October -1, 1909 
Cultivation of the Potato, 
By the Editor of the ‘Queensland Agri- 
cul-ural Journal.’ 
(Continued from last Issue.) 
We now get to the subject of planting 
whole or cut tubers. Here again opini ns 
differ. 
setts whole, while others: think the best 
results are got with uncut seed. Now, at 
the Guelph Farm, Michigan, U.S A, ex 
periments were made which lasted for 
four years, to decide the matter. These 
experiments are reliable, and emphatically 
show the advantage of planting good 
‘setts. 
The experiments were made to test the 
‘effect of the number of eyes in the 
setts. The difference in the yield he- 
-. tween those with one eye and those with 
five was found to be very considerable» 
amounting to about 28 bushels, the results 
being as follow:— 
From 1 eye, 135-4! bushels per acre. 
From 2 eyes, 144:70 bushels per acre. 
From 3 eyes, 153 13 bushels per acre. 
From 4 eyes, 162 82 bushels per acre. 
From 5 eyes; 164 37 bushels: per acre. 
Up to four eyes in each sett, the in- 
crease in the field is, roughly, 9 bushels 
for each additional eye, so that, up to that 
extent, the increase in eyes would be well 
repaid in the field. 
Against this experience, I place that of 
a Queensland potato grower, Mr: 
Pink, of Wellington Point, 
It has been the practice to select for 
Propagation the refuse of the potato 
heap ; sinall, ugly, ill-shaped tubers have 
been considered good enough for seed, and 
Where the result has not conié up» to 
‘expectations, the cry is raised that the 
Potato is degenerating. In carrying out 
this practice for years, was it possible to 
arrive at any other result? But the very 
art of gardening is to lift Nature above 
her normal state, by raising new and 
improved varieties of seed, and by 8e- 
lection. 
He says:— 
The method of selection is anit; 
adapted to the principle of growing from 
If we take an average good- 
Single eyes. 
Some think ita waste toplant the » 
James” 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER.” 
19 ~ 
shaped potato, weighing from 6 to 10 oz | 
we shill find that it has from 12 to 18 
eyes, which, if cut into single eyes would 
give as many setts, which would naturally 
produce a more even sample than the 
same numbers of whole tubers of different 
sizes. The principle of growing from 
single eyes has two great advantages— 
namely, economy of seed, and, upon 
suitable, well-tilled land, a larger crop of 
marketable potatoes, 
When whole tubers are planted, two or 
three eyes start: into growth first; these 
keep the lead during the entire growing 
season, and from their stolons the largest 
potatoes are produced. The weaker eyes 
‘start later into growth, and produce only 
small tubers of little value; but, when 
single eyes are planted, the whole strength 
of the sett is devoted to one growth; all 
the young tubers are formed nearly at the 
same time;and the plant, having no other 
calls on it for nutriment, these continue 
to grow and form large tubers. The whol 
tuber produces the largest number of 
potatoes, but the single eye will produce 
the most uniform sample and the heaviest 
crop per acre. 
With a view to ascertain the relative 
productivenes of tubers aud setts, a series 
of experiments was carried out. in the 
gardens :of the London Horticultural 
Society. A piece of ground was divided 
into 4-ft. equares; and ‘in the centre of 
each square was planted either a whole 
tuber, or a single eye, or a sett cont: ining 
three eyes on the whole surface of the 
tuber pared off sv as to leave the eyes 
safe, but remuving the centre—a practice 
not uncommon in Scotland. These 
were, in fact, potato peelings. 
consider the results of the whole sixteen 
experiments as being but one experiment 
we shall find thelr proportions expressed 
by the following figures:— 
Whole tuber, 333:38, or nearly 2. . 
Single eyes, 717'87, or nearly 11. 
Three eyes, 613:94, or nearly 5. 
Parings. 504°69, or nearly 4 
(Lo be continued ) 
eed 
Look to the saving of seeds of cabbage 
and cauliflower plants, 
. 
- sequently 
If we — 
» our personal experience. 
The Potato Blight. 
Dr. F.. Tidswell (Director) and Mr. T. 
Harvey Johnston (Assistant Microbiolo- 
gist), Bureau of Microbiology. 
In May last the pronouncement of- 
Mr. Henry Tryon, of the Queensland 
Department of Agriculture, that ‘Irish 
Blight’ existed in both Tasmanian and 
Queensland potatoes, led toa more than 
usually close scrutiny ‘being made of 
potatoes arriving hefé from the States 
mentioned. On 3rd June the services of © 
the Bureau were requisitioned with 
respect to a parcel of potatoes from 
Tasmania for opinion as to the nature of 
the disease with which they were ob- 
viously affected. The microscopical and ’ 
cultural examinations then made revealed 
the presence of the fungus Fusarium — 
solani, cauging dry rot, and several bacteria 
amongst which was Bacillus solanacearum 
which is regarded as a cause of wet rot in 
potatoes; but the fungus - of ‘Irish 
Blight,’ Phytophthora. infestans, could 
not be found. It is well known, however 
that the fusarian and bacillary rots are 
often associated with ‘ Irish Blight,” and 
_ that quite commonly they obscure the 
presence of. the: latter, and render it 
difficult of detection. A warning to that 
effect was given’ an acted on, and the 
search was continued through further 
samples of Tasmanian potatoes, until in. 
one submitted on 5th August 
Phytophthora was detected, and sub- 
induced to develop its 
characteristic fructification and spores. As 
Mr. D. McAlpine, the Victorian Vegetable 
Pathologist, has also affirmed that 
Tasmanian potatoes are affected with 
‘Irish Blight,’ the matter can now be 
_ scarcely regarded’ ‘otliéfwise than as an 
established ‘fact. 
Descriptions of the ‘ wet’ and * dry, rots 
as well as ‘Irish Blight, were reproduced 
by Mr Butler in his article on ‘The 
Potato’ in the last issue of the ‘Agricultural 
Gazette (August 2,1909, p. 696), so that 
in'this place it will be necessary only to 
add such other points as have come within 
The potatoes 
~ with which we had to deal have usually 
been affected with:more than one of the 
