POTATOES 375 



Source of seed. In growing early potatoes, perhaps more than 

 any other single crop, the sources from which the seed is ob- 

 tained influence the resulting crop. The practice which is almost 

 universally followed is to plant tubers of early varieties which have 

 been grown for several seasons at the North. The demand by truck 

 farmers for Northern-grown seed has developed a considerable 

 industry in some of the potato-producing regions, notably Maine, 

 Michigan, and Wisconsin. Early varieties which are especially 

 adapted to truck work at the South are extensively cultivated in 

 these Northern regions, for the purpose of producing seed to be 

 used in the South. The crop is harvested and placed in storage 

 houses either at the North or at the South, where it can be made 

 available to meet the demand for seed for early planting at the 

 South. In a majority of instances it is found that second-crop 

 home-grown seed is slower to germinate, as shown in figure 142, 

 and is later in maturing than Northern-grown seed. As quick 

 development is an important element in the crop at the South, 

 growers are urged to consider this point carefully. 



Quantity of seed. The quantity of seed used to the acre depends 

 largely upon the manner in which it is planted ; that is, the dis- 

 tance between the rows, the distance between the hills in the rows, 

 and whether the seed is used whole or cut. It may be stated in 

 general terms, however, that from 8 to 1 2 bushels of seed as ordi- 

 narily grown are required to plant an acre. If the potatoes are cut 

 to two eyes and are small, 8 bushels will plant an acre ; but if the 

 potatoes are large, 8 bushels will not plant a measured acre. Some 

 successful growers use small or medium-sized whole potatoes, 

 others cut the potatoes in half, while still others cut to one or 

 two eyes. If the potatoes are sound and have not sprouted to 

 any considerable extent previous to planting and have not been 

 subjected to unreasonably low or high temperatures, one-eye or 

 two-eye pieces from a medium-sized potato will give good results. 

 When seed potatoes are scarce and high in price, growers will 

 endeavor to make the seed go as far as possible by cutting it to 

 one-eye or two-eye pieces. 



Tests conducted to determine the best character of seed to use 

 indicate that a potato weighing about 3 ounces, when cut in half 

 and planted one piece in a place, gives the best results so far as 



