80 



Size and Quantity of Seed. 



Numerous experiments have been carried out to 

 ascertain what size seed proves most profitable to 

 plant. Carefully recorded experiments were carried 

 out with this view in Ireland, more that sixty years 

 ago, and M. Girard published details of experiments 

 carried out last year in France ; many others have 

 been recorded between those dates, but it does not 

 appear that they have adduced more than that a 

 medium size whole potato is likely to grow the best 

 crop. The tubers which pass through a sieve with 

 meshes 2 in. apart, but which will not pass through 

 meshes 1 J in. apart, are most profitable to plant ; 

 they are not quite large enough to go into the best 

 samples of ware, and are consequently not of highest 

 value. They are not extravagant in the weight of 

 seed required to plant an acre, yet they produce 

 plants which, if fairly treated, yield a profitable crop 

 of tubers. The size of the seed likely to prove most 

 profitable is regulated by the treatment of the soil. 

 On roughly prepared ground in poor manurial condi- 

 tion a small seed has but a poor chance of thriving, 

 particularly if the weather is very dry for some little 

 time after planting ; but on well tilled land in good 

 condition the same seed may, under favourable climatic 

 conditions, produce as good a crop as would be 

 obtained from seed of much larger size. 



The growth of the plant in fact is largely dependent 

 on the condition of the land. The seed is required 



