26 SELECTION AND CARE OF THE SEED POTATO 



the grower can be readily seen, and is enough within itself 

 to pay for the good seed. 



The majority of potato growers in California and else- 

 where use "culls," or inferior seed. Thus doing, they invite 

 an unfavorable quality as well as yield. The belief that is 

 prevalent throughout the country that the average culti- 

 vated potato shows a tendency to degenerate or "run out" 

 is true. It is quite a natural result, caused from lack of 

 knowledge or carelessness in the selection of the seed po- 

 tatoes. The inferiors are used year after year, and the re- 

 sultant crops are very poor. The fact that like produces 

 like is essentially true in the potato as well as other plant 

 life. If the best of seed were used, planted in good soil and 

 handled properly, this tendency of degeneration would soon 

 be overcome, and better prices could be demanded for the 

 better grade of potatoes. If studied closely and carefully, 

 each variety may be found to have unproductive strains. 

 These potatoes are generally curly topped. These should 

 always be discarded, so that the variety grown be kept to its 

 highest standard of development. 



In my experience I have learned that strong plants pro- 

 duce many times the number of good tubers than the weak 

 plants, and in some cases the poor seed does not produce any 

 marketable tubers whatsoever. Therefore, I would say 

 that the selection of seed should be conducted with the 

 greatest of care. 



Now arises the question, "What is good seed?" Too 

 much stress cannot be laid on this ever-important and in- 

 teresting subject, the production of good potatoes. 



1st. The tubers used for seed must be strong, vigor- 

 ous, and productive. 



2nd. Must be pure and unmixed. 



