The Question Box. 247 



Another Farmer. — Kural New Yorker does best with me, but 

 ncle Sam is another good one. *] 

 the season of Carman Nos. 1 and 3. 



Uncle Sam is another good one. There's a week's difference in 



To Mr. Van Alstyne. — How do you plow potatoes, and how do you grow 

 them? 



Answer. — I plow as deeply as I can, for potatoes. On most of 

 our soil I plow about nine inches — we want coolness and mois- 

 ture. We plant in drills, putting the seed in about five inches 

 then use the smoothing harrow, followed with the weeder, then 

 the cultivator deeply, at first, then at a shallow depth, thus giv- 

 ing practically level culture, no hilling is done and the feeding 

 roots are left undisturbed. 



Potato planting — deep or shallow — which? In hills or drills? 



Mr. Terry. — On land that is well drained — which should be on 

 all land for potatoes, I think that four inches is the best depth; 

 which means four inches below the surface when leveled off, after 

 planting. We cannot afford to tear off the roots when cultivat- 

 ing, which results when the seed is put in the ground near the 

 surface, in check rows, and the hilling process is followed, so we 

 practice drill-culture. In this way the tubers are kept under, so 

 they are not sunburned. 



How about sulphur to prevent scab on potatoes? How shall we use it? 



Mr. Terry. — It has been used for the purpose by dropping it in 

 the hills. We prefer the corrosive sublimate, however. 



Which are best for seed — whole or cut potatoes? 



Mr. Converse. — As a rule, the largest potato growers cut 

 their seed, leaving two or three eyes on each piece. But the seed 

 potatoes should be kept where they will not sprout before plant- 

 ing time. I would not plant too small potatoes nor too large 

 ones. Cut seed will be found most profitable. 



How can we grow 300 bushels of potatoes per acre? 



Mr. Cook. — With us the first fault is an improper preparation 

 of the soil and the need of humus and fertilizers. Potato soil 

 should be deeply plowed, well pulverized and fertilized. The 

 next trouble is poor seed. Seed potatoes ought never to be al- 



