Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-07-28
COUNTY SPUDS
SEEN ON TOUR
Seed Authorities, Others
Visit Pine City, Askov
Fields.
Annual Inspection Shows
Buyers How Minnesota
Seed is Raised.

Early Wednesday morning members
of the annual potato tour, sponsored
by the state department of Agricul-
ture and the extension division of the
University department of agriculture,
visited the Carl Madsen farm near
Askov where they viewed a field OF
Katahdin Seeding potatoes. The seed
of this potato was originated by the
United States Department of Agri-
culture and was tried on 80 farms in
Minnesota last year. Owing to its
promise the seed stock produced has
been planted again by several growers
including Mr.. Madsen. Mr.. Madsen's
field showed that the seed had been
carefully planted and cultivated being
free from weeds and insects. Being
a late yielder the tuber was not found
to be very large at the time of the
visit, but it appears to be an excel
lent table variety Since it is type
that is bred to have shallow eyes
thus eliminating waste.
Before coming to Askov those on the
tour inspected the excellent stand OF
80 acres of Irish Cobbler seed pota-
toes on the A. NJ. Challeen farm,
eight miles east of Pine City. About
rs people looked over Mr.. Challeen's
fine field which was free from bugs
and weeds. Short talks were given.
Three Day Tour.
The tour which started from Uni
versity Farm in st. Paul Tuesday
morning at 9 O'Clock, inspected farms
in Sherburne, Mile Laos, Isanti, Pine.
st. Louis and Itasca counties. The
purpose was to show buyers OF seed
potatoes how the Minnesota crop is
made under strict supervision, in
order that those who plant seed pota-
toes grown in Minnesota may be as
sured of pure strains of the standard
varieties of potatoes which at the
same time are free from those dis
eases which often cause growers of
table stock considerable losses. The
tour was under the direction of A. G.
Tolaas, who is in charge of the seed
certification work of the state depart
ment of agriculture, and of R. C.
agricultural extension division serv-
ice of the University of Minnesota.
Many Plant Authorities On Tour.
In the party which left University
dozen automobiles were among others,
DR.. F. A. Stevenson, in charge of po-
tato breeding work for the United
States Department of Agriculture; DR..
F. A. Krantz, potato breeding special
list of the university division of hor-
ticulture; DIR. ]. G. Leach, plant dis
ease specialist of the university de-
partment of agriculture; H. L. Parten,
insect pest specialist from the univer-
ity; r. A. Trovatten, state commits
sioner of agriculture; R. F. Hall Of
the state departments produce in
spection service; T. c. Henneghan,
Frank Sander and Harold Mattson,
seed potoato inspectors Of the state
department of agriculture; ]. G.
Wells, assistant county agent leader
of Michigan, accompanied by John
Delongchamp, grand champion potato
grower of Michigan; H. o. Merrill, a
dealer in seed potatoes from Cedar
Rapids, Iowa; Mr.. and Mrs. Patter-
son Balm of Missouri, with their son;
and Mr.. and Mrs. B. B. Cooley of Chi
cago, and w. P. Kirkwood, editor Of
publications at University Farm.
From Askov the tour proceeded to
Duluth where they visited the branch
experiment station near Duluth and
at Grand Rapids.
At each of the stops made, the
tourists were joined by large num-
bers of farmers, interested in potato
growing, who wished to learn more
about the business of growing certi-
fed seed potatoes, by listening to
talks by DR.. Stevenson, DR.. Krantz,
DR.. Leach, Mr.. Parten, Mr.. Rose, Mr..
Tolaas, and by farmers who had made
and are making a success of growing
certified seed such as command a
premium among table stock growers
in Minnesota and in other states.
From these men they learned the i'm
portance of maintaining seed plots,
of right methods of cultivation, Of
providing against potato diseases and
insect pests through frequent spray
ings, and of proper harvesting and
marketing.
Mr.. Tolaas says that the acreage
of seed potatoes entered for certifica-
ton this year is about normal, and
will be in the neighborhood of 4,200
acres. The principal market for seed
certified through the state department
of agriculture is in states farther to
the south. The demand comes from
growers OF potatoes for the table.
Growers who supply the consumer
market from more southern states
find that they can grow potatoes with