SIZE OF POTATO SETS. 
Table 4. — Comparative test of cut and whole potato seed, variously spaced in the 
row, reported by Kinney in 1891. 
Kind of seed. 
Yield (bushels). 
Merchant- 
able. 
Small. 
Total. 
One-eye sets 
Two-eye sets 
Medium size, whole 
248.2 
279.2 
268.8 
56.3 
57.5 
58.0 
304.5 
336.7 
From his study of the relative desirability for seed purposes of 
large and medium sized whole potatoes, sets with two or more eyes, 
and 1-eye sets, Lee (59, p. 477) concluded that the larger the size 
of the seed planted the larger the yield. He qualified this statement, 
however, by saying that the economic results are in favor of cut 
seed containing not more than four nor less than two eyes to the set. 
McDowell and Wilson (62, p. 3-4) secured slightly larger yields 
from whole tubers than from 2-eye sets, but they do not furnish the 
necessary data from which to compute the net yield,, 
Morgan and Burnette (65, p. 707), in their comparative study of 
1-eye, 2-eye, 3-eye, 4-eye, and whole-tuber sets, concluded that when 
seed potatoes were cheap at planting time whole tubers might be 
used with profit, but, if not, sets containing from two to three eyes 
should be used. 
The experiments of Newman and Clayton (66, p. 6-7) with whole 
and cut seed gave results decidedly in favor of whole tubers. 
Eichman (74) obtained a larger yield of merchantable tubers from 
small whole tubers than from large ones, quartered tubers, or 2-eye 
sets. Net yields are not given. 
In a subsequent report Kichm an (75) presents data which indicate 
lainly that under the conditions in which he grew the crop the 
arger the set used the larger was the resultant crop. He planted 
1-eye, 2-eye, quarter, half, and whole tubers. The net yields from 
the various sized seed in the order named were 109, 368, 387, 460, 
and 491 pounds, respectively. The sets were spaced 36 by 12 inches 
apart. 
In 1893 Bichman (76, p. 3-6) summarized the results for three 
seasons as follows: " The advantage gained by planting larger sets 
is not so great as at first seems apparent, owing to the fact that the 
larger sets take so much more seed . . . It is rather doubtful 
whether it will pay to plant sets larger than fourths." 
Troop's data (100, p. 74-75) show a progressively larger yield as 
the size of the set increased. In 1889 the yield from 1-eye sets was 
at the rate of 132 bushels per acre; 2-eye sets, 235 bushels; 3-eye sets, 
330 bushels; 4-eye sets, 336 bushels; 5-eye sets, 425 bushels; and 
whole tubers, 489 bushels. 
From data obtained by planting whole tubers weighing from 1 to 8 
ounces and halved tubers ranging in weight from half an ounce to 4 
ounces Taft (96, p. 27) concluded that halved tubers are better than 
whole tubers of the same weight and therefore that a whole small 
potato is not as good for seed purposes as the half of a potato of 
twice its weight; that is, a 1-ounce whole tuber is not as good as hah 
85070°— 24| 2 
