Here are some of the requirements that 
“Pick of the Crop” Potatoes must meet: 
Inspection—“Pick of the Crop” potato 
plants are inspected continuously during the 
growing season, and the tubers are in- 
spected during harvest and at time of ship- 
ment. 
Isolation—Non-certified potatoes cannot 
be grown within 250 feet of “Pick of the 
Crop” Potatoes. 
Roguing—“Pick of the Crop” fields are 
rogued. Diseased plants and tubers must 
be removed. 
: 
Southern States seedsmen visit the Maine 
Agricultural Potato Experiment Station and 
examine tests being conducted to improve 
potato variety strains. 
Spraying—Fields of “Pick of the Crop” 
Potatoes damaged by early or late blight 
or tip burn are rejected if identification of 
disease becomes impossible. 
Richmond, Virginia 
Brooks Stemple (left) of Aurora, West Vir- 
ginia, Southern States patron and grower- 
member of the Preston County (West Vir- 
ginia) Potato Growers Association, and 
George Deems, Manager of Southern States 
Seed Distribution, Richmond, Virginia, in- 
spect a bumper crop of potatoes grown by 
Stemple from Southern States “PICK OF 
THE CROP” Seed Potatoes. 
Cultural Conditions—Fields 
poor cultural conditions such as failure 
showing 
to control weeds or presence of plants lack- 
ing in vigor are rejected. 
Sizes—‘“Pick of the Crop” Potatoes must 
be at least 17% inches and no more than 
314, inches in diameter with the usual tol- 
erances for U. S. No. 1 grade which limit 
it to 314 inches—to make a good seed 
piece: not too small, not too large. 
Tagging—aAll Southern States “Pick of 
the Crop” Potatoes carry the regular Maine 
Certification seed tag showing the grower’s 
name and address, the certification and 
lot numbers, and Southern States’ famous 
Seed Guarantee tag. 
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