SIZE OF POTATO SETS. 
11 
stem ends and middles. Harwood (4-5) obtained better results from 
2-eye sets of the Rural New Yorker No. 2 variety than from 1-eye, 
hall, or whole seed, but in the case of the Pearl of Savoy the whole 
tubers gave the largest yield. The conclusions of Harwood and 
Holden (46, p. 5-6) were that for ordinary planting distances halved 
potatoes gave better results than those of smaller size; that increased 
quantities of seed within ordinary limits give an increased yield, and 
that the increase of whole over halved tubers was not sufficient to 
cover the cost of the larger quantity of seed. In Buffum's experi- 
ments (20) tubers quartered lengthwise have the largest yield, fol- 
lowed by sets halved lengthwise and then cut crosswise. The third 
best yield was from small whole tubers. The conclusions of Miller 
and Brinkley (63, p. 79-81) were that the use of small potatoes for 
seed purposes returned the greatest net profit per acre and that 
large potatoes cut to egg size were the next most profitable. Large 
whole potatoes showed a loss of $9.64 per acre. Starnes (91) got 
the best yield from three-fourths-ounce sets spaced 8 inches apart 
in the row. The next best results were from the same weight of seed 
spaced 10 inches apart, and the third best from three-fourths-ounce 
seed spaced 6 inches apart in the row. 
In 1896 Duggar (29) published a summary of experimental results 
obtained in 19 comparisons of single-eye and 2-eye sets; 4 comparisons 
of 2-eye sets and quarters; 17 comparisons of quarters and halves; 
and 44 comparisons of halves and whole potatoes. The average 
results from these several tests are summarized by Duggar under 
three heads: (1) Relative total jield, (2) relative gross salable yield, 
and (3) relative net salable yield. To facilitate comparison these data 
are assembled in Table 6, in which is presented the excess in yield 
of one size of set over the other. 
Table 6. — Comparative tests of whole and cut potato seed reported by Duggar 
in 1896. 
Excess from use of— 
Total yield. 
Gross salable yield. 
Net yield. 
Bushels. 
Per cent. 
Bushels. 
Per cent. 
Bushels. 
Per cent. 
2-eye over 1-eye sets 
26 
15 
24 
31 
21 
16 
18 
18 
23 
10 
15 
14 
21 
15 
15 
10 
15 
7 
5 
14 
15 
Halves over quarters .. .: 
6 
8. 5 
8 
From a commercial standpoint the most interesting feature of the 
data shown in Table 6 is that pertaining to net yield, in which the 
superiority of halves over whole tubers is clearly demonstrated. 
Duggar's conclusions (29) were that with seed and crop at the 
same price per bushel it was more profitable in these tests to plant 
halves than smaller cuttings and whole potatoes. . . . On the other 
hand, the higher price of potatoes in spring than in fall is an argu- 
ment in favor of planting quarters rather than halves or whole tubers. 
Foster's data (37, p. 17) show a decided increase in yield from 
average and medium-sized whole tubers over halves and 2-eye and 
1-eye sets. 
