PROPAGATION OF POTATOES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25017, 10 September 1942, Page 7

PROPAGATION OF POTATOES

“ Now that supplies of table potatoes have been released for seed purposes, there comes the question of how best to propagate, so as to get the largest possible crop,” says a statement issued by Mr J. C. McDowall, Taranaki president of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. For crops cultivated at military camps or by the home grower, the following method is recommended: —(1) Select sound seed. (2) Remove each eye with not more than one square inch of skin, about one-eighth inch thick, attached. (3) Place these eyes on damp river sand or very well washed sea sand in a shallow box. (4) Cover lightly with sand and stand in a warm, moist place. (5) After about a week, when root development is sufficient, plant out in a permanent position with about three sets in each group. Normal cultivation then follows.” Mr McDowall emphasises that the above method is not suitable for large-scale production, but says that plants propagated in this way are more virile than those from sets with a large piece of potato attached. The potato, from which all the eyes have been removed, may, of course, be used for food.