36 POTATO DEVELOPMENT WORK IN WISCONSIN. 



dentally with this work endeavors to secure blight-resistant 

 varieties. 



The third era of potato work in the department might be des- 

 ignated as that concerned with the improvement of the character 

 of the crop produced as it is particularly related to a question of 

 pure seed, but at the same time recognizing the importance of 

 cultural conditions as they affect the type of the variety. This 

 work has been under way for about three or four years and has 

 been directly under supervision of Professor Milward of the 

 horticultural department. During this time a number of our 

 standard varieties have been grown with the idea in mind of se- 

 lecting those which were likely to prove most favorable for Wis- 

 consin conditions. After the determination of what these varie- 

 ties were, pure seed, typical of these varieties were secured by 

 the department and grown in various sections of the state and 

 later distributed to growers upon application. 



In connection with this has developed the community plan of 

 potato seed improvement and production of a higher quality in 

 potatoes, which ultimately resulted in the department's being 

 directly interested and to a large extent responsible for the or- 

 ganization of the Wisconsin potato growers' association, the ob- 

 jects of which are familiar to you all. The plans of the depart- 

 ment contemplate a continuation of the organization of commu- 

 nity centers and the establishment and operation, as soon as feas- 

 ible, of a system of potato inspection and certification, looking 

 toward the building up of a reputation for Wisconsin seed un- 

 surpassed by that of any potato producing state in the country. 



The Association secured Assemblyman 

 tH. E. Krueger, one of the successful mem- 

 bers of the Wisconsin Experimental Associa- 

 tion, to address the convention at Rhine- 

 lander on the development of the pure seed 

 industry in Wisconsin. Mr. Krueger told 

 the convention how the seed industry had 

 developed in Wisconsin during the past ten 

 years especially in relation to pure bred 

 H. E. KRUEGER seed grains. He outlined the possibilities 

 Beav \vis Dani< P en to Wisconsin potato growers in the de- 



velopment of a pure seed trade by following 

 similar plans. In the discussion which arose, Mr. Krueger, by 

 request, told the convention of the success he has had in raising 

 seed grains. 



