6 THE POTATO 



and the slovenly practice of many who allow their 

 seed tubers to send out long sprouts before planting, 

 which are either broken off intentionally before or 

 unintentionally during planting. This practice cannot 

 be too strongly condemned. 



The Trays may be made small to hold 40 pounds 

 of potatoes, with a handle running lengthwise across 

 the top, or to contain 80 to 100 pounds, and handled 

 by two men, when the handles run across. The lum- 

 ber for the trays, ready sawn in lengths, should be 

 purchased at from five cents to ten cents per tray, 

 according to size. 



Whole Sets vs. Cut Sets. Considerable atten- 

 tion has been given to the advisability of cutting seed 

 tubers. The question is wholly a financial one, as in 

 an average year with an ordinary late variety the 

 weight of the seed planted is of more importance than 

 whether it is whole or cut. Early varieties do not do 

 so well when cut, and varieties with white flowers 

 seem to be softer in texture and more liable to failure, 

 if cut, than those with purple or colored blossoms. 

 Some varieties cannot be cut with profit, owing to lack 

 of bud-producing eyes. 



The labor of cutting is often greater than the cost 

 of the extra seed. When seed is expensive, as when a 

 variety is new, it is wise to cut as far as possible to 

 secure the largest possible yield in the least time, but 

 this course must be followed by selection, or rapid 

 deterioration of the variety will result. A potato cut 

 into single-eye pieces, and each piece planted in a 

 hill, will give a greater yield than it would had it been 

 planted whole. 



