52 Bulletin 140. 



Preparation of the Land. 



After the removal of the 1896 crop the land was plowed and sown 

 to oats and peas as a cover crop. This cover crop prevented loss 

 of plant food during the fall and winter and returned some organic 

 matter to the soil. Owing to the gravelly nature of the land, this 

 cover crop is considered of some importance. Besides preventing 

 waste of plant food by leaching, it restores humus to the soil, and 

 assists materially in conserving moisture and in keeping the soil in 

 proper physical condition. 



The plowing was done April 2 and 3, as early in the spring as the 

 conditions of the soil would permit. Before planting, the Acme har- 

 row was used frequently, the soil being in this way brought to a 

 superior condition of tilth. It should be noticed that the land was 

 plowed early, and was thereafter frequently stirred until the time of 

 planting. The Acme harrow kept the surface loose and thus estab- 

 lished a soil mulch which prevented the stores of moisture from being 

 wasted by evaporation (see Cornell Bulletin 120). 



Planting the Potatoes. 



All plats were planted May 7. The rows were marked off at 

 distances of 40 inches, and opened to a depth of about 4 inches with 

 a double moldboard plow. The seed was dropped one piece in a 

 place, and at distances of 14 inches in the row. The potatoes selected 

 for seed w^ere large marketable ones, free from scab, and in every 

 respect as perfect as could be secured. In cutting, care was taken to 

 have one or two strong eyes to each piece and to have each piece of 

 good size. While some growers have made use of parings, or have 

 simply removed the eye or bud of the tubers for seed, and others have 

 used, for the same purpose, small potatoes year after year, neither 

 practice can be recommended. The potato is naturally a perennial, 

 and the parent plant stores up in the tubers the readily available food 

 which is designed to start the young plant of next season's grow^th. If 

 then the eyes or parings simply are used the plants are hampered at 

 the outset, and, unless the season is favorable, are never able to 

 overcome the effects of the unfavorable conditions under which 

 they were started. The seed should be cut into pieces of good 

 size and each piece should contain from one to two strong buds or 



