232 THE POTATO 



be more economical than the purchase of Northern- 

 grown seed. To what extent it is safe to follow 

 this practice without renewing the seed from the 

 North by the use of fully matured tubers has not 

 been determined. 



''A novel practice for securing quick growth 

 from second-crop seed has been developed by a 

 successful potato grower in Texas. Mr. Morrell 

 has developed an idea which is closely akin to the 

 practices of the potato growers of the Channel 

 Islands. The method consists in storing the 

 tubers of the second crop in a tight building, which 

 by the use of artificial heat can be kept frostproof. 

 At harvest time the tubers are placed in slatted 

 crates and the temperature of the storage house 

 held as low as practicable without freezing until 

 four to six weeks before planting time, when the 

 temperature is raised to 68 degrees or 70 degrees 

 F. This temperature is maintained until the eyes 

 of the potatoes show activity. The sprouts 

 should not be allowed to develop to any con- 

 siderable length before planting the tubers, on 

 account of the danger of breaking them in the 

 necessary handling at planting time. If the 

 sprouts are one eighth of an inch or less in length 

 there should be little loss from handling. If the 

 house can be well hghted at the time the tempera- 

 ture is raised the sprouts which develop will be 

 much stouter than those developed in the dark. 

 This plan provides a congenial temperature for 

 the germination of the tubers and makes it pos- 

 sible to delay planting until outside conditions 

 are generally favorable for the rapid growth of the 

 plants, and to use for seed only those tubers which 

 are actually viable. With good preparation and 

 cultivation this method should give a perfect 



