VARIETIES 75 



a little more for digging. The variety controls the 

 yield to a large extent, and there is much more like- 

 lihood of obtaining a 300-bushel crop from a variety 

 capable of 3'ielding 600 than from one whose maxi- 

 mum yield is 300 bushels. This fadt is realized, 

 and the high prices paid in recent j^ears in Great 

 Britain for seed potatoes of good qualit}', heavy yield- 

 ing, and disease-resisting varieties are legitimate and 

 proper recompense to the men who have the skill to 

 breed such. These new varieties are profitable to 

 grow because there is an assurance that the crop will 

 3'ield well, and that it will keep well ; hence there is an 

 opportunit}- to hold it until it can be sold at a profit. 

 These farmers realize that the best is none too good, 

 and that it is useless handling varieties that are out of 

 date. The potato grower of Great Britain and Europe 

 must be up to date if he is to Stay in the business. 

 High-priced seed receives more care in storage and is 

 handled more intelligently, the seed-bed is better pre- 

 pared, and the result is better farming. The farmer 

 who grows such crops is a more thoughtful and better 

 business man, as slovenly methods have to be aban- 

 doned. 



Yield is influenced by the size and number of tubers 

 at a root. Uniformity and good size are desired. 

 Potatoes var>' in size from almost nil to six pounds 

 each or m.ore. In Doe's Pride one plant set 21 tubers, 

 varying in size between i-io ounce and 6j4 ounces; 

 in other words, one potato was 65 times larger than 

 the other. In the East potatoes over 8 ounces in 

 weight are large. Medium-sized tubers of merchant- 

 able value vary between four and eight ounces. Sec- 



