530 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



TABLE 26 — A REPORT GIVING THE REkSULT OP VARIOUS POTATO SEED TREAT- 

 MENT METHODS OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD. 



Average 



Yield 

 per acre 



Corrosive sublimate 



Formaldehyde 



Untreated 



297 

 251 

 210 



It might be said that by the use of corrosive sublimate the presence 

 of the black scurf on the potatoes when dug was materially lessened 

 and the infection of scab was reduced fully as much as with the for- 

 maldehyde treatment. From the results obtained we can therefore 

 recommend the corrosive sublimate treatment, although it is much more 

 dangerous to use for it is a deadly poison so that extraordinary pre- 

 cautions should be taken to keep it away from livestock and children. 

 In brief, this treatment consists of dissolving 4 ounces of corrosive 

 sublimate in 30 gallons of water and soaking the potatoes in this 

 solution for 30 minutes. Detailed methods of treating seed potatoes 

 can be secured in Special Bulletin No. 110, Michigan Agricultural Col- 

 lege, East Lansing, Michigan, 



CUTTING SEED. 



The potato is not a true seed and can be compared to a green cut- 

 ting or a section of the vine producing it. The best eyes on the potato 

 are on the seed end and in most instances these eyes sprout first and 

 give the strongest growth when the whole potato is planted. The other 

 eyes often dry up and do not sprout at all. Small seed of sufficient 

 size to be cut, should be split from seed end to stem end splitting the 

 bud eye cluster. Larger potatoes should be cut in the same manner 

 only cutting the half section into two or three pieces depending upon 

 size. Seed pieces should be about the size of a hen's egg and have two 

 eyes. Cut above the eye and diagonally to the center. Seed should 

 be treated before cutting. It is well to cut seed ahead sufficiently long 

 to allow healing over of wound before planting; this prevents loss of 

 moisture in a dry, hot soil or quick rotting in a wet soil. It approaches 

 the advantages obtained by using whole seed. 



Size of seed piece is influential in giving the young plant a start 

 much the same as the first milk of the cow gives a good start to the 

 calf, so do not be too economical on use of se^d. If soil conditions are 

 just right, potato peelings will grow but those conditions prevail in only 

 one out of a thousand cases. Seed pieces the size of a hen's egg or 

 larger make for strong vigorous plants. 



Our experiments with green sprouting show that it eliminates the 

 potatoes that will not sprout and also gives a week to ten days ad- 

 vantage in its development, and that under ordinary conditions it holds 

 this advantage throughout the growing season. It also insures a stand 

 if the conditions are excessively wet or extremely dry. 



