480 



THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



high prices. The autumn crop meets with conditions favourable to the 

 rapid spread of the blight fungus, and in addition the tubers are marketed 

 at a time when potatoes from the tableland districts are available, and prices 

 are consequently low. The growing of the autumn crop on the coastal 

 area is only recommended on a small scale sufficient to meet local require- 

 ments. 



There is considerable diversity of opinion as to which is the best size of 

 tuber to use as seed. Small potatoes can be divided into two classes — (1) 

 the late-formed tubers of a strong, robust plant; (2) the produce of a plant 

 of low vitality. The former would probably yield as well as its parent, but 

 the latter could only be expected to produce a crop of poor quality. When 

 small potatoes, selected from the pit, are used year after year, reduction in 

 yield must follow, since every year the produce of weakly plants would be on 

 the increase. 



Experiments carried out by this Department with whole and cut seed 

 have not produced results more favourable to one than to the other. If 

 the season should be dry at planting time, it would be preferable to use 

 whole potatoes, as the cut seed would dry out considerably before shooting, 

 and consequently would not be able to give the young plant the same start 



Tuber cut for two sets. 



in life as a whole tuber. When cutting is resorted to, it is advisable that 

 the planting should be done as soon as possible after cutting. The cut 

 surface may be hardened by sprinkling with ashes or slacked lime. 



In cutting the seed, the sets should be made as even in size as possible, 

 with the least possible cut surface. 



The practice of storing seed in large pits without providing ventilation 

 has been the cause of a good deal of fermentation and consequent injury to 

 the germ, with the result that the eyes of such seed fail to develop or the 

 shoots are small and spindly, eventually dying off. In order to obtain seed 



