Family Solanaceae 307 



late and are poor yielders. On the other hand, plants 

 resulting from the "seed ends" develop early, are 

 much more prolific and vigorous, apparently more 

 resistant to disease and less subject to running out. 

 Market gardeners who aim at producing an early 

 crop should depend on the "seed ends" for plant- 

 ing, and should discard the "stem ends," and even 

 those pieces which come from the middle of the seed 

 tuber. 



It is common knowledge that potatoes soon run 

 out when grown too long under Southern conditions. 

 In the South, Northern grown seed must be de- 

 pended upon, such seed being far superior to that 

 grown in the South. The effect of one year's removal 

 of the Northern seed to Southern conditions is notice- 

 able in a decline in yield and vigor of the crop. 

 Therefore except under favorable Northern latitudes, 

 frequent changes of seed are necessary. 



Germination Troubles. Conditions of poor germi- 

 nation are often met with. There may be several 

 factors to account for this. When planting seed 

 which is heavily infected with blackleg, wilt, or 

 Rhizoctonia rot, a poor germination and stand should 

 be expected. This is especially true in cool, damp 

 springs. 



Cutting the seed ten or fifteen days before plant- 

 ing, as is the custom with some growers, is a practice 

 which may lead to much germination trouble. When 

 this is done, the seed is held too long and is apt 

 to undergo a heat. Frequently seed is cut too 

 small and there are few or no eyes left to permit 



