Good Seed Potatoes and how to Produce Them

William Stuart

Jan 1919 · U.S. Department of Agriculture

About this ebook

The production of high-grade seed potatoes should be regarded as a special business. Good seed is a determining factor in the production of maximum crops of potatoes. The use of high-grade seed would increase the return from the potato crop of the country by many millions of dollars. Good strains of seed may be obtained by the tuber-unit, hill-selection, or mass-selection methods thought he process of elimination. . Like produces like. If tubers from unproductive or weak plants are planted, a poor harvest will be reaped. Use seed from productive plants. Purity of seed stock is an essential quality of good seed. Serious losses are sustained by the grower through mixtures. Good seed can not be produced unless the growing plants are well cared for. A more liberal use of food seed would materially increase the average production per acre. All seed should be disinfected before planting. Good storage facilities are essential to insure sound, firm seed at planting time.