236 Bulletin 230. 



Late planting is practiced rather extensively in New York State 

 and it is quite probable that the state's yield is kept at the low 

 average of 90 bushels per acre by this practice. 



The late-planted tubers of the crops of both years were of poor 

 quality from the consideration of both mealiness in boiling and 

 physical aspects. The seed tubers germinated readily and the 

 plants grew vigorously until the ground was entirely covered. Be- 

 cause of the short season, the late-planted areas could not be culti- 

 vated nor sprayed so often as the early-planted portions; yet a 

 greater average number of tubers were formed in each hill, though 

 they were smaller. Toward the close of the seasons as the nights 

 became cool, the plants ceased to grow and finally withered even 

 before frost. The tubers, however, were not mature. In very few 

 instances could one be found with a netted skin, and they did not 

 assume this appearance later in the season, as often happens with 

 mature tubers. In all instances noted, the cortical layer was poorly 

 defined. The external medullary area was not uniform, being 

 permeated by water areas and branches of the internal medullary 

 area. This portion was large in the center with branches more or 

 less well defined running into the surrounding portion. The texture 

 of the tubers as indicated by cutting, was in all instances more or 

 less leathery and watery. As the knife passed through the tuber 

 there was not imparted that feeling of snappiness manifested by 

 tubers of normal development and good quality. To express in 

 exact terms this conception of texture is not an easy matter, but 

 one's judgment soon ripens into a keen sense of the difference. After 

 boiling, these late planted tubers retained their form and were 

 soggy. The flavor and color also were not attractive and the liquor 

 in which they were boiled had a pronounced taste and odor. 



The specific gravity of these tubers from the crops of both years 

 was a little less than that of normal tubers, averaging 1.07 and 1.08 

 respectively. All of these facts and observations point to the belief 

 that in these immature potatoes, starch elaboration and cellular 

 formation had not advanced to normal. Although the vines of the 

 potatoes planted late, as these were, may die normally at the close 

 of the season, yet this does not assure ripeness of the tubers. Ma- 

 turity is essential to high quality in potatoes. 



It was also observed that about 75-80 per cent of these immature 

 tubers were readily attacked by the disease called "Internal brown." 

 This disease seems to be due to some physiological derangement or 

 to bacterial action. It usually takes its origin in the internal medul- 

 lary area and is indicated at first by a browning of the tissue. Later the 



