PLANTING 



227 



store them and sell them to growers for seed the next spring at 

 greatly advanced prices. 



It is the most common practice to cut seed potatoes into small 

 pieces, each bearing one or two eyes, but experiments have been 

 tried with larger pieces, and have proved the plan to be more 

 successful. See Figure 161 for method of sprouting tubers in light. 

 In all regions where potato scab disease is serious the seed potatoes 

 should be treated with formalin solution, either before or after 

 cutting. Use one pound of full strength formalin liquid to 32 

 gallons of water and soak the seed for two hours. 



The tendency of seed potatoes to sprout as spring approaches 



Fio. 161. Comparing tubers sprouted in strong light and in darkness. Both tubers 

 were taken from same lot and germinated for 30 days. The one on left in greenhouse in 

 strong light; the one on right in dark chamber. Note long, weak sprouts, and shrunken 

 tuber due to germinating in dark. Strong light "greens" the tuber and prevents shrinkage 

 to a large degree. (Productive Farm Crops.) 



may result in weakening the seed if the sprouts are long enough 

 to be broken off. If the potatoes are kept in a cold place this may 

 be prevented. This tendency to sprout is sometimes made use of 

 by growers. After the potatoes are cut and treated they are 

 placed on the floor of a light room where short, strong, green buds, 

 or leaf clusters, will develop in a few days. This produces a more 

 vigorous growth as soon as the potatoes are planted. 



Planting. The usual method of planting potatoes is in rows 

 thirty to forty-two inches apart, and the seed pieces are drilled 

 about twelve to eighteen inches apart, in the rows. 



