HABITS OF GROWTH 175 



The period of growth of the early potatoes varies from 

 70 to 100 days, while the late sorts require from no to 130 

 days for maturity. 



Except those grown for special purposes, where extra 

 prices can be secured, the late potatoes are more popular 

 and are grown more widely for the market. 



Habits of Growth. The tuber is not the true potato 

 seed although it is frequently spoken of as such. The true 



Fig. 96. Rural New Yorker potatoes. This is a late variety. 



seeds of the potato are contained in the potato ball which 

 is found on the top of the plant following the blossoming 

 period. When the desire is to establish new varieties 

 the true seed is used. The potatoes grown from the true 

 seed often differ widely in shape, size, and color from the 

 tubers grown on the plant from which the seed ball is taken. 

 It requires several years of patient selection to develop a 

 good type of potatoes grown from seed. 



Potatoes do not mix or cross, but will hold firmly to the 

 original breed of the foundation stock of tubers. The 



