188 THE POTATO 



The new method, however, has some very practical 

 advantages. Both are given below, so that if the 

 ingredients for one are not at hand, the other may 

 be used. 



" Corrosive Sublimate Treatment. Dissolve two 

 ounces of corrosive sublimate (bichloride of mer- 

 cury) in two gallons of hot water. When the 

 corrosive sublimate is dissolved, add cold water 

 until you have fourteen gallons in all. Having 

 put the potatoes in a gunny sack, place the sack in 

 the solution and leave it there for one and one half 

 hours. Then empty the potatoes out upon the 

 floor to dry before cutting and planting. If they 

 can be left thus exposed to the light and air for a 

 few days they will grow all the better. 



" Caution. If taken internally corrosive sub- 

 limate is a violent poison, hence all animals must 

 be kept away from the solution and the treated 

 seed. On account of its action on metals the 

 solution must be prepared in wooden vessels, a 

 barrel, for instance. See that the potatoes are 

 clean. Put them into a coarse gunny sack and 

 place it in the solution. The vessels and all ob- 

 jects in contact with this poisonous solution must 

 be destroyed or thoroughly cleaned. 



"Formalin Treatment. Formalin (or formal- 

 dehyde) may now be secured at moderate cost at 

 any drug store, or can be secured from the larger 

 drug firms (by express) at 50 cents (or less) per 

 pound. Since this treatment is at least as effec- 

 tive as the other, most people will prefer to use it 

 for the following reasons: (1) It is easily prepared; 

 (2) any kind of vessel may be used; (3) it is not 

 poisonous to handle. 



" Method. Soak the seed potatoes for two hours 

 in a solution of fifteen gallons of water and one 



