests are the big
limiting factor in production Of early
market potatoes In the south. 1t is ap-
parent that the former can be controlled
only by the purchase of good northern
grown certified seed. Diseases which cut
down the southern yield are those known
as virus diseases. those not controlled by
seed treatment. The most prevalent
we're mosaic and and spindler tuber, with
some rh~izoctonia and black leg showing.
Guard Against Disease
Utmost care should be exercised by
Montana growers to keep disease condt-
lions down to the minimum, If they are
to hold the confidence of southern grow
ers, because the extent to which q slight
infection here will multiply under favor
able conditions of the south is almost
unbelievable. The standards and re-
quirements cannot be made too rigid for
the good Of Montana growers of certified
seed for the south. The southern plant
ers' memory Of one bad carload Of seed
will outlast the effects OF 25 cars OF good
stock.
Mr.. Courtice enthusiastically says that
there is q large potential market for a
gradually increasing quantity Of Montana
certified seed potatoes In Texas. Dealers
and cooperative organizations show a
live interest in trials of the Montana
product. Growers. however, hould not
rush in, but establish confidence first by
sending out a quality product nat will
build up confidence for development OF
a seed potato market OF large proportions
in the future, he advised.