IN THE EVERGLADES 57 



Our best growers are proceeding with the method last named, 

 some planting the potatoes very thickly in this row, say four to 

 six inches apart generally, dropping single eyes. This is rather 

 an intensive method, but seems to have great promise, as crops 

 of 125 barrels or over per acre have been made by this process. 

 Where large areas are planted a potato planter should pay well. 



The varieties most uniformly grown in this part of the State 

 and which have proven most successful, are the Bliss Triumph 

 and Rose No. 4. We wish to lay great stress upon the proper 

 selection of the seed. We have made numerous tests with seed 

 grown in various parts of the country from Maine to Minnesota 

 and as far south as those grown directly in our own locality, but 

 have found to date nothing that has the vigor of those grown 

 in Maine. 



Great care must also be taken to see that the varieties 

 procured for seed purposes are free from any of the potato 

 diseases, such as blight, rust, scab, etc. For my own planting, 

 I prefer to have a potato of good large size, and I advocate cutting 

 these to single eyes. Next in choice, I would have a small potato, 

 say the size of a hen's egg, and this planted whole. This mode 

 of planting the whole seed is particularly advisable should the soil 

 be inclined to be overly moist, as they will not rot so readily 

 if uncut. 



Should potatoes show any sign of rust or scab, it would be 

 advisable to immerse them in a solution of corrosive sublimate, or 

 formaldehyde. In my own practice, I rather prefer the former, 

 using two ounces of corrosive sublimate to fifteen gallons of 

 water, immersing the potatoes therein for about ninety minutes 

 before cutting, sprinkling them liberally with flowers of sulphur 

 before planting. After several sacks have been immersed in this 

 solution, it will be necessary to add water of the same consistency 

 from time to time to strengthen the solution. This process seems 

 to have the additional advantage of protecting them from rot and 

 injurious worms, and also has a tendency to protect them from 

 fungacious attacks. For these reasons, I deem it advisable, even 



