PREPARING SEED POTATOES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2255, 30 October 1875, Page 3

PREPARING SEED POTATOES.

. (MELBOURNE LEADER.) As potato planting time approaches information gleaned by recent experiments upon the question of cutting seed potatoes may be profitably alluded to. It will be remembered that some time ago considerable attention was attracted to the extraordinary yields per acre obtained in America by competitors for a 100 dollar prize offered by a firm of American seedsmen. This firm supplied the seed at 3 dollars per lb. of a new variety of potatoeß that they wished to introduce, aad the prize was awarded to the grower who raised the largest yield from 1 lb. of seed. This led to the cutting up the tubers into single eyes and even to pieces containing a half or forth part of an eye, and to Buch special planting and culture of the Bets as cannot be followed in raising potatoes as a remunerative field crop under ordinary circumstances. The fact that this test has proved itself anything but a satisfactory one from a practical point of view haa led to later experiments, the object of which has been to asscertain the best manner of preparing Beed so as to resist drought, and ensure the largest yield under ordinary field culture. One of the most elaborate of these experiments has been conducted by Mr F. M. Hexamer, a large potato grower of West Chester County, New York. He planted separate rows in the same field with one large whole potato ; two large half potatoes, cut off lengthwise ; one seedend of large potato ; one large half potato, cut lengthwise ; one large potato, cut off ; one stem-end of large | ; two small whole potatoes ; two i pieces with one eye each ; one piece with four eyes ; one piece with three eyes ; one whole medium, sized potato ; one whole small ; one piece with one eye ; and one half small potato ; and subjected each to exactly the same system of culture. Thetreatment embraced deep prepatory stirring of the soil, liberal manuring, and constant attention during growth between the rows with the horse-hoe, and with the hand -hoe between the plants to keep weeds down and the soil in that clean loose friable state found beat adapted for the absorption and retention of moisture during hot weather. The yields were at the rate of 114, 106, 106, 101, 100, 99, 87, 71, 70 70, 67, 64, 60, 53, 45, 33, bushels per acre for each of the classes of sets named, while <he quantity of large potatoes ran from 76£ per cent, in those obtained from the large whole potato sets down to 58 per cent, in those obtained from 'he small potatoes cut in half, and the pieces with one eye. Another experimenter, MrD. A. Compton, of Wayne Counry, Pennsylvania, who is the author of aa h - Btructive essay on the potato and i ( 3 cultivation, states as the result of his experience that with rare varieties and i.i moist situations cutting to single eyes i 3 certainly advisable, but in dry springs he is confident the main crop is greatly injured by cutting the seed. In the spring of 1874, after the seed had been taken to the field he cut through the centre of the lot ; being pressed for time, the rest were planted whole, one tuber in each hill. Soon after planting, the ground became very dry, and continued so a long time. The cut seed suffered greatly, growing very slowly, while the uncut seed made commendable progress. At the final cultivation there were 10 inches difference in the vines in favor of the uncut seed, and a great difference remained throughout the season ; so much in fact that no one would have supposed both were of one variety. Digging showed a still greater difference in favor of the uncut seed, the tubers of which were at least twice as numerous and of better size. From these experiments it would appear that the large whole potatoes give the greatest yield, and the very small one and single eyes the least. It may not follow, however, that the planting of large whole tubers would invariably be the most profitable practice, as these are the most valuable for marketable purposes ; and the extra value of the seed must be taken into account in calculating the relative profit from the increased yield. As far as we can judge from the experiments, however, the principle of planting uncut seed appears to offer pood claims to attention, especially in a climate subject to drought, such a3 ours is, during the potato-growing season. If the largest and finest tubers of the crop should not be reserved for seed, a selection of medium-Bized sound tubers might profitably be used, and in any case the present custom, which too largely prevails, of selecting almost the refuse of the crop for Beed and cutting it into minute portions to make it go as far possible, may safely be condemned as most shortsighted policy. The practice of the American growers in itself of making experiments on the foregoing and other matters is worthy of commendation, and might be profitably imitated by Australian agriculturist. In this practical way valuable inrfoflttation ise licited, which not only benefits the experimenters but the country generally in which they live.