THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 331 



Taking as the correct measure of profit the yield of salable po- 

 tatoes less the amount of seed used, there is seen by the third section 

 of the diagram that with seed and crop at the same price per bushel 

 it was more profitable in these tests to plant halves than smaller 

 cuttings and whole potatoes. If there be taken account of the yield 

 of small potatoes the advantage of large seed pieces is even greater 

 than the figures in the last section of the diagram would indicate, 

 for the yield of small potatoes is greater with large than with small 

 seed pieces. Where large quantities of small potatoes can be profit- 

 ably utilized, as, for example, as seed for the second crop, the potato 

 planter may therefore use quite large seed pieces with advantage. On 

 the other hand, the higher price of potatoes in spring rather than in 

 full is an argument in favor of planting quarters rather than halves 

 or whole tubers. A number of investigators have noted that large 

 seed pieces (either large cuttings or entire potatoes) afford an earlier 

 crop than very small cuttings, a matter of much interest to growers of 

 early potatoes. However, some growers have reported mat uncut 

 potatoes germinate more slowly than large cuttings. Most of those 

 who raise potatoes for the early market use large cuttings rather than 

 whole potatoes. 



In this connection it may be said that the seed-end half gives 

 an earlier crop than the other half. This suggests the expediency of 

 cutting a potato lengthwise when halves or quarters are to be planted, 

 thus securing on each piece one or more of the eyes which germinate 

 first. Another advantage of cutting lengthwise is that it insures a 

 more even distribution of the eyes on the several pieces. Of course 

 this system is not practicable when very small cuttings are to be made 

 from long, slender potatoes, since the large amount of exposed surface 

 would render the long pieces susceptible to injury both from moisture 

 and dryness. 



If it is desired to cut the potato into small pieces the operator 

 should begin at the stem end, and the pieces should be cut in a 

 compact shape, and of as nearly equal size as is practicable without 

 leaving any piece entirely devoid of eyes. There are special imple- 

 ments for cutting potatoes, and their use is reported as enabling a man 

 to cut four or five times as many bushels of seed per day as by hand. 

 The character of the work is said to be satisfactory. No definite rule 

 can be given as to the best size of seed piece, for this depends some- 

 what on the distance between the hills and on the character of the 

 soil and season. Another important factor in determining the proper 

 amount of seed is variety. Some varieties are able to produce a 

 crop almost as large from small cuttings as from large pieces. 



Size of Seed Tubers. A study of more than a hundred experi- 

 ments testing the relative values of large, medium, and small uncut 

 tubers confirms the general law that an increase in the weight of 

 seed planted affords an increase in the total crop. The yield of salable 

 potatoes increases less rapidly than the total yield. With whole pota- 

 toes as seed the salable yield reached its extreme upward limit in one 

 test when tubers weighing about half a pound were planted; in an- 

 other when those weighing 4Vk ounces were employed. The limit of 



