SEED POTATOES.

Northern Advocate, 1 September 1913, Page 2

SEED POTATOES.

THE NECESSITY FOR CHANGE OR

CAREFUL SELECTION

The seed potato which finds the best sale is one weighing from two to four ounces, and the grower who makes a rule of excluding from his lines all that fail to come within this standard will give satisfaction to the purchaser and to those who handie his consignments. Not only will }.c be able to command a higher price in a bare market but in a full market his stock will bring him quick and good returns, while that of his less careful neighbour will hang fire and possibly at the last be sacrificed. Diseased and scabby potatoes should on no account be allowed to pass. Knobby and misshapen sets should also be strictly excluded. It needs but very few of these to completely spoil a whole line. The result of growing from the same stock year after year would appear to be more ap-

parent this season than for some time past. Potatoes growing up to a point and those having weak eyes are a sure sign of inbreeding. To sow this type of seed spells nothing but a miserable crop. A judicious change of seed would not only save the grower from having to put such stuff on the market, but would increase his yield sufficiently to many times recoup him for any additional outlay. As a general rule seed from an entirely different district should be sought, and where possible, from a different class of soil.

The amount of dirt and rubbish found in seed potatoes is not a very great source of complaint, but many a line, otherwise good, finds its way to the auction room solely on this acount. If the growers in general would pay greater attention to these points, greater satisfaction would prevail and a great saving "would be effected.

Much loss might be avoided if growers would pay more attention to the following points:—Careless sort- [ ing, too infrequent change of seed or ! care in selection of same; inclusion of dirt and other foreign matter. Another point which, though in itself is not sufficient to cause rejection, but in combination with other reasons frequently does so, is the inferiority of the sacks used. Although the bagging of seed potatoes in late years has considerably improved, lines are still coming forward to move which entails not a little care, and finally added expense for rebagging. Sound and clean'sacks will always pay for themselves in the seed potato market. Many of the best buyers stipulate on new sacks and insist on having them.

Complaints of a pronounced nature have recently been made by potato buyers in Sydney regarding the large quantity of earth that is included in consignments reaching the market. This grievance has reached such proportions that many buyers, it is said, refuse to operate unless assurance is given to the effect that their purchases are free from an undue quantity of earth. The result of several tests that have been made appear to show that the complaints are not without foundation. In a parcel of seven bags there was found no less than 1 cwt. 141b. of dirt, while another 14 bags produced of soil. A single bag contained 21b., and 6 0 bags showed an average of 301b to the bag. It has been decided to communicate with consignors, requesting that more care be taken, and that a guarantee as to cleanliness be forwarded with future consignments.