THE POTATO 



365 



and many persons find an all sufficient excuse in that idea 

 for their failures. The better growers, however, believe 

 that good culture and care of the seed stock will keep 

 varieties in a productive state over many years. In some 

 sections the ravages of disease are so severe that it is 

 almost impossible for growers to grow their own seed, but 



FIG. 127. A potato digger. 



each year they must send for seed to some section which is 

 known to be free from the trouble. Varieties which at 

 one time flourished in the East and later failed to produce 

 good crops, supposedly because they had " run out," are 

 now among the most prolific sorts in the regions farther 

 West. 



