14 BULLETIN 124S, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The data presented by Ferris (36, p. 20) show a progressive in- 
crease in yield as the size of the set increases, but the net yield from 
the whole tubers was not as great as that produced by a set three- 
fourths the size of the whole tuber. Georgeson's (38) results con- 
vinced him that small whole tubers gave better yields than sets of any 
other size. In Federov's experiments (34) better results were ob- 
tained from large whole tubers than from medium and small tubers 
or- from cut sets. In a later publication (35) he modified his 1914 
statement by favoring medium as well as large sized whole potatoes 
or the use of small potatoes planted two in the hill. Kotelnikov (58) 
found that while larger yields were produced from large whole 
tubers, the net profit was not so great as when smaller tubers averag- 
ing 2 ounces each were planted. It was also observed that the vege- 
tative energ}^ of smaller tubers was 7 to 11 per cent greater than 
that of larger ones. 
According to Igonin (50) the increase in yield is not in proportion to 
the size of the seed tuber, as he found that the net crop from small 
tubers was greater than from large ones. The largest crop was ob- 
tained from the use of medium-sized seed. In experiments carried 
out by the Agricultural Department of New South Wales, Pinn 
(69, p. 15) says that in the comparison of the relative merits of whole 
and cut seed the results were no more favorable to the one than to 
the other. 
In a comparative test of cuttings, seedt ubers, and peelings Lind 
(60) claims 'that the results from cuttings were practically as good 
as from seed tubers. Peelings did not give as good results, but 
are thought worthy of trial wnen seed tubers are scarce. 
Aicher (3, 4) summarizes the results of several years' experiments 
as follows: "The total yield from whole tubers was 15.4 per cent more 
than from cut tubers. Cut tubers yielded 18 per cent more market- 
able potatoes per acre than whole tubers. The percentage of market- 
able tubers increased as the size of the set decreased. The larger 
the set the greater was the number of the tubers produced and the 
smaller the average weight per tuber. 
Very similar statements are to be found in Welch's report (102) 
from which the following is quoted: 
In every size planted whole tubers produced smaller potatoes than halved, 
and halved produced smaller potatoes than quartered. 
The greatest yield of marketable potatoes was produced from 8 to 10 ounce 
l 3 halved. 
Under conditions which prevail on the average irrigated farm in southern 
Idaho the planting of whole potatoes is not advisable. 
In an unsigned article published in the Orange Judd Farmer (1) 
for May 11, 1918, the results obtained by a comparative study of the 
relative merits of parings, eyes, and cut seed are presented. These 
data record a yield of 31 bushels per acre from parings, 74 bushels 
from the eyes, and 157 bushels from the cut seed. 
Appleman's experiments (9, p. 90-96) led him to conclude that 
the tuber yield increases directly with the weight of the set planted. 
ApplemaD states, however, (hat while this conclusion is clear it is 
by no means profitable to increase the quantity of seed up to the 
ma Milium yield per acre. The cost of the seed and the distance 
between rows and sets in the row are to a large degree the limiting 
factors. 
