' Corn Growers' Association. 151 



yet experiments which have been carried out here and there over 

 the country show very clearly that striking improvements can be 

 made by the simple selection of seed from the best yielding hills. 

 Here we have the opportunity of using very simple methods of 

 seed selection which, if put into operation generally, would prob- 

 ably increase the crop nearly one-fourth, and yet scarcely any 

 farmer is giving this matter any attention. The following method, 

 the speaker believes, is applicable for general use, and he believes 

 that we can conscientiously urge it upon every farmer as an im- 

 portant practical method. 



SELECTION OF SEED TUBERS. 



Probably every farmer knows a good seed tuber, although we 

 are frequently inclined to look upon the largest tuber as the best. 

 This is clearly an error, as too large a tuber is almost as bad as 

 too small a tuber. Probably the best sized potato for general use 

 is one weighing from seven to eight ounces. A potato of this size 

 does not have to be cut when served, as a single tuber is about the 

 right size to serve to an individual. Again, this sized tuber is 

 well fitted for cooking as it is small enough so that the interior will 

 cook nearly as quickly as the exterior. 



It is important that the tuber should have a certain shape as 

 well as a certain size. Probably the most desirable shape is one 

 where the tuber has a major axis, or length of about three and one- 

 half to four inches, with a width of possibly three to three and 

 one-quarter inches and a thickness of from two to two and one- 

 quarter inches. In a tuber of this shape the center of the potato 

 at any point is only about one inch from the exterior. If potatoes 

 are round and thick the exterior becomes well cooked before the 

 interior is thoroughly done, and if they are mealy, as is desired by 

 Americans generally, the exterior is liable to fall apart and cause 

 waste by the time the center is thoroughly cooked. 



In starting the selection the speaker would advocate that 

 every farmer select tubers for planting of as nearly the ideal shape 

 and size as can be obtained by going over a large part of his 

 crop. He should give special attention to getting correct shape, 

 size, shallowness of eyes, etc. These tubers should then be properly 

 preserved, a point which will be emphasized later, and should be 

 planted in a special part of the field the next season; planting as 

 nearly as possible pieces of uniform size. The seed tubers, if 

 properly selected, all of about uniform size, can be cut into quar- 

 ters, and these pieces will be nearly enough of the same size to 



