SELECTION AND CARE OF THE SEED POTATO 29 



3rd. Should be firm and with the sprouts just showing 

 at planting time, as shown on page 33. 



4th. Should have been selected at digging time. This 

 is called "Hill Selection." 



5th. Must have been carefully and properly handled. 



6th. The seed should not be too ripe or mature. 



7th. The seed should not show any disease whatever, 

 or have any rotten spots. 



8th. The seed must not be too old or too new. 



Potatoes that have been sprouted two or three times 

 are not the best for seed. They are too old. Each time 

 they are sprouted they become weaker. When they are at 

 this age, the sprouts, if there are any, are weak and thread- 

 like. If such potatoes are planted, they will not grow, as 

 they are too delicate to send out a top. If they do happen 

 to grow, there will be small, pea-like tubers form just in or 

 outside of the eyes. The seed piece may be firm, but be- 

 cause of the age it will not reproduce. The nature of the 

 potato is to reproduce, so if it cannot send up a top, the 

 small tubers will form in the eyes of the old potato. If 

 these old tubers are opened, it will be noted that they are 

 hollow or are water-soaked, and the quality very poor. 

 Page 37 shows such a potato that had been planted for 

 three weeks. 



The newer seed, that with the first sprouts just show- 

 ing, comes up more readily and possesses greater vitality 

 than older seed. That is one of the serious faults of the 

 growers in some districts of California. They use seed that 

 is old and has sprouted badly. The sprouts are sometimes 

 several inches long before the potatoes are planted, conse- 

 quently the potatoes have not the strength left in them to 

 make a good crop. Those plants that do come up are weak, 

 therefore more subject to disease. In some experiments I 



