404 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



CUTTING POTATOES FOR SEED. 



Mr. Robinson read the following letter from a Rhode Island farmer» 

 whicli certainly has a theory worthy of vory serious consideration by all 

 potato-growers. It is simply going back to first principles : 



"Forty years ago a crop of 200 bushels of potatoes to the acre was not 

 considered a large one. From the time they were first introduced into this 

 country, down to that time, seed potatoes were planted whole. By and by 

 reports came that the practice in some countries was to cut the seed, or 

 divide the potatato into parts. The idea was a very feasible, one, that the 

 seed so sub-divided, should be more susceptible to the warmth of the 

 ground, a great saving, &c. 



"Without naming the precise time when the 'potato disease' did com- 

 mence, I do think the true cause was the cutting of the seed. That vital 

 principle in a potato, called starch, should be left undisturbed to nourish 

 and mature its progeny. Now, how long can this vital principle remain in 

 a small piece of potato, the ground being such an absorbent ? This ques- 

 tion can best be answered by the appearance of the tops,. when they begin 

 to look black and spindling. Another proof of my theory is, the scarcity 

 of potato seed-balls. Forty years ago they were scattered in rich profu- 

 sion over the potato fields. Now, in many cases, the vines are 'going 

 back before they complete their blossoming.' 



" In olden times, when potatoes were being harvested, it was not unusual 

 to find the old seed potatoes in the hill, hardly distinguishable from the new 

 ones in appearance, having staid by like a faithful nursing mother to the 

 end." 



Wm. Lawton thought the disease was produced by an electrical q^qgI. 



Wm. S. Carpenter thought the disease attributable entirely to insects. 



John G. Bergen. — In reference to the insects that attack potatoes, I am 

 not sure that they produce the disease. I believe the cause is atmospheric. 

 It also affects many other vegetables. I have no faith in the theory that 

 the disease is owing to cutting the seed. This has been pretty well proved 

 among the large potato-growers of Long Island. Still I believe that whole 

 potato seed, as a general thing, produces the soundest tubers. The disease 

 was common, at least in Europe, long before the practice of cutting pota- 

 toes. The best protection against the potato disease is poverty. Where 

 no manure is used the potatoes are apt to be the most free from disease. 



SPRING PLANTING AND PRUNING. 



This subject was called up, and elicited an interesting discussion. 



Andrew S. Fuller gave some practical illustrations with grape vines, 

 showing how the unripe wood of a vine dies, and how it should all be 

 pruned away. He said : 



For planting cuttings out door, I would always make short withings, 

 say two eyes, and after the shoot has started up a few inches, break up the 

 earth around the upper eye. In setting the cutting, make a little hollow, 

 and leave the top bud just level with the earth at the bottom, and after- 



