SELECTION AND CARE OF THE SEED POTATO 25 



SELECTION AND CARE OF THE SEED POTATO. 



CHAPTER II. 



|N the growing of a profitable crop of potatoes, I 

 would say that the first important factor is that 

 of good seed. The next of importance is good 

 soil. Without both these necessities, a good 

 crop of potatoes cannot be produced. Good seed potatoes 

 are known by their yield and quality when cared for proper- 

 ly. Good seed will produce a fairly good crop in poor soil, 

 but poor quality seed in the most fertile soil will not give 

 good results. 



The average potato grower is careless in that he allows 

 his seed stock to become mixed with other varieties. This 

 is decidedly undesirable. These mixtures are generally of 

 a poor quality, and the grower should look to discarding 

 them, as well as the diseased ones. This demands, or should 

 demand, the special study and attention of the grower. 

 Study and learn the varieties, and discard the unproductive 

 strains! Again I would emphasize the importance of un- 

 mixed seed. If a mixture of early and late potatoes were 

 planted, the result is, naturally, an uneven germination; 

 and scarcely any of the late tubers are set on when those of 

 the early varieties are ready for market. The great loss to 



