DAIRY AND SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETINGS. 267 



been disinfected ; otherwise all the work of disinfection may be 

 easily undone. 



After the tubers have dried off they should be cut into large, 

 blocky pieces, having at least one eye, and that as nearly in 

 the center of the outside surface as ipossible. The small eye 

 nearest the stem is weak and should be disregarded in cutting, 

 or, if the potato^ is large, may be cut off and thrown away. 

 Just as the buds nearest the end of an apple tree twig of the 

 present year's growth are the strongest, and will grow the most 

 rapidly, while those near the base will remain dormant, unless 

 the ones beyond them are pruned away, in the same mann^^r 

 when a potato is planted whole, two or three sprouts will grow 

 from the seed end and the others remain dormant, yet when the 

 tuber is cut all will start and grow vigorously. Large, blocky 

 seed works better in the planter, supplies more food for the 

 yoiung plants, and is less likely to be injured by dry or wet 

 weather, fertilizer or disease. 



A great many farmers use some kind of drier to take up the 

 moisture from the cut surface and to aid it in glazing over. 

 Sometimes, dry dust which has gathered under the rack is used 

 for that purpose. Such a drier is liable to contain vast numbers 

 of germs and spores causing potato diseases. Its general use 

 cannot be too strongly condemned. 



Lime is often used as a drier, but it should not be used for the 

 following reasons : First, lime, whether air-slaked or hydrate^, 

 is more or less caustic and may injure the seed; and second, 

 its use in the ground induces scab. It does not cause scab, but 

 because of its "sweetening" properties, makes conditions favor- 

 able for the growth of scab and that at the very point of attack. 

 Do not use lime ; use gypsum, or land plaster. It is cheaper, 

 more satisfactory, and has no injurious effects. 



Some growers consider sulphur the most satisfactory drier 

 }et tried. It is to a certain extent a disinfectant; a very little 

 does the work very well indeed, and cut seed seems to keep 

 longer and in better better condition when it has been used. 

 The cost is higher than that of gypsum, and on a windy day, 

 sulphur and fertilizer are rather trying on the eyes of the man 

 who is operating the planter. 



It is the custom in some places to turn the potatoes down on 

 the grass two or three weeks before they are to be planted and 



