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THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



be a large supply of very small tubers that will be nearly worthless, and but very few large 

 ones. The same objection holds true in planting whole potatoes, there will be too many 

 stems for the space occupied, and therefore not room for the proper development of the 

 tubers. The objection to selecting the largest potatoes for seed is r that when such a course is 

 practised there is a tendency to reproduce large, overgrown tubers of a coarse texture and 

 less delicate flavor than those of a medium size; besides they are liable to be hollow-hearted. 

 The following cut shows the product of a single eye to the hill of the Compton s Surprise, 

 a very prolific variety. If each farmer would experiment for himself, as we have previously 

 suggested, planting different rows with a quantity of seed varying from one, two, and three 

 or more eyes, and carefully noting the product of each row, this question could easily be 

 settled individually in one season. As far as our own practice is concerned, we should never 

 plant over two or three eyes to the hill. A diversity of opinion also exists respecting hilling 

 and level culture, each method having zealous advocates. Hilling would be the most desir 

 able on clay lands or those with a tendency to retain undue moisture, as the soil would thus 



COMPTON S SURPRISE POTATOES. 



Showing the growth from a single eye in the grounds of F Setter, Verona, New Jersey, 

 who raised 384 tbs from one Ib of the tubers, mth ordinary culture. 



be better drained. Level culture usually gives good results on rather dry soils, and is gener 

 ally less affected by drought or changes of temperatura Where hilling is practiced, it must 

 not be done after the roots have been well established, or there is any appearance of blossoms, 

 as it will then leave the fine roots exposed to the sun, and cause a new set of tubers to start, 

 thus proving a great injury to the crop. We believe hilling is the more general practice with 

 this crop; whether this be from a choice of the two methods resulting from careful experi 

 ment, or from long habit principally, we are not able to positively state, but it is to be pre 

 sumed that, as but few farmers make any distinction in the culture of wet and dry soils, the 

 practice is due mainly to established habit. 



It is said that the natural life of a variety of the potato will average from fourteen to 

 twenty years, under the most favorable circumstances, hence the necessity of getting new 

 seedlings from the best, most vigorous, and prolific varieties. When propagated from the 

 tubers in the usual manner the potato is quite liable to deteriorate or revert to its original 

 condition, and one of the fruitful causes of this deterioration is a continual planting upon the 

 same soil, without a change of seed; therefore a rotation of crops and change of seed is as 

 necessary with this product as others. It has also been found that a dry season will not have 

 the effect to produce a dry and mealy quality of the tubers, but generally the reverse. 



