Potatoes The Seed. 175 



and dug many before they were fully ripe. Now we can handle 

 them cheaper later, when they get ripe, and the price is often 

 higher. This year we have only the Freeman and New Queen 

 planted. The Monroe seedling, although fine, is rather too late 

 for us. We can, and have, got them off for wheat, but it makes 

 more hurry than I like. 



I like to plant, then, sound, well ripened (not blighted), un- 

 sprouted seed, of good, fair size, cut to one-eye (unless that may 

 occasionally make too small a piece), and planted as fast as cut. 

 But you must be the judges of what is best for you. Many have 

 hastily caught on to my way of cutting without the other impor- 

 tant points connected with it, and failed, of course, and then 

 blamed me. Failure is easy if one point is wrong. When I was 

 sick one spring my man planted some one-eye pieces in ground 

 not half prepared, lumpy and coarse; failure, of course, resulted. 

 He had the horses and tools to prepare the land, but lacked the 

 level head that would see that everything was done just right. 

 Unless you are sure seed and other conditions are and will be all 

 right, you had better plant two or three-eye pieces, or halves, or 

 even moderately small whole potatoes, according as the conditions 

 are. Now, I have given you our way. Many differ from us. I 

 have an admirable little pamphlet before me written by my friend 

 T. Greiner on " Money in Potatoes." He fully believes in using 

 very much more seed than I do. Different varieties and different 

 circumstances, doubtless, account for some of this difference of 

 opinion. I would not be too certain I am right, but have tried 

 to give reasons for the faith that is in me. Mr. Greiner is a high 

 authority. He thinks also that potatoes cut to one eye will " run 

 out ' ' sooner than where whole seed is used. 



