26 



THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



eyes appear similar and are all at about the same stage of growth, the following 

 method is preferable: First, cut a thin slice from the stem-end. This is essential 

 in order to see if stem-end rot is present, otherwise an infected 1 tuber might pass 

 unnoticed. If disease is present in the stem-end the whole potato should be imme- 

 diately discarded. When cutting seed-potatoes it is desirable to have an extra knife 

 and a jar of disinfectant at hand, so that if a diseased tuber is cut into, the knife 

 in use may immediately be immersed in the disinfectant and the other knife used. 

 After taking the stem-end slice off, cut the tuber longitudinally, splitting the seed- 

 end ; now cut crosswise, making the sets of as near equal size as possible (Figs. 14, 15) . 

 A 2-oz. set with two good eyes to a set is generally conceded to give best results 

 (Figs. 16, 17). The person cutting should therefore watch the eyes carefully, 

 because more than two eyes tend to increase the percentage of small tubers. 



After cutting the thin slice off at the stem-end many people prefer to begin 

 cutting off pieces diagonally across the tuber until just enough is left at the seed- 

 end to make two pieces ; this piece should be split through the middle (Fig. 18). This 

 latter method is more adapted to varieties with few eyes and the former method to 

 varieties with many eyes. 



Fig. 18. Method of cutting seed-potatoes when eyes are few (original). 



The person who is cutting seed-potatoes should always bear in mind that 

 uniform, blocky sets are desirable, since these will not rot as easily as others, and 

 also these pieces will work better in the horse-planter. 



Care of Seed after Cut. Potatoes should be planted- as soon as convenient after 

 being cut. Most growers take care not to cut a very great quantity of potatoes ahead 

 of the planter, for fear that rains may cause delay or the potatoes dry out. Where 

 it is impossible to plant tubers immediately after being cut they may be covered 

 with land-plaster, gypsum, or sulphur, to prevent excessive drying. Cut potatoes 

 should be kept away from sun or windfe. 



Size of Set to Plant. Where cut seed is used for planting a 2-oz. seed-piece is 

 usually considered the best size. This statement is fully borne out in an experiment 

 carried on by Dr. Zavitz at Guelph. 'Sets were planted for five years weighing 1/16 

 oz., % oz., *4 oz. 1 oz., 2 oz. ; one eye was left in a piece and' the pieces planted 1 

 foot apart in the rows. There was a variafaon in yield from 47.5 bushels (1/16 oz.) 



