40 ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



while nineteen secured greater yields from the latter. 

 Thirty experiments considered the increased cost of seed 

 of the half-potatoes over the two-eyed pieces. 1 Twenty- 

 two of these found a net income from the crop above the 

 cost of seed in favor of the half-potatoes, and eight in favor 

 of two eyes. 2 The most profitable size of seed depends 

 on the relative value of the seed and of the crop. 



The number of eyes per piece above two is of little 

 consequence. Each eye contains a number of buds. The 



FIG. 16 Rose cutting showing depth 

 to plant 



size of the piece determines the number of sprouts that 

 it sends up. Only a small proportion of the buds sprout. 

 Placing the potatoes in a well-lighted room some time 

 before planting increases the yield. Sprouting in a dark 

 room is harmful, as the sprouts produced are long and 

 slender. If the potatoes are to be planted with a machine, 

 the sprouts should only begin to appear before planting. 

 For a few early potatoes, it is well, to let the sprouts get 



1 Potato tubers are commonly called seed. They are seed in an agri- 

 cultural sense, but, of course, not botanical seed. 

 2 Samuel Fraser, The Potato, 



