THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 329 



pieces are planted. The larger the cutting the greater generally the 

 number of eyes and the number of stalks. The young shoot, before 

 it develops a strong system of feeding roots, is dependent for nutri- 

 ment on the material stored up in the seed piece; hence the more 

 abundant this supply the more vigorous the growth of the plant and 

 this increased luxuriance is not confined to the early stages of growth, 

 but is marked throughout the growing season. Investigation has 

 shown that severing the connection between the seed piece and the 

 growing vine, even after the latter is thoroughly rooted, reduces the 

 yield of potatoes. The danger of partial or entire failure resulting 

 from an imperfect stand is much greater with small cuttings than 

 with large seed pieces. The small pieces with extensive cut surfaces 

 are liable to perish should the season be unfavorable, either through 

 excessive moisture or drought. The sprouts from small cuttings 

 being weaker reach the surface with difficulty, or fail entirely on 

 soil not properly prepared. 



Effect on Gross Salable Yield. By averaging the results of the 

 experiments referred to above, it is found that the actual increase 

 in the potatoes of salable size due to using larger seed pieces was as 

 follows, every increase in the size of the seed pieces being followed 

 by an increased gross salable yield : 



Bushels. Percent. 

 Excess from use of 



2-eye pieces over 1-eye pieces 23 21 



Quarters over 2-eye pieces 10 15 



Halves over quarters 15 15 



Whole tubers over halves 14 10 



Effect on Net Salable Crop. Before concluding that the largest 

 seed pieces are the most profitable it becomes necessary to deduct from 

 the crop the amount of seed planted. It is plain that the increased 

 amount of seed potatoes required when larger pieces are used may 

 more than counterbalance the increase in yield obtained. The true 

 test of profit is the market value of the crop produced, less the cost 

 of seed planted. Should the quantity of seod potatoes used be sub- 

 tracted from the total yield of large and small potatoes or from the 

 salable crop? If small or unsalable seed potatoes are planted, then 

 the former course is the proper one, but since large or medium tubers 

 (either entire or cut) are generally selected for seed purposes, it seems 

 best to subtract the seed from the salable crop, thus ascertaining the 

 net salable yield. The following table shows the actual average re- 

 sults for the net salable yield ; that is, the crop after deducting the 

 small potatoes and the seed used : 



Bushels. Per cent. 

 Excess from use of 



2-eye pieces over 1-eye pieces 15.0 14 



Quarters over 2-eye pieces 7.0 15 



Halves over quarters 5.0 6 



Halves over whole tubers 8.5 8 



The amount of the net salable crop rose with the increase in the 

 size of the cutting employed, but when the whole potato was planted 



