Culling Out the Rogues from Seed 
Potatoes 
S PECIALIZED CULTURE.—The growiiio: of cer¬ 
tified and inspected seed potatoes is a business 
(piite apart from the growing of the general market 
stock. In the first place, choice seed is grown in the 
United States with marked success only in the 
northern belt of country. In the second place, it 
requires methods of cultiu’e quite different from 
those employed in the great market sections. Maine, 
Vermont, Northern New York and Wisconsin are to¬ 
day the chief sources of our seed stock, and the 
higher lands of these sections of country furnish the 
best seed. The reasons for this are chiefly two: the 
potato prefers a cool climate, and certain serious dis¬ 
eases of potatoes are less prevalent in a considerably 
elevated region. Furthermore, early Fall frosts are 
less common on elevated areas because the cool air 
.settles into the valley.s. This allows for late plant¬ 
ing. and experience shows that late planted areas are 
less subject to blight and insect injury. 
TWO FORMS OF SELECTION.—Success in the 
seed potato game re(iuires the careful working out 
of two problems: the elimination of the diseased 
tubers by the culling out of dhseased 
hills, and the selection of seed from 
the highest yielding hills. The first 
is called the rogueing-out method, and 
the second may be either the hill se¬ 
lection or the tuber unit method. 
Roth, however, can go on together on 
the same area. 
DETECTINO DISEASE.—The dif¬ 
ficult part of the business lies in the 
skill required of the grower in de¬ 
tecting the several diseases to which 
the potato is subject, and which can 
only be eliminated through a close 
inspection of the crop while growing. 
There are two methods in u.se for 
accomplishing this end, one known as 
the certification method of field in- 
spection, and the other frequent in¬ 
spection of the crop by the farmer 
with the help of the Farm Bureau 
agent. New York State has devel¬ 
oped both methods. It has an exten- 
siA'e system of inspection and certi¬ 
fication through the New York State 
I’otato Growers’ Association, the in¬ 
spection being done by experts from 
the College of Agriculture. This 
method is expensive, because the ex¬ 
perts have to travel many miles to 
cover a limited acreage of potatoes. 
For this reason the inspections can- 
mjt be very frecpient. Its educational 
value to the farmer is small, because 
he feels that he is paying the expert 
to do the work and the farmer’s in¬ 
terest is therefore less than where 
anuch of the responsibility rests on 
him. 
FIELD INSPECTION.—Where the 
inspection is guided by the county ag¬ 
ricultural agent, he gathers together 
groups of farmers at a field demon¬ 
stration meeting, and points out the 
characteristics of the various diseases 
to I)e looked for right in the potato field. This is 
followed by practice on the part of those present in 
picking out and marking the diseased hills. He is 
then likely to ask for volunteers among the growers 
I)i‘esent to promise a fuller dnspection and examina¬ 
tion of their own field.s. This is done with care, and 
the first year, may have to be done mainly by the 
county agent. 
EFFECTS OF DISEASE.—In going over the field 
with the farmer, the county agent points out the 
pre.sence of such diseases as rhizoctonia by the 
spindling growth of weak stem.s, often showing the 
cliaracteristie brown caidiers on the main roots. In 
addition, the growth of little potatoes may be point¬ 
ed out, which gives the disease the name of “little 
potato disease.” Or in the case of the mosaic dis¬ 
ease, he points out the mottled yellow and green 
condition of the leave.s, with the many small crinkly 
leaves on the same plant. This disease is one of the 
most destructive on Long Island and in New Jersey, 
l)ut is less common farther north. As most of the 
Northern-grown seed is taken by growers in the 
i-egion around New York City, it is important to 
eliminate this disease in the .soi'd stock. In the foot¬ 
hills of the mountains of Clinton and Franklin coun¬ 
ties much of the best seed stock is grown. While 
many .spray to control blight, others claim it does not 
pay. This depends much on locationr If the eleva¬ 
Oic RURAL NEW-YO 
is considerably high, with good 
^ K E R 
air draina.ge 
tion 
from potato fields, and the potatoes are late planted, 
damage from blight is often very slight. 
:\[ETHODS EMPLOYED.—Several serious dis¬ 
eases are not controlled by spraying or seed treat¬ 
ment. The rogueing out of the diseased plants is the 
only safeguard against these diseases. The rogue¬ 
ing out by hand-di.gging before the regular digging, 
or else the staking of the most healthy plants while 
the crop is growiiyg, are the methods commonly u.sed. 
This provides for either a direct or an indirect form 
of .selection. The marking of the healthy stock is the 
better method because this gives a second chance for 
selection. Each hill is separately dug by hand, and 
if the ^ield is light or the shape or Ihe type of seed 
of any of the hills does not suit the farmer, he may 
save seed only from the choicest and best hills. The 
“tuber unit” method is still another plan of seed 
selection, and this is more common in some sections 
than the .simpler one of hill selection from the .gen¬ 
eral field. The tuber unit method consists in select¬ 
ing fair, medium-sized potatoes, perhaps 50 or 100, 
and of cutting these into four even sections length¬ 
wise of the tuber and dropping them in four succes¬ 
sive hills. A stake is then put up to divide these 
1173 
ize that there are the .same opportuiuties for the 
improvement of their crops through selection as 
there are for the improvement of livestock. In fact, 
improvement in plants through selection seems more 
certain than the improvement of animals, as there 
do not seem to be as many modifying .factors in the 
transmission of hereditary qualities in the case of 
plant.s. ciiAS. s. PiiKLPS. 
College Education for the Farmer 
Of what use may a college education in agriculture 
bo to a young man, who, after leaving college, would 
not have any money with which to begin practical work? 
To render the question clearer, I wish to say the fol¬ 
lowing: I am a .lewish young man, 22 years of age. 1 
came from Russia to the Ignited States seven years 
ago. For the last four years I have been thinking 
about farming. However, reading in The R. N.-Y., also 
hearing from different people, the difficulties that many 
“back-to-t;he-lander.s” have to endure, I decided to study 
agriculture. Before I shad be able enter college it will 
take me about two years, during which time I shall 
have to prepare myself for entrance. During that time 
I expect to work, and may perhaps save enough money 
for college expenses. The question now arises, what 
after that college education? I shall then again have to 
look for a job. a thing which I would offer any sacrifice 
to avoid. Many of my friends advise me to forget about 
farming. They say that if to suffer and .study, it pays 
much better to take tqi medicine. No 
vocation, however, appeals to me so 
much as farming. A. G. 
N my opinion a four-years’ course 
ill a.griculture would be of very 
little immediate value in helping a 
youii.g man without capital to make 
a living from a farm. A. G. does not 
state whether or not he has had any 
experience in farming. From the 
tone of his letter I assume he is un¬ 
familiar with farm conditions. Thi.s 
being true, his ver.v first move should 
be to hire out to some farmer who 
is farming alon.g lines that most ap¬ 
peal to him, or rather to his fancy. 
If, after working a year or so. he still 
thinks the farm is the ])lace for him, 
he would then be in a position to sup¬ 
plement his practical work by get¬ 
ting some of the scientific side of 
farniin.g from one or two short 
I 
A Bear-proof Hogpen. Fig. 534. See Page 1192 
The Old Transport and the New. Fig. 535. See Page 1192 
from the next .set of four from another tuber, or a 
skip of a hill is made to separate the different units. 
The tubers from these units are separately dug and 
weighed or measured, and only the best saved for 
seed. In thi.s way the progeny of a single tuber may 
be kept through several years, and finally the most 
vigorous and highe.st yielding strain may lie saved 
for seed. This latter method is slower than the hill 
selection method, and most farmers call it too 
“fussy.” The best growers of seed stock, however, 
have built up their reputation by this method. Com¬ 
missioner of Agriculture Brigliam of Vermont has 
gained a widespread reputation as a grower of Iri.sh 
Cobbler seed for Southern trade, and he has built 
up his success by the tuber unit method. 
RETURNS FROM SELECTION.—The Long Island 
Potato Growers’ Association sends its repre.sentatives 
to Clinton and Franklin counties each .season to in- 
.spect potato field.s of those who expect to sell to 
their members. These potatoes, if reasonably free 
from di.seases while growing, are sold in carlots at 
about 50 cents above the price of table stock. Even 
in the case of the grower who expects to .sell table 
stock only, it pays him well to select his seed, ilany 
growers can testify that they have been able to 
increase their yields between 50 and 100 bushels per 
acre and at the same time get a nicer market stock. 
Farmei's in general are only ju.st beginning to real- 
each Winter in nearly every State. 
If he really intends to be a farmer, 
likes the life and would not be more 
content in some other work, then I 
firmly believe these short courses, to¬ 
gether with what he is able to gather 
from reading, are just about the limit 
to the training this young man really 
needs in order that he may make 
practical use of the knowledge thus 
gained, 1 am not trying to under¬ 
estimate a four-year course. It is 
worth while from many .standpoint.s. 
and a money value cannot be placed 
upon it, hut when it comes to mak¬ 
ing one’s bread and butter from farm¬ 
ing, the .short courses will give in six 
or eight months just as much prac¬ 
tical work that is of actual cash value 
in farming as is contained in a whole 
four-year course. On the other hand, 
a four-year course in agriculture will 
enable a young man to get a posi- 
in experiment station work, instructor in agri¬ 
county demonstrator or .something of that 
would give an immediate return and 
he could perhaps save enough to give 
capital for a start at farming later 
tion 
culture, 
kind which 
from which 
.him necessary 
on; or, if continued in, would probably prove as 
profitable as medicine or law. But if farming is to 
be carried on successfully, the practical side of the 
work must be learned, and of the two it is much 
the more important, and should be secured first. 
Farming is undergoing great changes, and these 
changes are making it harder each .vear for a young 
man to start in with limited capital and experience 
and make good at it. It takes experience, capital, 
knowledge, character and a vast amount of energy 
to bu.v a farm, work it successfully and finall.v own 
it free from debt. The amount of actual cash earned 
by an average farmer is relatively small, compared 
with that of other workers. Nevertheless, a farmer 
has his pleasures and his home life is so inter¬ 
woven with his business that the entire family learn 
to love and are satisfied with the farm life. Luxuries 
and pleasures are few and far different, perhaps, 
from those which a college-trained man would think 
ideal, but who can say they are any the less satisfy¬ 
ing 
o-V 
TRl'CKEK, .JB. 
Ie you bad just what you deseiwe—no more, no less, 
would you have more or less than you nave now? 
