THE FIELD OR IRISH POTATO 163 



end of the stalk and from the tubers. The farmer 

 always plants tubers, because they produce other 

 tubers just like themselves. The potatoes grown 

 from the seed do not always come true to the 

 variety. 



The Potato Eye. Each eye of the potato will grow 

 a new plant if a piece of potato is left on it large 

 enough to feed the young plant until it can put out 

 strong roots. When potatoes are allowed to sprout 

 in the cellar they use up some of their plant food so 

 they shrivel. These potatoes should not be used 

 for planting. 



Cutting the Seed. Irish potatoes are usually cut 

 into two or more pieces for planting. Some careful 

 farmers cut two eyes to each piece; others claim it 

 pays to use more seed and take a half potato for 

 each hill. The seed is best cut a short time before 

 it is put into the ground. One experiment station 

 found an increase of fifty-four bi\shels per acre by 

 placing the potatoes in a well-lighted room with a 

 comfortable temperature for several weeks before 

 planting. 



How to Choose Seed Potatoes. Our plants grow 

 from the bud in the eye of the pjotato, and so we 

 should know just what kind of a plant the seed 

 l)otato grew on. We must see to it that we choose 

 seed taken from vines that are good producers. 

 Some vines have twice as many potatoes as others. 

 Therefore, we select our seed potatoes, as we do 

 corn, not from the bin, but from the potato field, as 



