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weeks, or, owing to a large quantity of tubers which 

 may have become putrid, fermentation may be set up, 

 which will involve decay in those which would other- 

 wise keep sound. It is especially important in 

 connection with seed of early varieties in years when 

 disease is rampant, that all care should be taken 

 to preserve the seed. The seed of early varieties is 

 always dearest after a disease year because so much of 

 the seed rots in the pits. For all general purposes the 

 seed, if properly attended to, will keep sufficiently 

 well when pitted, but in particularly mild winters the 

 warmth induces sprouting in the pits. As this tends to 

 weaken the sets it should be avoided by turning them 

 sufficiently often. 



When the turning is being effected the sets should 

 be examined, and all that are not true to variety or 

 are in any way diseased should be put aside. That 

 which is too small for seed purposes should be taken 

 out by being passed through a 1^ in. sieve. These 

 small tubers, too small for planting, except when the 

 variety is very scarce, are called chats, and should be 

 given to pigs or poultry, but it is advisable to cook 

 them before using them as food. When the seed is 

 thus prepared there is little hindrance at the planting 

 season, When the sets are sprouted, previously to 

 being planted, they are placed on shelves or other 

 convenient positions, such as the floor in warm 

 buildings, where they produce their shoots, and can be 

 handled without destroying the young growth. 



