152 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



I use a digger, consisting of two rolling cutters and two plows, 

 throwing the dirt in opposite directions, and two lifters that 



Eass under the ridge, leaving the hills to be easily lifted out by 

 and. 



The potatoes designed for table use are separated from the 

 seed, and both corded in bins in the potato house. Great care 

 should be observed in handling to prevent marking. A slight 

 bruise, or a scratch of a finger nail, imperceptible at first, will 

 become black and unsightly, and greatly impair the sale. 



No vegetable depends so much on its good looks for a quick 

 sale at a high price as a sweet potato. 



The house is kept as near a uniform temperature of fifty to 

 fifty-five degrees as possible. 



The crop is marketable from November to April in barrels 

 and kegs lined with paper to keep out the cold, and shipped in 

 refrigerator cars. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Gaston — The tomato is a great success with us at Lacon. 

 We have had one hundred acres planted out, and the farmers 

 have raised as high as three hundred bushels to the acre. Last 

 year they got twenty-five cents a bushel and this year twenty 



cents. 



Mr. Budlong — If I understand the gentleman who gave us the 

 paper, he transfers directly from the seed-bed and puts the plants 

 in the ground three inches apart. I have the best success by 

 planting first in the seed-bed and then using four inch pots. 

 They are not expensive ; they can be had for about $8 per thou- 

 sand. With those we can take the plants into the field and trans- 

 plant without danger of losing them, although the sun may shine 

 brightly, provided you do not let them stand too long in the pots. 

 If you let them stay too long, there will be only a mass of roots in 

 the pots, and then when you transplant there will not be mois- 

 ture enough to sustain the plant. The better way in such a case 

 is to break the ball of earth, and that retards the taking out of 

 moisture so readily. Tomatoes, in my vicinity, if set out in the 

 ordinary way, in two or three days would, at least one half of 

 them, be cut off by the cut worm. 



Mr. Riehl — What do you do with the cut worm? 



Mr. Budlong — I don't do anything that entirely eradicates it, 

 but I have less trouble than formerly. I raise tomatoes on sandy 

 soil, principally. For some later varieties, I use wetter soil. Some 



