Sprouted or Unsprouted Seed.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 August 1911, Page 4

Sprouted or Unsprouted Seed.

There, is nothing very new in tlvo ]>la,n. of allowing potato seed to sprout ho fore planting, but thore has been little definite data concern-. j ing reunite available foi , tho farmer. ITIio Victorian Department has boon carrying out som© very and a few facts are available "which are, decidedly interesting. Tn 1908 when, the trials began, sprouted seed as compared to the unsprouted showed an inrien.se"'of productioiii equal Ito £3o per acre from soino varictj ies, while the whole field showed an average of over four tons, of £2S per aero, tiw market price of potatoes being £7 per ton. Tho experiment was repeated in the- season 190.9-10. when the increased yield from tho spro'ifccd seed was over two tons per aero, while for tho present season the difference in favour of the sprouted seed varied from 21 tons to fil tons per acre. Surely such results as these are enough to make til re farmer who persists in adopting the old nlan j pause and consider? Tf not he would Hardly be disturbed by an earthquake .unless he found tho I house crumbling down around his ears. The expert who was in charge of tbse trials says the chief advantages of sprouting Rood in trays is due to the fact that the 'plants come ovor around very quickly, and thus meet with more genial 1 <reathor than when planted early. They escape the early frost, are moreJ vigorous, and ar° therefore , better j able to resist disease. Sprouted seed may be planted eight weeks i liter than imsprontod. wl! ! "li the svsjte.ni affords an opportunity not otherwise available of rejecting weak , tubers. There will lie less mis«es in tho crop. ft nl'-o reduces th.e ncrconlnge of unmarketable tubers. Tn tho=o trials every ton of potatoes was worth at least J ~s more Ihan the very best of il\e oM'or potntnrs when compared. Tfc was P'>iirted out by the Victorian oxnp'i tint tho seed should 'be placed in trays as soon as duo;, or as soon as possible after difr<Wno\ Thf travs niav lie stacked on io'n of each •other at that stage so .as to economise space in t 1 sh"ds. niri when the buds nrp started they should lie placed w rncke V) allow tlio lieht to won and toughen the sprout. Tf the tubers do not show much signe of vitality they should be covered with a little straw, or old brers nv'iv bo used, to ex"!?! ,1 ; , the liVht. AVhpin the sprouts are produced'this way fbe seed must lir , exiles" , ! tr> the linfht for a week or two to harden off before, pi on ti The tubers handle host when t!ve sprouts are nn inch .to » n » inch :"i'l a riMni'fer in length. All varieties are not equally suitable for this treatment. Tn some sort* the sprouts do not, take hold of the tuber*, so tint thev •m - e easily knocked off when handled.. Tli" best results were got from cut , seed.