SPROUTING SEED POTATOES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 449, 6 March 1909, Page 3

SPROUTING SEED POTATOES.

. _ Judging from tho progress which the practice ot sprouting seed potatoes has made in recent years, the time, is not very far distant when it will be universal. With the possible exception-of the spraying process, no modern innovation has influenced potato growing to so vital a degree as that -of eproutrag the tubers before planting. At Urst, as is well known, the system was believed to have useful application only in the ease, of early varieties, and in regard to these its effect was. apparent in accelerating the growth rather'than in increasing the yield in the case of early sorts accelerated ripening is, of course, of much greater significance than augmented returns, as after the nrst week or two prices fall so rapidly that no addition to the bulk could atone for even » week a delay in the produce being ready for sale. The boxing system, as it is termed to Ayrshire, where it was first adopted on anv »nsiderable scale, considerably hastened the iatunty of the orop, and, in fact, enabled Jne farmers on the'mild Ayrshire coast to compete with the early crops in Cornwall and even in the Channel Islands. ' But the. practice has developed far beyond anticipations. It has been found to be equally effective in respect to the late or main crop varieties, and in-Great Britain, and especially in Ireland, the system of iprouting the seed potatoes in boxes during the winter is rapidly gaining ■ exponents' among growers of late potatoes. The advantage in this respect is not altogether, or chiefly, m that the ripening .of the crop is accelerated for in regard to main crop potatoes early harvesting may be of minor consideration. The practice has other merits t^SS"^ I*,1* , beyond tk Blight extra trouble that it entails in the storing of the tubers there are no objections, to & urged against it Not the least important consideration>s that greater, latitude is permissible L «,&£ Plwrtm * So that th ° grower is sot under the necessity of putting the seed fflto a badly prepared tilth/ Whatever time may be lost by delaying the plantin* can !L m s n™f 0 V y rtT&b* th P e growth of the sprout. Sprouted potatoes yield better than, and are at least as/unsproutS seed planted a month earlier. Altogether ier less liable to irregular production and yield larger returns of weltdeveloped' tub.The Irish Department of Agriculture hai given prominent attention to the sprouS of seed potatoes, and the results of the* experiences, both on crops under their own direct supervision and on other farms durinu the past few years, supply convincing testimony as to the economy and utility of• the practice. In an official report it is stated that in the five years 1903-1907 271 tests were earned out, and, averaging the yields per awe, that from sprouted seed works out at 11 tons 12cwt;, compared with 9 tons 9cwt showing an average gain in yield due to sprouting of 2 tons 3cwt. There can be no doubt as to the importance of this difference for tho advantage in favour of sprouting is as consistent as it is substantial, and if over ft has failed to show a clear gain there was Borne sufficient reason to account for the failure. The genornl custom is to place the potatoes intended for seed in the boxes when the crop is lifted in the autumn. This plan, though not essential, saves labour, and facilitates control of the sprouting process, as the tubers are always under observation, and the growth of the sprout can be regulated by exposure to light or darkness, heat or cold, as discretion may advise, darkness and warmth promoting rapid development, while light and cold retard growth and toughen the iprout; Ihe practice in vogue in some districts of storing the boxes in cowsheds and stables has the objection that it is liable to encourage too vigorous a growth. The cooler atmosphere of a barn or shed is moro suitable, and injury from frost may be prevented by covering the top row of boxes with straw or sacks at such times as there is the nsk of severe frost. If ifc j 3 desired to quicken growth the boses can be removed where they will be subject to artificial heat, but this -jgdow accessary.