36 SELECTION AND CARE OF THE SEED POTATO 



once learned, the tops will tell about the yield to expect, the 

 size of the tubers, the number, and where they lay can be 

 easily determined. When the grower is able to do this, he 

 may figure very closely the yield per acre, what proportion 

 will be of marketable size, and the proportion of culls. The 

 tops of the potatoes will vary in different soils and varie- 

 ties. Some will be different in color and the leaves shaped 

 differently. Where the soil is extraordinarily rich, it will 

 be noticed that the hills with two or three stalks have bet- 

 ter marketable potatoes than those with one stalk. Where 

 the soil is so rich, in a hill with just one stalk, the tubers 

 will be too large for market. If the soil is weak and light, 

 it will be noted that the large top with one sturdy stem pro- 

 duces a better size than those with more. 



To those who care to grow their own seed to improve 

 them, thus raising their potatoes to a high standard of de- 

 velopment, I advise to carefully select them at digging time. 

 This is called "hill selection." These potatoes should be 

 carefully dug by hand, avoiding cuts and bruises. Each 

 man should use two cans, one for select tubers of uniform 

 size and shape for seed, the other for marketable tubers. 

 Each hill should be dug separately. If in a hill of potatoes 

 one be rough, or in any way defective, this hill should not 

 be used for seed. 



The development of the potato to its highest standard 

 has proven as interesting to me as the fascinating study of 

 the propagation of new varieties. In my hill selection I 

 have taken particular care in selecting only hills with an 

 average of eleven or more uniform tubers. This eliminates 

 all unproductive plants. In continuing this line of work an 

 excellent strain of potatoes is always secured. The best 

 potato growers always place emphasis upon keeping the po- 

 tato true to type. If we want the best we must of necessity 



