174 



THK POTATO 



crop consist of small tubers, the next larger, and so 

 on, does not always hold, as a tuber weighing over 

 seven ounces has been 

 produced the first year. 

 The Burbank potato was 

 full size the first year it 

 was grown from seed, 

 and many breeders feel 

 that unless the tubers 

 are of edible size the 

 first year they are not 

 likely to be worth fur- 

 ther care. Frequently 

 the tubers do not reach 

 full size until the second 

 year. 1 The tubers from 

 each plant must be kept 

 separate, the best selected 

 and planted again. The 

 distance apart varies be- a _ stigma , where pollen ls applie d. 



tween 26 X 12 and 40 X Style, down which the pollen tube 

 1 TTT-J 1 goes to the ovary, , where it fertilizes 



40 inches. Wider plant- the ovule> which become the seeds (see 



ing permits the Study of Fig. 3>. rf Attachment of stamens, 

 . j. .j , /TV, removed to prevent self-fertilization. 



the individual. The ^_ Petals> partly torn away to expose 



third, fourth, and fifth ovary. /Sectional view of calyx. 



year field culture is given, 



and a variety may be found worthy of a name and 

 further trial before distribution. The breeder's aim is 

 to produce varieties which excel in productivity, 

 power to resist diseases, earliness, quality, percentage 



FIG. 51 PISTIL OF POTATO 

 FLOWKR, SHOWING THE PARTS 



1 Minn. Bui. 87, p. 10. 



