Show CLEAN SEED POTATOES the problem of securing healthy seed potatoes is one of great importance in the irrigating west potato growers of utah and idaho are warned by specialists of the U S department of agriculture that pota toes grown fin the east or in foreign countries are no healthier than those grown on their own irrigated tracts and that there is always the danger of introducing new diseases by planting imported m seed potatoes seed potatoes should be grown at home in a specially selected seed plot land which has never been planted to potatoes but which has for several years been under cultivation with alfalfa or grain is apparently best adapted for growing healthy seed potatoes raw desert land should be avoided as it is not well adapted to potato growing until it has first been in cultivation wIth other crops especially leguminous crops and grains the seed selected for such a seed plot should be wholly free from disease this can be accomplished in the following manner select from your seed potatoes tubers which show no external evidence of disease such as russet or scab common scab or decays tubers having small pockets of storage dry rot anity may be used provided the decayed portion is cut out no trace irace of the decay should remain tubers externally ter nally free from evidence of disease should then be cut into seed pieces the first cut should be made across the stem end the stem stemen end en d portion should al ways be discarded if there is any deep discoloration at the stem stein end the entire tuber should be discarded but if apparently healthy the rest may be cut in to seed pieces of the desired size after cutting the selected seed stock should be treated by soak ing for i in n a solution 1 of corrosive sublimate the formula 1 a J ar making the corrosive sub alimate dip is as follas to each 30 gallons of water add 4 ounces of corrosive sublimate which has first been dissolved in a little hot water in making and using the only wooden glass or porcelain vassals should be employed employ ploy ed corrosive sublimate is a deadly poison and both the so lution and the pata potatoes toes treated should be kept out of reach of farm stock the seed plot should be given the best possible care as potatoes poorly cared for are antly more susceptible to disease attacks than those which are div given i en the best opportunity to grow and mature potatoes selected gild and p canted in this man ner should gevea g w a product ively free from duease dj ease thought it must be admitted chaj that the planting of disease free seed on new land is not a guarantee of a disease free product A dis eased product will mean that land is infected and that oher ober land should be used for the seed plot another year |