POTATOES A SURE CROP. * 117 



1st, A suitable soil on which some other cultivated crop was grown 

 the previous year. 



2cl, Manure liberally. 



3d, Use good seed. 



4th, Plant deep. 



5th, Give thorough cultivation and clean culture through the 

 season. 



DISCUSSION. 



Question. I would like to ask the question, why, if this deep 

 planting is so useful and beneficial, do I find potatoes on the top of 

 the ground. Why don't I find them in the bottom of the furrow? 



Mr. HoLBROOK. Have you ever tried deep planting? I always 

 invariably find those potatoes that lie deep are not so liable to de- 

 compose as those on the surface. 



Question. How would you plant on heavy soil ? 



Mr. HoLBROOK. I would not plant on heavy soil. 



Question. 1 would ask if potatoes planted in this way are subject 

 to mildew? 



Mr. HoLBROOK. Yes, if 3'ou get a rank growth of potatoes and 

 a certain state of weather with excessive moisture. 



Question. What is the cause of potato rot? 



Mr. HoLBROOK. That has been tried to be answered by a great 

 many of our learned men ; the best answer was made by Prof. Fer- 

 nald of our college, and that 3'ou will find in the Report of 1884 if 

 you will read it. It first attacks the tops of potatoes ; it is more 

 prevalent in wet weather than in dry. 



Question. How far apart are 3'our rows? 



Mr. HoLBROOK. I always plant the rows far enough apart to use 

 a horse hoe — say three and a half feet — and plant the hills near 

 together so to get a large yield — say fourteen inches apart. It takes 

 no longer to hoe them. 



Question. Do 3'ou plant whole potatoes? 



Mr. HoLBROOK. Yes, every time. 



