CONSIDERATIONS OF SEED 



59 



may have a white, spindly stem, which becomes green 

 on exposure; another a short, sturdy stem, which be- 

 comes bright red; while another may be purple, and so 

 on. So far I have found the * ' sprouting stage ' ' the 

 most reliable one at which to note differences in varie- 

 ties, and varieties of potatoes may be distinguished as 

 readilj^ as varieties of other crops. 



TABLE V 



The disadvantage of the system of sprouting pota- 

 toes is that the tubers must be planted by hand on ac- 

 count of the liability of knocking the sprouts off if 

 passed through the planter. There are many local 

 markets in the United States poorly supplied with 

 early potatoes, and to suppl)' such a small area of the 

 crop could be profitably handled as above described. 

 A distincflion must be noted between the above method 



