Seed Potatoes. 237 
SEED POTATOES. 
Great diversity of opinion seems to prevail, as to the propriety 
of planting large or small, cut or uncut potatoes. It remains a 
matter of doubt whether small potatoes are not as good as any 
others for seed. Where small ones have been used, the usual 
practice has been to put four or five in a hill; and we are fully of 
opinion that if an equal number of the largest ones were planted 
in the same way a similar result would be produced, to wit : a 
degeneracy of the breed, and for this simple reason, that the grow- 
ing plants are crowded too closely together to attain a due degree 
of maturity. 
While residing on the farm, we tried several experiments in 
using small potatoes for seed, putting one whole one only to a 
hill, we raised potatoes as large, and to all appearance as great in 
product as where we have planted the very largest potatoes in the 
same manner. We found, too, that large potatoes cut yield as 
well as tliey do uncut. 
We once planted half an acre as follows: Three rows with 
large potatoes, three rows with large ones cut, and three with 
small tubers less than a hen's egg, and so alternately through the 
piece. They were all treated alike. At harvesting they were 
all dug and left on the field to dry. No difference could be per- 
ceived in the size. 
W'e imagine, however, it cannot be reasonably contended that 
a seed potato of any size, however small, will answer equally 
well for seed. It must contain substance sufficient to support its 
young shoots till their roots by extending into the earth enables 
them to obtain the requisite amount of food from this source. 
Whether, for this purpose, a seed potato weighing only an ounce 
is sufficient, w^e shall not pretend to say, but we are fully of 
opinion that one weighing a pound is more than is neces- 
sary. 
W^hen the tops or stalks of the potato crop have fully ripened 
all the potatoes attached to their roots are equally ripe, and the 
cause of their difference in size is solely attributable to the differ- 
ent periods when they commence their growth ; those starting 
latest being of course the smallest. A potato, therefore, not 
weighing more than an ounce, is as perfect a root of the kind 
contatning the same proportion of nutriment, as one that weio-hs a 
pound. 
The small potato, therefore, equally w-ith the large, pos- 
sesses all the requisite ingredients for affording nourishment to the 
