No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURF:. 299 



An application of 4U0 pounds to the gicre is about ilie ininimuni 

 quantity that will produce good results, while about SOO pounds 

 will possibly be the most profitable on land prepared as already 

 described. Because of having liad a number of miserable failures 

 by the use of small potatoes for »eed, 1 have, for the last' ten or 

 twelve years, used nothing but well-formed, large and medium-sized 

 tubers for this purpose, and since then have had not one crop that 

 could be termed a failure. Seed should be cut down to contain not 

 less than two or three eyes, exercising care to divide the seed 

 ends, as far as practicable, without having too little flesh remaining 

 to the seed pieces. They should average not less than an inch 

 in diameter either way, when cut, and a little larger still would, 

 in the majority of cases, prove to be an advantage, as it largely 

 conduces to the vitality and vigor of the starting young plants 

 before the formation of a perfect root system to sustain them by 

 seeking nourishment elsewhere. ^Ve should make absolutely sure 

 to keep seed from sprouting before planted, as that will tend to 

 materially v.eaken its vitality, and if a proper storage room is want- 

 ing, where the temperature can be kept down to at least 37 or 38 

 degrees, the better plan is to shovel them from one place to another 

 with a wire shovel at least once a week from the time they show 

 any signs of starting to grow until taken to the field and planted. 

 Not only have I found by experience that you can restrain them 

 from sprouting by such a treatment, but that the latter will have 

 a quickening influence upon the growth of the potatoes, making 

 them equally as vigorous after being deposited in the soil as would 

 be the case if previously kept in a temperature sufficiently cool to 

 retard growth without the shoveling process. My custom has al- 

 ways been to change seed about every third or fourth year, even if 

 J wanted to use the same variety, as there is no other farm pro- 

 duct that will sooner deteriorate or respond more favorably to a 

 change of seed than that of the potato. No matter what precau- 

 tions have been taken, they will deteriorate in spite of everything. 

 AA'hen I change I generally procure my seed from a more northern 

 localit\', where the climate is colder and the soil different. Plant- 

 ing single pieces of potatoes, properly cut, about four inches deep 

 and thirteen inches apart in rows thirty-four inches apart, in soil 

 made ideal as per instructions already given, after much experi- 

 menting, has proved the most profitable for me, the object being 

 to have just enough between the rows to admit of proper inter-till- 

 age and yet have the rows close enough together to make it possible 

 for the foliage of the growing plants to cover and shade the 

 grouiul completely, for reasons already stated. When a large acre- 

 age of potatoes is to be plarited, the planter of the present age 

 can be used with advantage. I have been using it continuallv for 



