59ii Journal of AgricuHxire, Victoria. [10 Ocr.^ 1916, 



degree of culture is not feasible in ordinary farm practice, and it is 

 questionable if tbe prolificacj of a variety so treated would not be rapidly 

 impaired by this method. 



Method of Cutting and Size of ISets. 



fig. 1 illustrates eight seed tubers, the respective weights of which, 

 'Commencing with the largest, are 9 ozs., 6 ozs., 5 ozs., Z ozs., 2^ ozs,. 

 If ©z., 1^ oz., I5 oz. 



These are taken as being typical samples of variations in size found 

 in the average seed parcel. 



In cutting these for planting it is recommended that this be done as 

 illustrated in Fig. 2. 



It will be noted that no subdivision is made, and none is advised, of 

 tubers under 3 ozs. in weight. 



The subdivision shown results as follows :— 



The 9 q^s. tuber -^- 4 gives four sets averaging 2J ozs. 

 6 ozs. tuber ^- 3 gives three sets averaging 2 ozs. 

 5 ozs. tuber -^- 2 gives two sets averaging 2| ozs. 

 3 ozs. tuber -^ 2 gives two sets averaging 1^ ozs. 



Cutting to smaller sizes than these is likely to prove false economy. 

 The remaining tubers under 3 ozs. should be planted whole. 



Under no circumstances should tubers of less than I5 oz. be used as 

 seed for a field crop; in fact, seed of less than 1^ oz. weight should not 

 be used if the soil and the seed are not in the best of condition. 



In cutting large tubers, care should be taken — 



First, that at least one good eye is left on each section. 

 Second, that the sections cut be as uniform in weight as possible 



and not less than 1^ oz. in weight. 

 Third, that portions showing weak buds are discarded. 



Desprouting a Mistake. 



A fairly common practice of some growers is to rub off all sprouts 

 which may be growing from the tubers at the time of planting. This 

 is a certain error. 



By doing so, the seed tubers are set back some weeks in their 

 growth, and are devitalized to the extent of the nourishment which 

 they expended in producing the destroyed shoots. 



It may be contended that the shoots are sometimes too long to per- 

 mit the tubers being handled without breaking them. 



If the tubers have long shoots growing from them, they are merely 

 giving ocular demonstration that the grower's system of storage is 

 very much at fault, and should urge him to the adoption of the system 

 of storing his seed in proper seed potato boxes. These boxes have 

 been described frequently in the columns of this journal and the press 

 organs of the State. 



Desprouting means devitalizing. That is beyond argument. 

 Fig. 3 illustrates tubers which have been allowed to exhaust them- 

 selves through over-sprouting. It is obvious that seed in the condition 



